The Academy Of Motion Pictures Arts And Sciences. which hands out the Oscars, is expanding its ranks by inviting 134 more people to join. The Academy could have taken in up to 166 more, but its arcane rules say that rather than just being able to invite whoever they like, each branch of the organisation have to approve new members to their sector, and only 134 got through the process.
New inductees include actors such as Casey Affleck, Emily Blunt, Brendan Gleeson, James McAvoy, Viola Davis, Michael Cera, James Franco, Anne Hathaway, Emile Hirsch, Seth Rogen and Paul Rudd. As you might have noticed the Apatow crowd is well represented. It’s believed the Academy is deliberately trying to pick younger, less arty members to offset the increasing average age of Oscar voters, which many think has resulted in mainstream films getting shut out of the Academy Award race in recent years. It’s a bit of a change from past policy, which saw more arthouse and international filmmakers invited to join. It’s also interesting that they’ve only just invited Hugh Jackman, even though he hosted this year’s Oscar ceremony.
Other inductees include director Danny Boyle, Henry Selick and Typer Perry, composer A.R. Rahman, writers Dustin Lance Black and John August, plus producers Christain Colson and Paul Wagner.
If you’re on the main news page, click Read More to see a full list of the new Academy members for 2009.