Damning study finds a 'whitewashed' Hollywood

Just reporting what the public has know as a fact for decades. Look at this year's top nominee for best actor and movie, "Straight Outta Compton" was the better movie BY FAR, yet received no nominations for any of the major awards.

Hollywood needs a makeover!

This is so ridiculous. Of course Hollywood is going to be massively white, America is still massively white and was even more so in the 80s and earlier when most of today's writers and directors got their start. Blaming Hollywood for being white is like blaming Bollywood for being Indian, or blaming the Japanese movie industry for making movies with Japanese main characters.

Not only that, but they only look at the top movies at the top studios... they're arguing for "inclusion" based on the idea that people like characters who look like them and with whom they can more readily identify. Well, that has a commercial impact, when a company invests 100 million dollars or more in a movie, it tends to err on the side of caution, and choosing a white character will maximize appeal to 70-80% of the market, whereas choosing a black character will only maximize appeal to 13% of the market and an Asian character, less than 5% of the market.

So, duh, of course the national film industry of a nation that is predominantly white will tend to mostly make movies with white characters and trying to appeal to them directly, and that goes even more for the top movies that have huge budgets and that people will be more wary of taking risks with. And there is nothing wrong with that.

And the black awards nominees and winners are 100% black, like the BET awards and MOBO.

America is still massively white and was even more so in the 80s and earlier when most of today's writers and directors got their start.

Not as "massively" as you think. Even the census bureau is predicting that Caucasians in America will lost their "majority" by 2043.

And the black awards nominees and winners are 100% black, like the BET awards and MOBO.

No they are not, the BET awards are for African-American's and other minorities, oh and whites have been nominated and have won as well.

< http://winningdemocrats.com/there-were-more-white-people-nominated-for-the-bet-awards-than-black-people-at-this-years-oscars/>

They used a white guy to play Goku. Enough said.

Why assume the percentages should reflect U.S. population demographics rather than audience demographics?

Exhaustive and damning is right. This nonsense again?!

Yubaru: Just reporting what the public has know as a fact for decades. Look at this year's top nominee for best actor and movie, "Straight Outta Compton" was the better movie BY FAR, yet received no nominations for any of the major awards.

If they HAD nominated it the feminists would have piled on them!

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Straight_Outta_Compton_%28film%29#Misogyny_and_omissions

Further proof that the real racist's in America remain Democrats.

Wolfpack: Further proof that the real racist's in America remain Democrats.

There's a star chamber under the La Brea Tar Pits where they plot their evil deeds.

Elevator access is side-drilled so as to come up through the LA County Museum of Art.

Not as "massively" as you think. Even the census bureau is predicting that Caucasians in America will lost their "majority" by 2043.

Only if you consider Hispanics non-white, and the Hispanics themselves for the most part do consider themselves white and are not that remote from another ethnically European, Catholic population that immigrated in vast numbers before, the Italians. Today, Italians are considered white. Give it a few generations, and most Hispanics may well have integrated the white majority just like the Italians, Portuguese and Irish before them.

Further proof that the real racist's in America remain Democrats.

Really now. I'm not seeing any 'proof' there myself, interesting how one sees what they want to.

What a nightmare. The whole idea of shaping films and TV programmes to meet all racial. ethnic, gender, sexual persuasion, and etc. expectations is ludicrous. It is in itself racist, sexist, and what have you.

The U.S. Entertainment industry controlled by white liberals who vote democrat who nominate other white liberals who vote democrat for awards. Nope, no bigotry by democrats there. . . .

Hollywood was invented by the whites for the whites - I'm not white and I'm okay with that - if you want your own, see Hong Kong, Korea, Bollywood, etc. You don't go around petitioning that Hong Kong, Korea, or Bollywood need to diversify themselves do you ?

The U.S. Entertainment industry controlled by white liberals who vote democrat

Do they? Do you really think the money behind the entertainment industry, the decision makers, are voting liberal?

What about Asian representation in Hollywood. I swear that's the more inequitable

And the black awards nominees and winners are 100% black, like the BET awards ...

Uh, BET stands for "Black Entertainment Television." I don't see a "W" anywhere in "Oscars."

There are two problems, as I see it. First is the common human inclination to choose someone of the same race whenever hiring. That is not necessarily "racist," and can, should, and often is mitigated by sensitivity training.

Second is more troublesome. I was watching a "making of" video about the movie "Snatch" in which the three black actors expressed amusement that their characters were not killed off before the film ended. Casual entertainment viewers project expectations on minorities that they do not on Caucasians, and this is generally true for all races. An Asian will be smart and good at computers but nerdy; an Hispanic will be lusty and humorous with violence lurking below the surface - etc. Whites are viewed as vanilla, so casting one does not affect the intended narration.

While nobody expects life to be fair, this is clearly not fair, and the complaints are justified. More attention should be paid to these issues. Only time and custom will change installed prejudices.

The problem is not what they try to do but how they do. I think this is a good movement as long as it is an affirmative action.

When the discrimination based on gender, race and so on seem to be over or lessen, they should stop this action. Talents should be evaluated fairly regardless of gender or race after all.

I am shocked! Every time I see a tv ad, music video, news report, movie, call a government agency etc., I see or hear an extremely over represented percentage of blacks compared to the rest of the demographic population. Why? How can people of black dna have the audacity to complain when they obviously have the upper hand. Something is seriously wrong with this picture. Do your homework and record on paper how many persons of color appear on every frame of every scene on any tv show, commercial, movie etc for a week and tell me I am wrong.

Some legitimate complaints. Still, I can't think of "Straight Out of Compton" as Oscar worthy.

"Straight Out of Compton" is unwatchable trash, so I guees it is Oscar worthy. :)

“And it doesn’t match the norms of the population of the United States.”

Lots of things do not match the norms of the population of the United States, and there is nothing wrong with that.

Do you want to have quotas for doctors? etc. etc. Not me for sure.

Quality or Quotas? Please stop the nonsense. Study hard, make yourself someone. Quit the screaming and yelling about quotas.

Mediocrity does not make the grade.

The U.S. Entertainment industry controlled by white liberals who vote democrat who nominate other white liberals who vote democrat for awards. Nope, no bigotry by democrats there. . . .

It's that goshdarned George Clooney and his evil lackey Leonardo DiCaprio. They're the real racists, not the people who watch Fox News and vote GOP and say things like, "The democrats are the real racists!" while using codewords like "welfare moms" and "thugs" when the word they really want to use starts with an N.

So are we looking at MANDATED recognition of blacks, lgbt, talentless, albions, littlepeople, etc, etc

Ahh, so your reasoning is that if we are going to stop on extreme (ignoring black people altogether), we will have to go to the other extreme of mandating them, skipping any middle ground altogether.

Seems legit.

How can people of black dna have the audacity to complain when they obviously have the upper hand.

Wow, I'm at a loss for words on that. Clueless is the only one that comes to mind.

This racist obsession is ridiculous. How about investiging heavy boxing or basket ball for racial diversity? Is there a great conspiracy at work? Or is it just what it is? I shudder to think these activists get their wish and every single job is filled according to racial quotas.

Khcoze In fact Hispanics or Latinos considering themselves white does not make them so. Trump wouldn't ask to kick Mexicans out of AmeriKKKa. The report deals about minorities, lgbt and women. Why focus on race?! For those saying the US is dominantly white well if it was accurate other races votes wouldn't matter. Whitewashing movies and histories has been a reality since centuries.

Blacks are not the only tone in the color spectrum not being represented here. Lost all respect for the Academy when Ken Watanabe got beat for his role in the Last Samurai. Clearly an outstanding performance brushed aside by Hollywood politics. .

How about investiging heavy boxing or basket ball for racial diversity?

You realize that makes no sense, right? People who are pro boxers or basketball players are there because they've earned it through their achievements. Acting on the other hand is extremely subjective, and at the start is not based on achievement, but rather the whims of some casting directors.

People who are pro boxers or basketball players are there because they've earned it through their achievements.

Not true. Have to be seen by a scout and you have to have connections to do that. There are lots of other brilliant players out there that will never get seen, or were missed by bad luck on a day scouts were out.

Same with acting. I admit, some have been luck, like that women scientist that kisses gibs all the time being found as a chubby bartender, but most hone their craft off off broadway, and it is just luck, as so much talent never gets spotted.

I still think the quota game is so wrong. Study hard and you can succeed, although maybe not at the craft of your original intentions, as so many so call jocks have learned.

Well if you don't like it, make your own TV channel for your group to exclude all other groups? Oh wait, already done... (Black Entertainment Television, Telemundo, guess not enough watchers to support LGBT TV full time?)

Or make a movie with your group as the primary focus and hope you pull in enough people to make a profit. Usually by keeping costs really low or by getting other groups to watch it too. Straight Outta Compton was a "black" movie, but enough non blacks went to see it to make it profitable. Was marketed as "cool and edgy" so that was a great strategy, plus it being a real story (mostly) helped.

Michael JohnsonFEB. 23, 2016 - 10:12AM JST What a nightmare. The whole idea of shaping films and TV programmes to meet all racial. ethnic, gender, sexual persuasion, and etc. expectations is ludicrous

No one said anything about doing that. Why did you bring it up as though it were relevant?

deadbeatlesFEB. 23, 2016 - 11:22AM JST So are we looking at MANDATED recognition of blacks, lgbt, talentless, albions, littlepeople, etc, etc..

No one said anything about that. Why did you bring it up as though it were relevant?

shonanbbFEB. 23, 2016 - 11:54AM JST Lots of things do not match the norms of the population of the United States, and there is nothing wrong with that. Do you want to have quotas for doctors?

No one said anything about quotas. Why did you bring it up as though it were relevant?

It genuinely worries me about English discourse when so many people see a complaint about inequality and just reflexively assume the person making the complaint is calling for mandatory quotas. Do people use this rhetorical stratagem knowing its a red herring, intentionally wasting everyone's time by throwing the conversation off topic? Or do they have no idea that it's possible to call an institution out for its biases without also demanding mandatory quotas?

You realize that makes no sense, right? People who are pro boxers or basketball players are there because they've earned it through their achievements. Acting on the other hand is extremely subjective, and at the start is not based on achievement, but rather the whims of some casting directors.

The obvious answer is to do it by lottery. Hollywood here I come, baby!

You could always use google trends and find the most searched for actors etc, get your own data and figure out if its holly wood or if its represetative of the populations attitudes. Then you may know the truth for your self one way or the other. Or you could just post what ever you think to be true, just like most people.

Most countries outside Africa are white. And in spite of ceaseless work by arrogant 'feminists', men are still more interesting and versatile than women. Hollywood deal with a more intense reality - it has to be that way, it's all about escapism. I'm a man, proud to be, and I don't give away my identity for anyone who is 'different'.

Most countries outside Africa are white.

Most people, outside Africa, are not white.

An understandable discomfort for white westerners here (not all of them though) knowing that no one really wants to lose her/his vested rights.

But the world changes by someone who asks, complains, fights against what is deemed to be norm(mostly by establishment). I'm not black but I know what ordeal they went through and how much they've changed the States and the rest of the world. We all eventually benefits from their struggle and sacrifice for human rights. Lots of non black people fail to recognize it including white people.

Plz stop comparing the US film market to any other countries'. It sounds ridiculous and you know why.

knowing that no one really wants to lose her/his vested rights.

Vested interests, no? Appearing in a film is not a "right".

Why do women whinge and whine so much about being left behind? They're always telling men how dumb we are and how smart they are - yet they cannot invent their own cameras, lighting sets etc to make a film.. We men DESERVE the lion's share because withour brilliance there would be nothing in our lives but trees and fleas.

Blaming Hollywood for being white is like blaming Bollywood for being Indian, or blaming the Japanese movie industry for making movies with Japanese main characters.

This is a goofy statement. America is not just white. Of course India is made up of Indian people. But they are not all the same either, colour or religion for example. What is accurate to say is that Hollywood is American as Bollywood is Indian. The fact that you miss that point shows sadly a very racist view of the USA.

Has anyone in the states flipped through their television channels lately?! Seriously, try it. If you're honest with yourself you will find a "culturally diverse" (African American) face popping up on every 2 or 3 channels.

Commercials with the interracial couple happily shopping at the Home Depot, children's programming with the AA child playing kindly with the white children, an AA couple getting ADT protection because of all the white burglars, responsible elderly AA purchasing life insurance for their loved ones, countless movies that portray the wise old AA patiently teaching the white man the error of his ways, or the charismatic and brave AA saving the world. LOL, even old 70s black westerns with an AA lead character riding into town to clean up the white man's mess.

Yes, 900 channels of insidious Indoctrination for the guilt-ridden masses, from the always complaining 12.6%.

If the original story was from another country and if one feels that the Hollywood adaptation, using white actors is not doing justice to the original story then just don't go watch it. Why waste money on something you know will disappoint?

The box office determines the product. I pay and go see what I want - not what some one else wants me to see. No market no merchandise. Demand drives supply. Should not be to difficult to understand.

A study released Monday by the Media, Diversity and Social Change Initiative

Shocker. A group with an agenda publishes a study supporting their agenda. Is anybody really surprised at the "results" of such a study?

How to make a quota without calling it a quota?

The worse thing is it limits the stories told, as well as the points of view. There is also a little matter of age as well. We need more stories that make use of older talented actors as well as stories told by children. I would also like to see more of our character actors made into lead actors. Taking what appear to be ordinary people and then putting them into difficult situations to show what they are made of. Lets face it heroes are not all young and pretty. Much of the eye candy hasn't learned to act yet. We need a lot more reality and variety than Hollywood is willing to give us.

Even I, an alleged White person, get bored with all white movies, or with people of color only being played to stereotypes. I made the discovery of a number of smaller Black films, including some old ones that were probably created for the separate Black audience of the day. I look forward to seeing a lot of Black Actors that I have not had a chance to view before, and so me stories quite different from point of view. Same goes for films using other Actors of color.

Do they? Do you really think the money behind the entertainment industry, the decision makers, are voting liberal?

Isn't it obvious?

Isn't it obvious?

No, that's why I'm asking.

Everyone knows that the Oscars are commercially rather than racially driven, anyway - there's no chance that a non-mainstream small-budget indy film will ever win best picture, however good it may be, no chance at all. If a film starring black actors had made a big pile of money at the box office, it'd have had a fair chance. Just didn't happen this year, that's all.

"Straight Out of Compton" is unwatchable trash, so I guees it is Oscar worthy. :)

Wow. Trouble got some thumbs-up for this comment. (I agree totally).

Hollywood makes movies to sell to a global audience. That audience wants to see white people in American movies. Do you really think people in Asia want to see an Asian superhero?

bluenote1Feb. 23, 2016 - 07:04PM JST

Most countries outside Africa are white. And in spite of ceaseless work by arrogant 'feminists', men are still more interesting and versatile than women. Hollywood deal with a more intense reality - it has to be that way, it's all about escapism. I'm a man, proud to be, and I don't give away my identity for anyone who is 'different'.

Bluenote1: While I respect your most of your opinion (but don't agree with it), you do realize that just between two countries (China and India), one-third of the world's population is not white. And that's not including Africa, South America, and the rest of Asia...