Lee Daniels’ show “Empire,” about the drama among the members of a hip hop mogul’s family as they fight for control of the company, has found a large audience ever since its premiere in 2015. Soon, his new show “Star” will premiere on Fox, and in honor of the new series, the New York Times has run a profile of the producer and director. In it, he expresses his negative opinion about the #OscarsSoWhite controversy over representation and diversity at the Academy Awards.
“Go out and do the work,” he says. “Oscars so white! So what? Do your work. Let your legacy speak and stop complaining, man. Are we really in this for the awards?”
“If I had thought that way — that the world was against me — I wouldn’t be here now,” he continues. “These whiny people that think we’re owed something are incomprehensible and reprehensible to me. I don’t expect acknowledgment or acceptance from white America. I’m going to be me.”
Daniels wrote and directed the 2006 film “Precious,” based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, which received six Oscar nominations and won two for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. He also produced the 2001 film “Monster’s Ball,” which also won the Oscar for Best Actress.
There are asian actors constantly working (and trying to get work but they cant)
There are latino actors constantly working
and there are black actors that are constantly working
its about getting recognized for the excellent work that you do, not the material object that is the award
voicing the lack of representation in the film industry and at the oscars isnt being entitled nor is it being "owed" something.
its just saying "hey oscars, we are here too and there were a lot of performances by minorities that we think deserved a nominated for being excellent displays of talent"
I think it's more so about giving actors/actresses of color Oscar worthy roles and movies to work with, because you can't be recognized for your talent when there aren't many opportunities to begin with. The hashtag must have done some good though, cause now this year we have Moonlight, Fences, Hidden Figures, Loving, Lion.
There are asian actors constantly working (and trying to get work but they cant)
There are latino actors constantly working
and there are black actors that are constantly working
its about getting recognized for the excellent work that you do, not the material object that is the award
voicing the lack of representation in the film industry and at the oscars isnt being entitled nor is it being "owed" something.
its just saying "hey oscars, we are here too and there were a lot of performances by minorities that we think deserved a nominated for being excellent displays of talent"
The world isn't made for you to succeed if your not white, you have to push furthered to break through
The Oscars are defiantly all white, you see how pumped we are for the black panther movie featuring all this great African American talent, that like every movie for white people
But it's not always the actors themselves who are complaining as much as the audiences who do not see proper representation. His "do the work" thing doesn't really apply to the message of the hashtag.
I think it's more so about giving actors/actresses of color Oscar worthy roles and movies to work with, because you can't be recognized for your talent when there aren't many opportunities to begin with. The hashtag must have done some good though, cause now this year we have Moonlight, Fences, Hidden Figures, Loving, Lion.
Daniels wrote and directed the 2006 film “Precious,” based on the novel “Push” by Sapphire, which received six Oscar nominations and won two for Best Adapted Screenplay and Best Supporting Actress. He also produced the 2001 film “Monster’s Ball,” which also won the Oscar for Best Actress.
