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 industry91裸聊视频檚 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 Cuaron91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淩oma91裸聊视频� at last week91裸聊视频檚 Academy Awards. Netflix, of course, did not win the top award 91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频淕reen Book,91裸聊视频� which was produced partially by Spielberg91裸聊视频檚 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 Scorsese91裸聊视频檚 91裸聊视频淭he Irishman,91裸聊视频� 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 91裸聊视频渋n theatres next fall,91裸聊视频� instead of the 91裸聊视频渋n select theatres91裸聊视频� phrasing that was used for 91裸聊视频淩oma.91裸聊视频�
But Netflix also isn91裸聊视频檛 playing by the same rules as other studios. The company doesn91裸聊视频檛 report theatrical grosses, for one, and it91裸聊视频檚 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 organization91裸聊视频檚 board of governors that would disqualify Netflix from the Oscars, or at least how the streaming giant currently operates during awards season.
This year, 91裸聊视频淩oma91裸聊视频� got a limited theatrical qualifying run and an expensive campaign with one of the industry91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淪teven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation,91裸聊视频� an Amblin spokesperson told IndieWire91裸聊视频檚 Anne Thompson late last week. 91裸聊视频淗e91裸聊视频檒l be happy if the others will join (his campaign) when that comes up. He will see what happens.91裸聊视频�
An Amblin representative said Sunday there was nothing to add.
But some see Spielberg91裸聊视频檚 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 academy91裸聊视频檚 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.
91裸聊视频淚 hope if this is true, that you91裸聊视频檒l have filmmakers in the room or read statements from directors like me who feel differently,91裸聊视频� 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 Netflix91裸聊视频檚 first four major Oscar campaigns were all by and about people of colour: 91裸聊视频淏easts of No Nation,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频漈he 13th,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频滿udbound91裸聊视频� and 91裸聊视频淩oma.91裸聊视频�
91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 possible that Steven Spielberg doesn91裸聊视频檛 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 hasn91裸聊视频檛 exactly produced or executive produced many films directed by them,91裸聊视频� Leonard tweeted Saturday. 91裸聊视频淏y my count, Spielberg does one roughly every two decades.91裸聊视频�
It91裸聊视频檚 important to note that Netflix didn91裸聊视频檛 produce 91裸聊视频淏easts of No Nation,91裸聊视频� 91裸聊视频滿udbound91裸聊视频� or 91裸聊视频淩oma,91裸聊视频� 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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