When Steven Spielberg speaks about the business of Hollywood, everyone generally listens and few dissent. But reports that he intends to support rule changes that could block Netflix from Oscars-eligibility have provoked a heated, and unwieldy, debate online this weekend. It has found the legendary filmmaker at odds with some industry heavyweights, who have pointed out that Netflix has been an important supporter of minority filmmakers and stories, especially in awards campaigns, while also reigniting the ongoing streaming versus theatrical debate.
Spielberg has weighed in before on whether streaming movies should compete for the film industryB次元官网网址檚 most prestigious award (TV movies, he said last year, should compete for Emmys), but that was before Netflix nearly succeeded in getting its first best picture Oscar for Alfonso CuaronB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淩omaB次元官网网址� at last weekB次元官网网址檚 Academy Awards. Netflix, of course, did not win the top award B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址淕reen Book,B次元官网网址� which was produced partially by SpielbergB次元官网网址檚 Amblin Entertainment, did.
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Still, Netflix was a legitimate contender and this year, the streaming service is likely to step up its awards game even more with Martin ScorseseB次元官网网址檚 B次元官网网址淭he Irishman,B次元官网网址� which The Hollywood Reporter said may also gunning for a wide-theatrical release. A teaser ad aired during the 91st Oscars for the gangster drama said B次元官网网址渋n theatres next fall,B次元官网网址� instead of the B次元官网网址渋n select theatresB次元官网网址� phrasing that was used for B次元官网网址淩oma.B次元官网网址�
But Netflix also isnB次元官网网址檛 playing by the same rules as other studios. The company doesnB次元官网网址檛 report theatrical grosses, for one, and itB次元官网网址檚 been vexing some more traditional Hollywood executives throughout this award season and there have been whispers in recent weeks that a reckoning is coming.
Now, Spielberg and others are planning to do something about it by supporting a revised film academy regulation at an upcoming meeting of the organizationB次元官网网址檚 board of governors that would disqualify Netflix from the Oscars, or at least how the streaming giant currently operates during awards season.
This year, B次元官网网址淩omaB次元官网网址� got a limited theatrical qualifying run and an expensive campaign with one of the industryB次元官网网址檚 most successful awards publicists, Lisa Taback, leading the charge. But Netflix, operates somewhat outside of the industry while also infiltrating its most important institutions, like the Oscars and the Motion Picture Association of America. Some like Spielberg, are worried about what that will mean for the future of movies.
B次元官网网址淪teven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation,B次元官网网址� an Amblin spokesperson told IndieWireB次元官网网址檚 Anne Thompson late last week. B次元官网网址淗eB次元官网网址檒l be happy if the others will join (his campaign) when that comes up. He will see what happens.B次元官网网址�
An Amblin representative said Sunday there was nothing to add.
But some see SpielbergB次元官网网址檚 position as wrong-minded, especially when it comes to the Academy Awards, which requires a theatrical run to be eligible for an award. Many online have pointed out the hypocrisy that the organization allows members to watch films on DVD screeners before voting.
Filmmaker Ava DuVernay tweeted at the film academyB次元官网网址檚 handle in response to the news that the topic would be discussed at a board of governors meeting, which is comprised of only 54 people out of over 8,000 members.
B次元官网网址淚 hope if this is true, that youB次元官网网址檒l have filmmakers in the room or read statements from directors like me who feel differently,B次元官网网址� DuVernay wrote.
Some took a more direct approach, questioning whether Spielberg understands how important Netflix has been to minority filmmakers in recent years.
Franklin Leonard, who founded The BlackList, which surveys the best unproduced scripts in Hollywood, noted that NetflixB次元官网网址檚 first four major Oscar campaigns were all by and about people of colour: B次元官网网址淏easts of No Nation,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址漈he 13th,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址滿udboundB次元官网网址� and B次元官网网址淩oma.B次元官网网址�
B次元官网网址淚tB次元官网网址檚 possible that Steven Spielberg doesnB次元官网网址檛 know how difficult it is to get movies made in the legacy system as a woman or a person of colour. In his extraordinary career, he hasnB次元官网网址檛 exactly produced or executive produced many films directed by them,B次元官网网址� Leonard tweeted Saturday. B次元官网网址淏y my count, Spielberg does one roughly every two decades.B次元官网网址�
ItB次元官网网址檚 important to note that Netflix didnB次元官网网址檛 produce B次元官网网址淏easts of No Nation,B次元官网网址� B次元官网网址滿udboundB次元官网网址� or B次元官网网址淩oma,B次元官网网址� but rather acquired them for distribution. But if Oscar campaigns are no longer part of the equation in a Netflix-partnership, top-tier filmmakers are likely to take their talents and films elsewhere.
The Associated Press
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