Importance of awards

I believe that awards are important to the success and professional legitimization of Black Africa American actors and directors. In a community that wasn't initially accepting of people of color, I've noticed that African American actors and directors have gone unrewarded. As a result, the establishment of award shows primarily for people of African Americans was created. Because most award shows like the oscars and academy did not recognize African Americans, shows like the BET awards, Black Girls Rock, and BET honors was created in order to prevent the exclusion of African American actors and directors. These shows act as a gratitude to them for their great works. With out recognizing these actors and directors for their work, their will essentially be no incentive and motivation for them to continue to do their great works.

Importance of Awards in American American Cinema

Personally, I never thought about this much. It wasn't until last year while watching the Academy Awards that I noticed how few people of color are typically nominated let alone actually win awards. For instance, Quvenzhane Wallis starred in Beast of the Southern Wild at just 5 years old at the time of auditioning and filming (and just 9 years old at the time of her nomination) and took the film world by storm. Unfortunately, more attention was paid to the pronunciation of her name than her skill or performance in the film, which earned her a nomination for Best Actress. Wallis lost however, to one of Hollywood's most prominent stars, Jennifer Lawrence for her performance in Silver Linings Playbook.

Now while I haven't seen Beast of the Southern Wild (I'm bad at remembering to watch movies/tracking them down,) I have seen Silver Lining's Playbook and I gotta say...it was alright. By the end of the movie, it was just another Hollywood love story about two white people, not super original. The big thing about the movie was that it centers around two characters with mental illnesses, though the character's illnesses were brought up maybe a handful of times (at the most) and how they find comfort and love despite the fact that they are suffering. To me, the movie sent this message: If you have a mental illness, it's okay because you'll find someone to accept and save you and make you happy.

From what I've read and heard about Beasts of the Southern Wild, it centers around a young girl (played by Wallis) and her ill father trying to survive after a storm destroys their Louisiana home, known as the Bathtub. Throughout the film, the father and daughter struggle to take back their community. In the end, the father dies and his daughter says her final goodbye by setting his funeral pyre ablaze.

Even though a nine year old somehow had the talent and emotional depth to play a fierce and independent character like Hushpuppy, who spends most of the film either trying to establish some sort of functional relationship with her sick father or traveling on her own to find her mother, that wasn't enough for the Academy. Apparently, what they wanted was Jennifer Lawrence screaming at Bradley Cooper about how "fucking crazy" she is before throwing a bowl of cereal in a diner and giving him the bird as she passes the window of the restaurant while she is storming away. This frustrated me, I mean, come on. Scream, throw a bowl of cereal, flip someone off. I can do that and you probably can too. Obviously, Lawrence had to memorize lines and dance routines for the film but so do most actors and actresses. Her performance was fine, it was good, but did it deserve and Oscar? And did it deserve one more than that of a child who played a role even adults might find difficult?

I don't think winning awards like the Oscar matter, because they are not fairly awarded. When people of color can win award for playing a character other than a racial stereotype, maybe they will matter. Until then, they can piss off as far as I'm concerned.

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In my opinion, awards mean a lot in measuring success of all actors and actresses, so I feel like they are just as important to black actors. To be recognized by the community within which you work should always be an honor, and I think that it does encourage others to become involved knowing that the opportunity is out there for them because others have pioneered and reached success before. With that being said, I think they are important to success and professional legitimization of Black American actors and/or directors but these awards are not the only measure of success in the film industry although they are the most recognized.

The Legitimization of Awards

I don't believe that recognition from the Academy legitimizes one's career any more than one who does not receive an Oscar.  While receiving an Academy Award definitely would not hinder an actor/actresses career and future endeavors, I don't think they are a necessary for future success.  The Academy Awards are awarded by a small committee of persons whose views may not be in the popular mind of the masses - the people who hold the true power to eliminate or bolster a celebrity's career.  In an essay I read titled, Toward A Definition of Popular Culture, by Holt N. Parker, the argument was essentially that something is considered to be popular culture until it is recognized by an institution.  In other words, recognition is death.  Based off of that sort of, vague definition, one could argue that a large population of people could hold an esteemed view about an actor/actress that they value, and cease to maintain that opinion once the Academy dubs the silver-screen star as a "winner."

Race at the Academy Awards

I happened upon an interesting article that discusses the members of the Academy broken down into race, gender, and age.  As you may have guessed, of the the nearly 5,800 members the majority are white men over the age of sixty.  Although these figures don't surprise me, I am intrigued when contemplating my adoration for watching the annual award show.  For me, it all actually goes back to a white woman over the age of sixty.  Bobbi Sue Klopp, a 4'11 southern film professor with exceptionally thick eyeglasses, got me into the movie scene only a handful of years ago.  She taught me how film does so much more than depict a story, but rather how through the use of strategic cinematic techniques it can consume the viewer by transporting them into the constructed world itself.  Bobbi Sue swears by the Academy Awards, and although she would disagree with some nominations and victors, her overall opposition was very infrequent.  It seems to me that little Bobbi Sue knew what she was talking about. 

In the courses I took with her, Bobbi never mentioned race, gender, sexuality, etc. regarding the films, but rather focused on the composition, transitions, and other cinematic elements specifically in Oscar-nominated productions.  I'm not sure why those topics never came up, but I'd bet she would have either found them irrelevant or unnecessary regarding cinematic elements of style.  Whether Bobbi Sue's potential motives are accurate, or if they could represent the majority of the older white male population which composes the Academy, I couldn't tell you.  Although I can't speak for the past--specifically the year Denzel Washington and Halle Berry both won Best Actor/Actress and the years which precede it--I'd like to think in this current day and age race, gender, and sexuality do not play a role in the outcome of such a high-profile awards show.  Then again, maybe I'm just being naive. 

I could definitely see how it would affect any race of color regarding the representation of (or lack thereof) Oscar nominations and wins.  Where simply receiving a nomination should be a prize in and of itself, winning brings publicity for a film in such a way other award shows fall short in comparison.  Between the updated movie trailer promotions to the "Oscar-winning" stickers slapped onto the DVD covers, winning an Oscar can bring a substantial amount of revenue to the film.  And having one's race be identified by the Academy shows acceptance, success, and power. 

It will also be quite interesting to see the outcomes of this year's Academy Awards, most specifically to see how Jared Leto does for Best Supporting Actor in Dallas Buyers Club in which he plays an AIDS-ridden transvestite.  It should at least make for an excellent controversy and great discussion.

Also, for kicks and giggles, here's a link to the qualifications necessary to become a member of the Academy!

Black Actors and The Oscars

Awards don't seem to legitimize much for Black directors. Take the Academy Awards for example. To date, there have only been three Black directors ever nominated for the Academy Award for Best Director. John Singleton and Lee Daniels both lost, but I doubt an Oscar could legitimize their careers more than they already have. Although Singleton's latest films can't compare to his classics like Boyz N the Hood, Higher Learning, Poetic Justice, he undoubtedly established a successful career in the film industry even though he didn't walk away victorious. Same could be said for Lee Daniels as well. Before his second time directing in Precious he had already established himself as a producer and since his first Oscar nomination, he's directed two successful films, both filled with famous casts (The Paper Boy and The Butler). 

As for acting, such awards could very well legitimize something, but I think it depends on who the actor. For example, take the win of Hattie McDaniel—the first ever Black actor to be nominated for an Academy Award— in the Best Supporting Actress category in 1939 for Gone With the Wind. In her awards speech, she spoke of how humbling the award was and how she hoped she could forever be a credit to her race and the film industry. She then claimed the award would be something she used in the future to motivate her. Since then, thirteen Black actors have taken home Oscars in the top four acting categories. Four of them were Best Supporting Actress winners just like Hattie McDaniel. I believe this award does and should mean more than simply a job well done. When Hattie McDaniel won the award the Civil Rights Movement was still fifteen years down the road. It was a testament not only to her career as an actress, but to her moving performance and how she was able to break racial borders through portraying a character. 

As for male actors like Forest Whitaker or Denzel Washington, I think awards like Oscars are simple remnants to further remember some of already memorable work. By that I mean their performances would still be outstanding even if they didn't win. Before Forest Whitaker's Best Actor win for The Last King of Scotland in 2006, he was working with directors like Clint Eastwood, Oliver Stone, and Jim Jarmusch, even directing a few films along the way. Although Washington's career was sort of jump started by his Supporting Actor win in Glory, his career really does speak for itself without any necessity for more Oscar gold. The Hurricane or Malcom X like we discussed in class, Philadelphia, or He Got Game—these films established him as an actor with range. His previous award got him in the spotlight, and his talent and work ethic kept him there. Awards seemingly mean so much, but some of the best actors and directors to work in film have been annually left out of awards season. To some, awards might be the best representation of success. In other situations, it could be quite different.

Oscar Awards

I have mixed feeling regarding the recognition and award distribution within the film industry. Although the selection committee tends to make faulty judgements and is a bit bias, I believe it's still imperative for minority actor and actresses to meet and surpass their standards. Nowadays, almost every business entity has some sort of committee and/or some sort of debatable standards in place. From the Hall of Fame of professional sports to the Employee of the Month posts at Taco Bell, to get recognition one must prove themselves no matter the system. Historically, it has taken someone or some group to overcome a set of standards, laws, policies, or barriers before the unfair treatment even began to change. With that being said, no the award committee's selection process is not fair however, given the imperfect world we live in it is indeed necessary if those looked at as inferior want to be respected and earn credibility in their field.

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I personally do not believe that African Americans need recognition from institutions like the Oscars, Golden Globes, etc. in order to be viewed as successful, legitimate actors/actresses. In my opinion, the views of those selection committees do not ultimately decide the legacy of an actor/actress. The fact that Denzel Washington was snubbed for movies like "Philadelphia", "The Hurricane" and "Malcolm X" show that these committees' views do not correspond with the population's views of these performances.

That being said, I have no idea how people determine what legitimizes an actor/actress, or how these actors/actresses determine their own success. It's hard for me to believe that an actor who has put out as many solid performances and made as much money as Denzel Washington truly cares how a small segment of "decision-makers" view his work. I think when black actors/actresses are constantly snubbed, it's more so viewed as a reflection on the committee itself than it is the performers, and I believe the majority of people do not hold the Oscars decision as infallible or even consistently correct.