Showbiz Sandbox 285: Why the Film Academy Is Becoming More Diverse and International
June 30, 2015
When the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences invited over 300 new members to join their ranks this year, many noted not only the number of young women and minorities among the group, but also 36 international invitees. According to Oscars pundit Scott Feinberg of the Hollywood Reporter, that’s the highest number of new international members than at any other time in the Academy’s 88-year history.
We explain why the organization is looking to filmmakers and craftspeople from around the world when adding to their ranks, as well as how that might change the demographics of the Academy moving forward. At a time when international box office has never been more dominant and important, it is nice to see the Academy’s membership become a little more diverse.
E-commerce giant Amazon is also making a few changes, especially in the way it pays authors of titles in its monthly book rental offering. Instead of paying writers for every book a user starts but may not finish, the company will pay based upon how many actual pages a subscriber reads.
Of course, we also cover the week’s top entertainment news stories including why NBC and Univision fired Donald Trump, Harry Potter heads to London’s West End and Apple signs a deal with indie record labels for its new music streaming service.
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Foreign Box Office: ‘Jurassic World’ Roars to $82.5 Million, ‘Minions’ Racks Up $36 Million
https://variety.com/2015/film/news/jurassic-world-foreign-box-office-minions-1201530142/
‘Ted 2’ Disappoints at Box Office, but ‘Jurassic World’ Still Roars
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/28/at-box-office-ted-2-disappoints-but-jurassic-word-still-roars/?_r=0
HBO’s ‘True Detective’ Strong in Return; ‘Ballers’ Off to Solid Start
https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/ratings-hbos-true-detective-strong-in-return-ballers-off-to-solid-start-1201525136/
Dwayne Johnson to Star in Film Adaptation of ‘Rampage’ Video Game
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/heat-vision/dwayne-johnson-star-film-adaptation-804458
Lawrence Kaufman and 3-D Con
http://3d-con.com/
Amazon’s New Way of Paying Authors Makes Sense, and Here’s Why
https://fortune.com/2015/06/24/amazon-kindle-authors/
Apple Loses Appeal, E-book Decision is Affirmed
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/digital/content-and-e-books/article/67353-apple-loses-appeal-e-book-decision-is-affirmed.html
Univision Ends Miss Universe Deal After Donald Trump’s “Rapists” Immigrant Remarks
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/univision-ends-miss-universe-deal-805057
Donald Trump on NBC Severing Ties: “They Didn’t Want Me to Run”
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/nbc-cuts-ties-donald-trump-805706
Harry Potter Play to Open in London Next Year
https://variety.com/2015/legit/global/harry-potter-play-to-open-in-london-next-year-1201529046/
‘Bombshell’ Might Live Again — Onstage
http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2015/06/22/bombshell-might-live-again-onstage/
Jay Z’s Tidal Music Service Loses Interim CEO
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tidal-ceo-peter-tonstad-quits-804434
Bill Cosby Fights to Maintain Confidentiality of “Embarrassing” Court Records
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/thr-esq/bill-cosby-fights-maintain-confidentiality-805115
After First Weekend, E.L. James’s ‘Grey’ Sells over 1 Million Copies
http://www.publishersweekly.com/pw/by-topic/industry-news/publisher-news/article/67219-after-first-weekend-e-l-james-s-grey-sells-over-1-million-copies.html
Spotify Expands 60 Day Free Trial, Days Before Apple Music Launch
http://www.hypebot.com/hypebot/2015/06/spotify-expands-60-day-free-trial-days-before-apple-music-launch.html
Apple Signs Thousands of Independent Labels in Royalty Deal
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/06/25/business/media/apple-signs-thousands-of-independent-labels-in-royalty-deal.html
Sirius XM To Pay $210 Million To Labels Over Pre-1972 Recordings
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/cotown/la-et-ct-sirius-xm-to-pay-210-million-pre-1972-recordings-20150626-story.html
HuffPost to Launch Film and TV Divisions, Announces 24-Hour Online Video Network
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/huffpost-launch-film-tv-divisions-805029
‘Family Feud’ Tops All of Syndication for First Time
https://variety.com/2015/tv/news/family-feud-ratings-tops-syndication-1201526217/
Warner Bros. Will Stop Licensing ‘Dukes of Hazzard’ Confederate Flag Car
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/dukes-hazzard-car-warner-brothers-804766
Misty Copeland Is Promoted to Principal Dancer at American Ballet Theater
http://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/01/arts/dance/misty-copeland-is-promoted-to-principal-dancer-at-american-ballet-theater.html
Fox News CEO Roger Ailes Signs New Multiyear Contract
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/fox-news-ceo-roger-ailes-805049
Chris Thile to Become New Host of A Prairie Home Companion, Replace Garrison Keillor
http://www.pastemagazine.com/articles/2015/06/chris-thile-to-become-new-host-of-a-prairie-home-c.html
Oscars: The Full List of 2015 Invitees to the Film Academy
http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/movies/moviesnow/la-et-mn-oscars-full-list-2015-invitees-to-the-film-academy-20150626-story.html
The Academy Is Suddenly Becoming More International — And Here’s Why
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/race/academy-is-suddenly-becoming-more-805496
Dick Van Patten, ‘Eight Is Enough’ Star, Dies at 86
https://variety.com/2015/film/news/dick-van-patten-dead-1201526002/
Patrick Macnee, Star of 1960s TV Series ‘The Avengers,’ Dies at 93
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/patrick-macnee-star-1960s-tv-805137
Italian Actress Laura Antonelli Dies at 73
http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/laura-antonelli-dead-italian-actress-804183
James Horner Dies at 61; Film Composer Won 2 Oscars, 6 Grammys
http://www.latimes.com/local/obituaries/la-me-james-horner-20150624-story.html#page=1
The first documented public exhibition of a 3-D motion picture took place on June 10, 1915 at the Astor Theatre in New York. Our centennial release of 3-D RARITIES on Blu-ray is a celebration of the 100th anniversary of stereoscopic cinematography: http://www.3dfilmarchive.com/3-d-rarities
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