The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will require extensive new “diversity” standards to win the Oscar for Best Picture.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences announced Tuesday that it will require films to meet extensive new “diversity” standards to be eligible to win the Oscar for Best Picture.A press release for the Academy explained that starting in 2024, films competing for Best Picture will be required to meet at least two of the following four standards (original emphasis):STANDARD A:  ON-SCREEN REPRESENTATION, THEMES AND NARRATIVES
To achieve Standard A, the film must meet ONE of the following criteria:
A1. Lead or significant supporting actors
At least one
of the lead actors or significant supporting actors is from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group.AsianHispanic/LatinxBlack/African AmericanIndigenous/Native American/Alaskan NativeMiddle Eastern/North AfricanNative Hawaiian or other Pacific IslanderOther underrepresented race or ethnicity
A2. General ensemble cast
At least 30% of all actors in secondary and more minor roles are from at least two
of the following underrepresented groups:WomenRacial or ethnic groupLGBTQ+People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
A3. Main storyline/subject matter
The main storyline(s), theme or narrative of the film is centered on an underrepresented group(s).WomenRacial or ethnic groupLGBTQ+People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD B: CREATIVE LEADERSHIP AND PROJECT TEAM
To achieve Standard B, the film must meet ONE of the criteria below:
B1. Creative leadership and department heads
At least two
of the following creative leadership positions and department headsCasting Director, Cinematographer, Composer, Costume Designer, Director, Editor, Hairstylist, Makeup Artist, Producer, Production Designer, Set Decorator, Sound, VFX Supervisor, Writerare from the following underrepresented groups:WomenRacial or ethnic groupLGBTQ+People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
At least one
of those positions must belong to the following underrepresented racial or ethnic group:AsianHispanic/LatinxBlack/African AmericanIndigenous/Native American/Alaskan NativeMiddle Eastern/North AfricanNative Hawaiian or other Pacific IslanderOther underrepresented race or ethnicity
B2. Other key roles
At least six
other crew/team and technical positions (excluding Production Assistants) are from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group. These positions include but are not limited to First AD, Gaffer, Script Supervisor, etc.
B3. Overall crew compositionAt least 30% of the films crew is from the following underrepresented groups:WomenRacial or ethnic groupLGBTQ+People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
STANDARD C:  INDUSTRY ACCESS AND OPPORTUNITIES
To achieve Standard C, the film must meet BOTH criteria below:
C1. Paid apprenticeship and internship opportunities
The films distribution or financing company has paid apprenticeships or internships that are from the following underrepresented groups and satisfy the criteria below:WomenRacial or ethnic groupLGBTQ+People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
The major studios/distributors are required to have substantive, ongoing paid apprenticeships/internships inclusive of underrepresented groups (must also include racial or ethnic groups) in most of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing and publicity.
The mini-major or independent studios/distributors must have a minimum of two
apprentices/interns from the above underrepresented groups (at least one
from an underrepresented racial or ethnic group) in at least one of the following departments: production/development, physical production, post-production, music, VFX, acquisitions, business affairs, distribution, marketing and publicity.
C2. Training opportunities and skills development (crew)
The films production, distribution and/or financing company offers training and/or work opportunities for below-the-line skill development to people from the following underrepresented groups:WomenRacial or ethnic groupLGBTQ+People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearingSTANDARD D: AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT
To achieve Standard D, the film must meet the criterion below:
D1. Representation in marketing, publicity, and distribution
The studio and/or film company has multiple in-house senior executives from among the following underrepresented groups (must include individuals from underrepresented racial or ethnic groups) on their marketing, publicity, and/or distribution teams.WomenRacial or ethnic group

• Asian
• Hispanic/Latinx
• Black/African American
• Indigenous/Native American/Alaskan Native
• Middle Eastern/North African
• Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander
• Other underrepresented race or ethnicity

LGBTQ+People with cognitive or physical disabilities, or who are deaf or hard of hearing
For 2022 and 2023, films competing for Best Picture will have to submit “a confidential Academy Inclusion Standards form” but will not yet be required to meet those standards.“The aperture must widen to reflect our diverse global population in both the creation of motion pictures and in the audiences who connect with them,” Academy President David Rubin and Academy CEO Dawn Hudson were quoted as saying.Deadline commented approvingly that the new diversity standards were “a key sea change for an organization that had resisted imposing specific moviemaking rules on the industry” and that the requirements “could not come at a more opportune time in light of worldwide movements for equality in all walks of life.”In 2016, the Academy adopted new changes to its membership in response to the “#OscarsSoWhite” campaign that began in 2015 and alleged that too many white people were winning awards, thanks to the overwhelmingly white voting membership.Joel B. Pollak is Senior Editor-at-Large at Breitbart News and the host of Breitbart News Sunday on Sirius XM Patriot on Sunday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. ET (4 p.m. to 7 p.m. PT). His new book, RED NOVEMBER, tells the story of the 2020 Democratic presidential primary from a conservative perspective. He is a winner of the 2018 Robert Novak Journalism Alumni Fellowship. Follow him on Twitter at @joelpollak.