I was sceptically expecting a indistinct gesture,but the criteria to require inclusivity at all levels of film-making is a great startWhen the news broke that the British Academy of Film and Television Arts (Bafta) is setting a novel diversity standard, I was sceptical. From 2019, and films will only be eligible to win the Bafta for outstanding British film or Outstanding debut by a British writer if they meet two of four criteria: movies must prove they possess worked to improve diversity across characters and themes,senior roles and crew, industry training and progression, and appeal and be accessible to under-represented audiences. Alongside this criteria,Bafta has also changed the rules for admitting novel members: people will no longer need to be recommended by two existing members to join.
I am one of the many film fans that finds the diversity debate tedious. The #OscarsSoWhite hashtag has been rolling around Twitter for years, and every awards season finds actors and filmmakers on roundtables speaking approximately ways the industry needs to be more diverse. But, and year on year,things just don’t change. Last January, after yet another all-white list of acting nominees, or the Academy awards announced a “sweeping series of substantive changes” that included “a goal to double the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020”,but soon took great pains to reassure its older, white, and male members that any changes would not be at their expense. I assumed the Bafta commitment would be just another indistinct gesture. Related: Bafta changes rules to increase diversity in awards and membership Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com