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 industry害羞草研究所檚 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 Cuaron害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淩oma害羞草研究所� at last week害羞草研究所檚 Academy Awards. Netflix, of course, did not win the top award 害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所淕reen Book,害羞草研究所� which was produced partially by Spielberg害羞草研究所檚 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 Scorsese害羞草研究所檚 害羞草研究所淭he Irishman,害羞草研究所� 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 害羞草研究所渋n theatres next fall,害羞草研究所� instead of the 害羞草研究所渋n select theatres害羞草研究所� phrasing that was used for 害羞草研究所淩oma.害羞草研究所�
But Netflix also isn害羞草研究所檛 playing by the same rules as other studios. The company doesn害羞草研究所檛 report theatrical grosses, for one, and it害羞草研究所檚 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 organization害羞草研究所檚 board of governors that would disqualify Netflix from the Oscars, or at least how the streaming giant currently operates during awards season.
This year, 害羞草研究所淩oma害羞草研究所� got a limited theatrical qualifying run and an expensive campaign with one of the industry害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淪teven feels strongly about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation,害羞草研究所� an Amblin spokesperson told IndieWire害羞草研究所檚 Anne Thompson late last week. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檒l be happy if the others will join (his campaign) when that comes up. He will see what happens.害羞草研究所�
An Amblin representative said Sunday there was nothing to add.
But some see Spielberg害羞草研究所檚 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 academy害羞草研究所檚 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.
害羞草研究所淚 hope if this is true, that you害羞草研究所檒l have filmmakers in the room or read statements from directors like me who feel differently,害羞草研究所� 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 Netflix害羞草研究所檚 first four major Oscar campaigns were all by and about people of colour: 害羞草研究所淏easts of No Nation,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所漈he 13th,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所滿udbound害羞草研究所� and 害羞草研究所淩oma.害羞草研究所�
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 possible that Steven Spielberg doesn害羞草研究所檛 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 hasn害羞草研究所檛 exactly produced or executive produced many films directed by them,害羞草研究所� Leonard tweeted Saturday. 害羞草研究所淏y my count, Spielberg does one roughly every two decades.害羞草研究所�
It害羞草研究所檚 important to note that Netflix didn害羞草研究所檛 produce 害羞草研究所淏easts of No Nation,害羞草研究所� 害羞草研究所滿udbound害羞草研究所� or 害羞草研究所淩oma,害羞草研究所� 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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