Movie Academy Pushes To Diversify With Largest Class Of New Invitees

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — With a list of invitees including names such as Leslie Jones, Keegan-Michael Key, Debbie Allen and Ruth Negga, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences Wednesday continued its effort to bolster diversity in its ranks as it invited 774 industry professionals to become members.

"We're proud to invite our newest class to the Academy," AMPAS President Cheryl Boone Isaacs said in a message announcing the latest class of Academy invitees. "The entire motion picture community is what we make of it. It's up to all of us to ensure that new faces and voices are seen and heard, and to take a shot on the next generation the way someone took a shot on each of us."

The Academy has been working over the past several years to increase the percentage of women and "people of color" among its ranks, in the wake of the "#OscarsSoWhite" criticism generated by two years of all-white slates of Oscar nominees.

According to the Academy, with the latest class of invitees, there has been a 359 percent increase in the number of women invited to join the prestigious organization between 2015 and 2017, and a 331 percent increase in people of color.

Last year, the Academy announced a series of changes to its voting and membership procedures with the aim of doubling its female and "diverse" membership by 2020. In addition to seeking out and recruiting more diverse members, the Academy added three seats on its Board of Governors.

The Academy also changed its voting procedures, with each new member's voting status lasting 10 years, and renewed if the member has been active in motion pictures during that time. Members will receive lifetime voting rights after three 10-year terms, or if they have won or been nominated for an Oscar.

The list of new invitees includes people from 57 countries, 96 Oscar nominees and 24 winners. The invitees range in age from 19 to 95 -- thanks to the inclusion of actress Betty White.

City News Service; Photo: HOLLYWOOD, CA - FEBRUARY 26: Actor Ruth Negga attends the 89th Annual Academy Awards at Hollywood & Highland Center, Ruth Negga is wearing Bally Shoes on February 26, 2017 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Frazer Harrison/89th Annual Academy Awards/Getty Images)