nwasianweekly.com
Mar. 3 , 2007

Forest Whitaker (left) won the Oscar for best actor and Jennifer Hudson won for best supporting actress.

True colors shine through at Oscars

Academy Awards host Ellen DeGeneres hit it right on the nose in her opening monologue at Sunday night’s show.

“Such diversity in the room,” the comedian and talk show host commented as she looked out at the audience, “in a year when there’s been so many negative things said about people’s race, religion and sexual orientation. And I want to put this out there: If there weren’t any blacks, Jews and gays, there would be no Oscars — or anyone named Oscar, when you think about that.”

DeGeneres drew lots of giggles, but there was truth in her jesting. Indeed, it was perhaps the most diverse set of acting nominees in Oscar history — five blacks, two Hispanics and one Asian were among the 20 people up for the acting awards. In addition, African Americans, Hispanics, Asians and film professionals from all over the world were sprinkled throughout the show as award presenters, entertainers and nominees in a variety of categories, including writing, foreign films, costume design and documentaries.

In a refreshing change of pace, even some acceptance speeches provided an international flair: Ruby Yang, the Chinese American director of the short documentary “The Blood of Yingzhou District,” gave hers in Chinese. Composer Ennio Morricone gave his in Italian as he accepted a lifetime achievement Oscar.
Even the winner for best picture, “The Departed,” had Asian ties. The Martin Scorsese-directed drama is an adaptation of the 2002 Hong Kong crime thriller “Infernal Affairs.”

People of color felt a sense of inclusiveness that we never before experienced while viewing this annual Hollywood tradition. It wasn’t that long ago — in the late 1990s, in fact — that nearly all the acting nominees in any given year were white. It’s as if we witnessed progress being made Sunday night.

DeGeneres even made a point during the telecast to acknowledge and applaud the diversity.

Is this a sign of bigger and better things to come? Are there Oscars in the futures of Sandra Oh, Ming-Na, B.D. Wong, M. Night Shyamalan, George Takei and a host of Asian American screenwriters, editors, cinematographers, designers, sound specialists and animators?

We hope the diversity that’s been brewing the past few years in Hollywood isn’t an anomaly. We hope the international and diverse mix of people invited to last week’s Oscars becomes the norm, not the exception.

Inclusiveness is not only the fair and right thing to do. Culling talent from all parts of society ultimately improves the quality of Hollywood’s films. In addition, it fosters more responsible and accurate portrayals of people of color. It’s not just about casting more minority actors; people of color need to be working throughout the film industry — and especially at the top, where the major decisions are made and funded — in order for true change to happen.

One important step has already been taken by the Academy. We applaud its funding and organizing of nearly 20 film festivals all over the world that nurture the next generation of great filmmakers, writers and actors. We hope these budding artists will continue the trend in Hollywood — of more diversity, more inclusiveness and more opportunities for people of color.

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