#Oscars SoWhite might not be solved

Did the 2017 Oscars signal the beginning of a more diverse Hollywood?

By many accounts, yes. “Moonlight” won best picture and the film academy rewarded more AfricanAmerican actors and filmmakers in more categories than it ever had in a single year.

But just two months before 2018’s Oscar nominations are announced, the projected representation of diversity on film’s biggest night is complicated at best. The talk around Hollywood is that the 20 acting nominees could be all white once more.

“It looks like there is a lot more work to be done,” said April Reign, #OscarsSoWhite creator. “But I always knew that it would not be solved in one year or two or three.”

Since 2015, when the hashtag became a rallying cry for inclusion, most, if not all, of the big studios have reinvigorated or created diversity initiatives, agencies have taken a more active role in supporting their clients and film festivals have continued to be entrees for marginalized folks.

The potential slate for 2018’s Academy Award nominations, however, does not look promising.

“It appears back to business as usual,” said Gil Robertson, president of the African American Critics Association. “I hate to sound cynical, but we’ve seen these cycles before where (Hollywood) says there will be a shift and then ... . ”

Films frequently mentioned in the best picture mix starring people of color include “The Big Sick,” “Get Out,” “Detroit” and “Mudbound.” Nominations for their stars, writers and directors are considered varying degrees of possible. It’s a formidable group: “Mudbound” director and co-writer Dee Rees, “Big Sick” co-writer and star Kumail Nanjiani, “Get Out” director and writer Jordan Peele plus star Daniel Kaluuya, “Detroit” actors John Boyega and Algee Smith, and “Mudbound” actors Jason Mitchell and Mary J. Blige.