A year after the historic success of Best Picture winner “CODA” at the Oscars, the 2023 Oscars presented the latest opportunity for Hollywood to show the world where it stands when it comes to inclusion and diversity.
On Oscar night, through a combination of memorable moments and inclusive elements of the ceremony, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences demonstrated its growing commitment to fostering inclusion and accessibility for all.
For the second time, a free ASL livestream was available on the Academy’s YouTube channel. The livestream was updated this year to improve accessibility for viewers. On the red carpet, a team of ASL interpreters helped attendees interact more effectively with fans and viewers at home, with members of the media receiving guidance on how to make their pre-show coverage more accessible . Meanwhile, stage accessibility not only included ramp access, but also a wheelchair lift for the first time.
At the awards show, “CODA’s” Troy Kotsur, who is deaf and made history by winning the 2022 Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, returned to present the same award this year.
Another particularly significant moment for inclusion occurred when actor with Down syndrome James Martin, who was on stage during ‘An Irish Goodbye’ winning the Oscar for Best Live Action Short Film, was serenaded by the public for his 31st birthday. Much like how Zack Gottsagen became the first person with Down Syndrome to present an award at the 2020 Oscars with “The Peanut Butter Falcon” co-star Shia LaBeouf, it was another example of authentic representation in the movie theater.
In fact, the Academy Awards have become more inclusive each year. Since 2021, the ceremony has included an ASL interpreter in the event media room, in addition to various other inclusive elements such as closed captioning, audio descriptions, and an accessible stage with a ramp.
The Academy’s commitment to a more inclusive experience reflects its partnership with the Ruderman Family Foundation, the organization I lead. Our three-year, $1 million grant to the Academy Foundation helps champion new perspectives on film and film history as well as an accessible and equitable experience for audiences of all backgrounds. Grant funding supports content and accessibility services at the Academy Museum and helps fund Academy Gold Rising, an internship development program for college-aged students and emerging professionals from underrepresented communities in the film industry.
As we celebrate this multifaceted progress for inclusion in the entertainment industry, it’s also important to remember that Hollywood’s work in this area is far from done. This is especially true when it comes to the practice of authentic performance—using actors with disabilities to play characters with disabilities.
Despite the supporting actor award for “CODA’s” Kotsur, 56% of deaf entertainment consumers still believe they “rarely” or “never” see their identity portrayed in movies and on TV, according to a recent National study. ResearchGroup.
This is precisely why the Ruderman Family Foundation works behind the scenes to foster progress. Since 2019, we’ve awarded the Seal of Approval for Authentic Representation, a designation that has become an industry staple through its recognition of films and television series that demonstrate a commitment to full inclusion in popular culture. . The honor is awarded when productions meet two criteria: they feature actors with disabilities with a speaking role of at least five lines, and they are in release or about to be released. The Foundation announces the honor whenever a film or television series meets these standards.
In the year since “CODA”‘s success at the Oscars, the Foundation has awarded the Seal of Authentic Representation to 10 shows and films. By publicly acknowledging these studio productions, we affirm and reinforce the practices of changemakers who are moving the entertainment industry in the right direction, in the hope that others will follow their example.
How can influencers who work both inside and outside of the entertainment industry ensure that the momentum continues when it comes to inclusion and authentic representation?
The actors themselves have the opportunity to effect change. Notably, former Oscar winner Marlee Matlin had declined to star in “CODA” unless other hearing-impaired actors were cast. His principled stance paid off, not just for the actors and the film, but for the industry as a whole.
Most recently, in January, jurors in the Sundance Film Festival’s U.S. drama competition walked out of the premiere of “Magazine Dreams” due to the festival’s failure to provide enough closed captioning for deaf viewers. Matlin was on the pageant’s jurors.
Thirty-six years separated the 1986 Best Actress win for Matlin, who is deaf, and Kotsur’s 2022 Oscar for “CODA.” Even though this year’s Oscars didn’t reach a similar milestone, the Academy’s commitment to inclusion and today’s changing landscape in Hollywood mean it’s all but certain that we won’t. ‘t have to wait that long to see the next Oscar for an actor with a disability.
Producers, directors and casting directors also have a role to play in making a difference. Not only can they (and should) insist that written roles of characters with disabilities be played by actors with disabilities, but they must also include people with disabilities in the various production roles.
As proud advocates of the journey to greater authentic representation, The Ruderman Family Foundation and our partners, along with other organizations dedicated to this issue, were thrilled to witness another memorable evening to include at the Oscars. 2023. We hope the entertainment industry and the general public see these moments not as the pinnacle of the authentic representation movement, but as another step on the path to lasting systemic change.
Jay Ruderman is president of the Ruderman Family Foundation.