What are the new Oscar categories?



By now, we’re sure you all know about the changes to the Oscar nomination qualifying criteria intended to spark greater diversity in the industry. Today BLAKE & WANG P.A Best Entertainment lawyers in Los Angeles take a closer look at the 4 proposed categories and their criteria.

 

The new inclusion standards break down into 2 rough categories: More inclusive representation, or more inclusive employment. To qualify for the Oscars from the 2024 season, a film will need to meet the standards in 2 of these 4 categories. 

Group A

This set of standards is designed to incorporate the actual stories and characters that appear on the screen. To qualify in this group, there needs to be at least one lead (or ‘significant supporting actor’) from an underrepresented racial/ethnic group, or 30% of the secondary/minor cast from two of the same, or the main storyline should focus on an underrepresented identity group.

Group B

Here we deal with the production or creativity teams behind the scenes. Again, a film needs to meet one of these standards:

  • 2 heads of major departments from an underrepresented identity group, 1 of which must be an underrepresented racial/ethnic group
  • At least 6 (non-production assistants) crewmembers from an underrepresented racial/ethnic group
  • Or 30% of the crew from an underrepresented identity group

Group C

Group C relates to (income earning) training opportunities on sets. There is some distinction made between large companies such as Warner or Disney, and smaller or indie productions which don’t have the budget. But, in general, there’s 2 standards that must both be met here.

  1. Paid apprenticeships/internships across departments to underrepresented identity groups, leading to actual employment opportunities, and
  2. ‘Below the line’ (lower- and mid-level positions) employment for underrepresented identity groups.

Group D

This is potentially the most ambiguous of categories, and probably the easiest to meet standards in. It focuses on ‘audience development’. Generally, people are interpreting this as ‘getting people to purchase tickets’. Here, the studio must have ‘multiple’ senior executives from the underrepresented groups working on their publicity, marketing, or distribution.

Applying from the 2024 Oscar season, it will be interesting to see how these new standards for Best picture pan out in practice.

 

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