Organisers respond to #OscarsSoWhite row with record numbers of new members

The Oscars have invited a record number of new people to vote for next year's Academy Awards following the row over a lack of diversity. Luther star Idris Elba, Star Wars actor John Boyega and rapper Ice Cube are among 683 people who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences — more than double the total from the previous year.

The move comes after a lack of diversity among the nominees at this year’s ceremony. It was followed by a campaign which organised around the hashtag #OscarsSoWhite.

Emma Watson, Kate Beckinsale, Oscar Isaac, Tom Hiddleston, Alicia Vikander, Freida Pinto, Ice Cube, Eva Mendes, John Boyega, Marlon Wayans, Mark Rylance, Ken Loach, Rachel McAdams and the Wachowski sisters were all among the invitees.

Best Actress Oscar winner Brie Larson has also received an invitation, along with film director Ken Loach. Larson, who won an Oscar for her role in Lenny Abrahamson’s drama Room, tweeted: “I got in! Excited to use my vote to nominate talent that reflects the real world we live in — DIVERSITY.”

The Academy’s membership list forms the voting base for the Oscars. At the moment, membership is just 25 per cent female and 8 per cent people of color, according to the Academy.

The 2016 intake – assuming all of the invitations are accepted – will bring the female membership percentage up by two points and the minority membership percentage up by three points. The entire academy would grow to 7,789 members.

Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs – who has no direct say in award nominations – told Variety that the new list represented "a major step forward" toward the goal of full inclusion, adding: "In the next four years, it's important to finalise the goal that we set. The conversation is continuing. I think there is going to be a lot of positive energy that will pollinate and make more."

In January, Isaacs promised that the Academy would double its minority and female membership by 2020, but unfortunately, the road would still prove rocky; Isaacs was forced to apologise again after two dozen Academy members published an open letter complaining about “tasteless and offensive” skits playing on racial stereotypes at the ceremony.

- PA/WireGuardian