Last week, Captain Marvel actress, Brie Larson, became the recipient of the Crystal Award for Excellence in Film at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards.

During her acceptance speech, the 28-year-old used the opportunity to highlight the lack of diversity amongst film critics.

According to a study by the University of Southern California, almost 80% of critics are male, while women of color represent just 2.5% of the field.

“Am I saying that I hate white dudes? No, I am not,” stated the Oscar winner. “But if you make a movie that is a love letter to women of color there is an insanely low chance that a woman of color would get to see that movie… I don’t need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work about A Wrinkle in Time. It wasn’t made for him. I want to know what it meant to women of color, to biracial women, to teen women of color, to teens that are biracial.”

Her sentiments have now been echoed by fellow Best Actress winners, Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock.

“A studio can support a film and it’s the invisible faces on the internet, and often male reviewers, who can view it through a prism of misunderstanding. I think that is a really big part of the equation,” lamented the Aussie actress; while her Ocean’s 8 co-star said, “It would be nice if reviewers reflected who the film is for like children should review children’s films, not a 60-year-old man. I guess his opinion would be kind of skewed.”

The post Female Oscar Winners Call for More Diversity Among Film Critics appeared first on EverydayKoala.

However, thanks to the massive success of the film Girls Trip, studios are starting to reconsider their previous notions. Movie fans have spoken loud and clear; diversity is a key factor drawing them into theater seats (and drawing money out of their wallets).

The film, financed by Universal Studios, revolves around a group of four friends who take a trip to New Orleans for a week of wild, hilarious partying. The A-list cast certainly added to the star power of the film, with Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and up-and-coming breakthrough comedian Tiffany Haddish starring in the film’s lead roles.

How did studio execs know the movie was destined to defy the odds? Universal president of domestic distribution Nick Carpou acknowledged the stereotypes head-on. Carpou noted that while it was true that Hollywood had a historically distant relationship with African-American leads, he believed that audiences were beginning to actively value diversity in a way that transcends those outdated beliefs.

“Girls Trip is a bold film,” he said, “The characters are highly relatable, and the story speaks a universal language.”

While black-led films (as well as live-action comedies) are often notorious for receiving low critical acclaim, it seems the A-plus casting and gut-busting writing set Girls Trip apart from the crowd. In the last year, many black-led films such as Get Out, Moonlight, and Hidden Figures have been making waves at the box office and in review columns, setting a precedent of appreciating diversity in all genres of film.

Hollywood’s evolving attitudes paved the way for Girls Trip, which brought in a whopping $30.4 million upon its debut, the best start an R-rated comedy has seen in years.

Did you see Girls Trip? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!

The post “Girls Trip” Cleans Up At The Box Office, Shows Diversity Sells appeared first on EverydayKoala.

Last week, Captain Marvel actress, Brie Larson, became the recipient of the Crystal Award for Excellence in Film at the Women in Film Crystal + Lucy Awards.

During her acceptance speech, the 28-year-old used the opportunity to highlight the lack of diversity amongst film critics.

According to a study by the University of Southern California, almost 80% of critics are male, while women of color represent just 2.5% of the field.

“Am I saying that I hate white dudes? No, I am not,” stated the Oscar winner. “But if you make a movie that is a love letter to women of color there is an insanely low chance that a woman of color would get to see that movie… I don’t need a 40-year-old white dude to tell me what didn’t work about A Wrinkle in Time. It wasn’t made for him. I want to know what it meant to women of color, to biracial women, to teen women of color, to teens that are biracial.”

Her sentiments have now been echoed by fellow Best Actress winners, Cate Blanchett and Sandra Bullock.

“A studio can support a film and it’s the invisible faces on the internet, and often male reviewers, who can view it through a prism of misunderstanding. I think that is a really big part of the equation,” lamented the Aussie actress; while her Ocean’s 8 co-star said, “It would be nice if reviewers reflected who the film is for like children should review children’s films, not a 60-year-old man. I guess his opinion would be kind of skewed.”

The post Female Oscar Winners Call for More Diversity Among Film Critics appeared first on EverydayKoala.

However, thanks to the massive success of the film Girls Trip, studios are starting to reconsider their previous notions. Movie fans have spoken loud and clear; diversity is a key factor drawing them into theater seats (and drawing money out of their wallets).

The film, financed by Universal Studios, revolves around a group of four friends who take a trip to New Orleans for a week of wild, hilarious partying. The A-list cast certainly added to the star power of the film, with Jada Pinkett Smith, Queen Latifah, Regina Hall, and up-and-coming breakthrough comedian Tiffany Haddish starring in the film’s lead roles.

How did studio execs know the movie was destined to defy the odds? Universal president of domestic distribution Nick Carpou acknowledged the stereotypes head-on. Carpou noted that while it was true that Hollywood had a historically distant relationship with African-American leads, he believed that audiences were beginning to actively value diversity in a way that transcends those outdated beliefs.

“Girls Trip is a bold film,” he said, “The characters are highly relatable, and the story speaks a universal language.”

While black-led films (as well as live-action comedies) are often notorious for receiving low critical acclaim, it seems the A-plus casting and gut-busting writing set Girls Trip apart from the crowd. In the last year, many black-led films such as Get Out, Moonlight, and Hidden Figures have been making waves at the box office and in review columns, setting a precedent of appreciating diversity in all genres of film.

Hollywood’s evolving attitudes paved the way for Girls Trip, which brought in a whopping $30.4 million upon its debut, the best start an R-rated comedy has seen in years.

Did you see Girls Trip? What did you think? Let us know in the comments!

The post “Girls Trip” Cleans Up At The Box Office, Shows Diversity Sells appeared first on EverydayKoala.