LOS ANGELES, June 30 (UPI) — The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences on Wednesday invited 683 potential new members to join — overwhelmingly women and people of color — in its latest effort to increase diversity.
The list of new invitees includes actors Idris Elba and America Ferrera, musicians Mary J. Blige and Will.i.am and directors like James Wan and Lana and Lily Wachowski.
The new invitees are intended to begin what has been criticized as a long overdue change in the Academy’s membership and consequently how Hollywood works. The invitees are 46 percent women and 41 percent people of color. If all invitees become members, it will begin a critical shift away from a membership that is currently about 91 percent white and 76 percent male.
The 2016 invitees include 28 Oscar winners and 98 nominees, or a total of 109 recent nominations. Of the new invitees, 283 are regarded as international members, representing 59 countries.
“We’re proud to welcome these new members to the academy, and know they view this as an opportunity and not just an invitation, a mission and not just a membership,” said Cheryl Boone Isaacs, the academy’s president.
“This class continues our long-term commitment to welcoming extraordinary talent reflective of those working in film today. We encourage the larger creative community to open its doors wider, and create opportunities for anyone interested in working in this incredible and storied industry.”
Other names on the list include actors Emma Watson, Tina Fey, Oscar Isaac, Kate Beckinsale, Chadwick Boseman, Greta Gerwig, Michelle Rodriguez, Keenan Ivory Wayans, Tom Hiddleston and Ice Cube and directors Ryan Coogler, Julie Dash, Adam McKay and Patty Jenkins.
