I've taken a fleeting interest in the #oscarsowhite controversy, including most recently the hot water that Charlotte Rampling has landed herself in http://www.theguardian.com/film/2016/jan/23/charlotte-rampling-i-regret-that-oscars-racism-comment-was-misinterpreted.

But what no one seems to be saying is "Who are the non-white actors and others who should have been in the nominations this year?"

It is passing strange that there are only actors and others of European origin up for awards this year (including Rampling). You would have thought that black, brown and yellow (if it is still politically correct to use those terms) people would have had some sort of a presence.

But I wonder if the "fault" lies elsewhere than the Oscars themselves, which most serious movie buffs don't take seriously anyway. Perhaps it is a problem with the industry which may predominantly only hire Caucasians, or perhaps it is audiences who may prefer to watch movies by Caucasians.

The Oscars are really about the US film industry. Perhaps it says most about their focus being country specific, and commercial, and based more on commerciality than artistic values?

"You would have thought that black, brown and yellow (if it is still politically correct to use those terms) people would have had some sort of a presence"

If they have presence as consumers then there is a large untapped market - which advertisers would ordinarily not hesitate to take advantage of.

In reply to that one might say that movie makers could be like the US car manufacturers - who continue to make large cars because they are more profitable per unit and are prepared to spend extra on advertising than make the cars that consumers really want.

If that is the case the end game could see other countries making the films that appeal to that (assumed) market States side.

Frankly, for some decades it has been de rigeur for film makers, certainly those catering for the mass consumption, TV series and so on, to over-egg and make overly obvious their multicultural casts and multicultural issues. As a student it was fun sitting with pizzas watching The Box or a movie while US students pointed out the various cultural groups represented. It was apparent that the dead hand of the PC police was active. Now one could say the same about Australia and probably more so.

As they have categories for best male actor, best female actor, why don't they simply do away with the pretence and have a category for best black actor and actress.

Hi Graham,

In an ideal world actors should be judged on
their performance alone. However when the
academy membership is made up of predominantly
white men over the age of 50 - this composition of the
membership (being very homogenous) will
be reflected in their choices. And its
not something that will probably change any time
soon.

Diversity is good for showbiz both in front of
and behind the camera. Talk is that the Academy is
planning to make changes around the 2020 year.

Tim Gray - Awards Editor for "Variety" writes that
last year's Oscars nominations drew howls of protests
for the lack of diversity.
This year it's even worse.

So can you nominate a movie that was neglected that would have made the difference Foxy? It's a bit rich to accuse people of being racist just because they are male and white! There must be some evidence of that. If the only films they have to choose from star white actors and actresses, then that's what they're going to choose, but it is evidence of nothing more than a restricted choice.

Dear Graham,

Yes, I'd be delighted to nominate a movie.
One that deserved a nomination last year -
"Selma."

And perhaps this link might be also useful:

http://variety.com/2016/biz/news/oscar-nominations-2016-diversity-white-1201674903/