Movie Academy invites 928 new members in attempt to diversify

Reuters - The group that hands out the Oscars said on Monday (June 25) that it had invited 928 new members from 59 countries, in its biggest diversity drive after years of criticism of its mostly white and male membership. Those invited include "Girls Trip" star Tiffany Haddish, British actor Daniel Kaluuya, best know for "Get Out," and "The Big Sick" co-writers Kumail Nanjiani and Emily V. Gordon, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences said in a statement. If all those invited accept, female membership would rise to 31 percent from the current 28 percent, the group said. People of color will increase to 16 percent from 13 percent. Total membership would stand at more than 7,000 actors, writers, directors, executives and others. A lack of diversity within the academy has long been cited as a barrier to racial inclusion in Hollywood's highest honors. In 2016, the Academy responded by pledging to double female and minority membership by 2020.