Steven Zeitchik, Writer LA Times Lorraine Ali, Writer LA Times 202 W. 1st St. Los Angeles, CA 90012 Re: 1/15/15 article “Oscars Diversity Snub” Greetings: The AMPAS® is basically an industry trade group with voting members. They aren’t under any public obligation. They 6000+ paying members can decide who they want to nominate. If people don’t like the process (myself included) we have the choice not to watch and demand ABC boycott the Oscars®. I applaud the focus of the article “lack of diversity”. But, it only covers discrimination against Black actors. That isn’t fair or accurate. Did any Hispanic actors get Oscar® Nominations? Did any openly LGTB actors receive Oscar® Nominations? Did any Asian actors receive Oscar® Nominations? The answer is NO, NO, and NO. The discrimination today was across the board on all minorities. A problem that “Hollywood” is largely responsible for and has done nothing to correct in the last 60 years. “Selma“ is riddled with rewrites of history and has been called out publicly as a result by many famous historians and authors. “Selma” also failed to the gain support from the King family. Did your article consider that the families distance from the film might have caused the perceived lack of nominations? Is Ms. Winfrey going to refuse her Producer Nomination and return her honorary Oscar® in protest? Odds are she wouldn’t want to upset the power structure in Hollywood. Sony Executive Amy Pascal’s leaked emails enlightened all with the knowledge that the Screen Actors Guild doesn’t require producers, studios, and networks comply with the “Equal Pay Act”, a federal law. For years every single Studio and Network have refused and failed to meet diverse hiring standards on a daily basis in major areas that include casting, writing, and directing. Four major power unions the DGA, WGA, PGA, and SAG are involved in rampant continued perpetual discrimination based upon their hiring practices alone. That is real discrimination and any other industry would be fined out of business by the EEOC and with class action lawsuits. Yet, the LA Times isn’t writing about that, since it could negatively impact advertising revenue. While your article might have been well intended, it is fluff piece that contains only a percentage of the facts. Articles like that misinform the public and confuse the real issue. Q. Lastly, isn’t it ironic that Neil Patrick Harris an openly gay actor hosting an awards show that doesn’t celebrate, respect, and honor diversity? A. Not in Hollywood where the need for fame and continued wealth is valued most of all. Best regards, JR O’Neil This email and any attachments are not intended to be a full recitation of the relevant facts and is without prejudice to the legal and equitable rights and remedies available to me in connection with this matter, all of which are expressly reserved. This message is confidential. It may also be privileged or otherwise protected by work product immunity or other legal rules. If you have received it by mistake, please let us know by e-mail reply and delete it from your system; you may not copy this message or disclose its contents to anyone. The information contained in this e-mail (along with any attachments) is intended only for the use of the individual(s) to whom it is addressed. It is confidential and may contain privileged information. If the reader of this message is not the intended recipient, you are hereby notified that you should not read its contents, and any dissemination, distribution, or copying of this communication is strictly prohibited. If you have received it in error, please immediately (1) delete this transmission and any attachments and (2) notify the sender to advise them of the error. Notwithstanding the Uniform Electronic Transactions Act or any other law of similar import, absent an express statement to the contrary contained in this e-mail, neither this e-mail nor any attachments are an offer or acceptance to enter into a contract, and are not intended to bind the sender.
Posted on: Fri, 16 Jan 2015 07:36:16 +0000
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