Academy President Tells Audiences to “Support Film That Has Diversity of Storytelling”

It’s not just up to the Academy to ensure that #OscarsSoWhite — which refers to the controversy that the 2016 acting nominees did not include any actors of color — doesn’t happen again.

According to Cheryl Boone Isaacs, such power also lies with moviegoers.

The View co-host Whoopi Goldberg spoke with the president of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences from the steps of the Dolby Theatre on Friday morning, ahead of Sunday’s Oscars.

When asked how ticketholders can make a difference, Isaacs responded, “It’s an industry-wide situation. What the moviegoer can do is support film, and support film that has diversity of storytelling and your favorite actors. Different approaches to storytelling, because that’s what this industry is really about. Get out there and support our filmmakers. That would be very, very wonderful.”

Still, Isaacs noted that the Academy will continue to take the issue seriously. “Certainly, interviews like this are very helpful, and the fact that the conversation is really alive right now,” she explained. “We all want to take that opportunity to go from conversation to actual action. We at the Academy have started with our concrete action of really looking at our organization and making sure that it’s inclusive, and since our members are prominent members of the motion picture industry, it will flow out.”

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