Sun Sentinel Palm Beach Edition
Eilish among 397 invited to Academy
Recent Oscar winners Ariana DeBose, Troy Kotsur and Billie Eilish are among the 397 individuals who have been invited to join the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.
The organization that puts on the Oscars said Tuesday that 44% of the 2022 class identifies as women, 50% come from outside of the U.S., and
37% are from underrepresented ethnic and racial communities. If the invitees accept, which most do, they will have voting privileges at the 95th Academy Awards, set for March 12.
Actors invited this year include Anya Taylor-Joy, Jessie Buckley, Gaby Hoffman, “Belfast” co-stars Jamie Dornan and Caitriona Balfe, as well as Jesse Plemons and Kodi SmitMcPhee, both of “The Power of the Dog.”
There is also a significant international presence, with invites going to Iran’s Amir Jadidi, Norway’s Renate Reinsve, France’s Vincent London, Nigeria’s Funke Akindele and Japan’s Hidetoshi Nishijima.
Directors invited include Andrew Ahn, Reinaldo Marcus Green, Mary Lambert, Amy Seimetz and Isabel Sandoval.
Several people, including director Jonas Poher Rasmussen, writer-director Ryusuke Hamaguchi and writer-director Sian Heder, were invited in multiple branches, but they must choose one when accepting.
In the music branch, Eilish’s brother Finneas O’Connell was also invited, alongside Dan Romer and Nathan Johnson. And writing branch invitees include Jeremy O. Harris, Adele Lim, Alex Ross Perry, Jon Spaihts and Craig Mazin.
Every year the academy invites a new batch of entertainment professionals to join the organization. Though an Oscar nomination is not a requirement, it is often a starting point. The 2022 class of invitees includes 71 Oscar nominees and 15 winners.
Essence Fest kicks off:
Black culture will be on display over the Fourth of July weekend in New Orleans as thousands converge on the city for the in-person return of the Essence Festival of Culture. It was held virtually in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic.
The multiday event begins with a Thursday performance by comedian Kevin Hart, followed by concerts Friday through Sunday. First-time headliner, rapper Nicki Minaj, performs Friday along with another first-timer, country singer Mickey Guyton. Music icon Janet Jackson is the featured artist on Saturday and fan favorite ’80s R&B group New Edition will close the event on Sunday.
Other artists scheduled to perform include Jazmine Sullivan, City Girls, Summer Walker, the Roots, the Isley Brothers, Method Man, Tems, Patti LaBelle and Stephanie Mills.
Wife, parents to share Boseman estate:
Chadwick Boseman’s wife and parents will split his $2.3 million fortune after he died without leaving a will.
According to a report published June 24 by Shadow and Act, the actor’s widow, Taylor Simone Ledward, is in charge of his estate and has asked the court to distribute the funds equally between her and Boseman’s parents, Leroy and Carolyn Boseman.
Boseman died of colon cancer in 2020 at age 43.
June 30 birthdays: Actor Nancy Dussault is 86. Actor David Garrison is 70. Guitarist Hal Lindes is 69. Actor David Alan Grier is 66. Actor Vincent D’Onofrio is 63. Actor Deirdre Lovejoy is 60. Actor Monica Potter is 51. Actor Molly Parker is 50. Actor Tony Rock is 48. Actor Lizzy Caplan is 40. Singer Fantasia Barrino is 38.