“I find it elitist, exclusive and, frankly, very backwards.”
The actress of ‘Wednesday’, Christina Ricci, has positioned herself against the Hollywood Film Academy, after the organization said it would open an investigation into campaign processes ahead of nominations.
Although the ad did not mention any particular film or nomination, the matter has come after Andrea Riseborough’s “surprise” Oscar nomination for the film ‘To Leslie’.
In a post (now deleted) from Instagram (which we learned about thanks to Deadline), Ricci was protesting the Academy’s decision to conduct an investigation.
“I find it comical that the ‘surprise nomination’ (meaning that loads of money haven’t been poured into positioning the actress) of a legitimate, brilliant performance is being investigated,“Ricci wrote.
“Is it that only films and performers who can afford campaigns deserve recognition? I find it elitist, exclusive and, frankly, very retrograde..”
Ricci also clarified that she is sure that Riseborough has nothing to do with the campaign, since the actors are never usually involved in this Oscar process.
After this, he added: “If the nomination is withdrawn, they should be ashamed.”
Riseborough has been nominated for the Best Actress award for ‘To Leslie’, despite the fact that the tape has been one of the smallest and least recognized of the last season.
The campaign was reportedly run by friends of Riseborough in Hollywood and included screenings of the film arranged by those people for voting members of the Academy.
Many theorized that Riseborough’s presence on the list had cost Danielle Deadwyler (‘Till’) or Viola Davis (‘The Woman King’) their place.
“The goal of the Academy is to ensure that the competition for the prize is fair and ethical. We are keen to ensure an inclusive awards process.“
“We will begin a review of campaign methods around this year’s nominations, to ensure no violations have been committed. and to inform us about whether future changes should be made, based on the new era of social networks and digital communication.”
It is not yet clear what the final outcome of that inquiry will be, nor if Riseborough’s nomination will be denied. Any measure proposed to date has been nothing more than a guess.
Source: Fotogramas
Rose James is a Gossipify movie and series reviewer known for her in-depth analysis and unique perspective on the latest releases. With a background in film studies, she provides engaging and informative reviews, and keeps readers up to date with industry trends and emerging talents.
