Women of Color in Film

The OCSARS, dazzled by cameras flashing and extravagant attire, also graced the night with the strength and presence of women and women of color. 

In 1940, Hattie McDaniel became the first African American person to win an OSCAR for her role in Gone with the Wind. Now 86 years later, Autumn Durald Arkapaw became the first woman and woman of color to win the Oscar for Best Cinematographer for the film Sinners, directed by Ryan Coogler. This year also marks the inaugural Oscar award for Best Casting, won by Cassandra Kulukundis, also won by a woman.

This year, only 46 of 180 people nominated were people of color. Out of those nominated,  64 were women, and 12 were people of color. While roles like cinematography and casting directing are often overlooked, every role and job involved in TV is important to the craft. Cinematography ensures every shot and angle has power and intensity to evoke a variety of powerful emotions from the viewers. And casting directors, whose occupations are vital because the actors who deliver the performance have to be specifically picked with the talent necessary for the film to succeed.

“I think it’s not that women are not involved in roles as much, but they don’t get as much recognition as men who are in those roles,” said Jonas Hellings, a senior in the Creative Writing Conservatory. 

While the Oscars also serve to bring movies into the mainstream media and advertising, they also provide a platform for artists to gain recognition, especially women and POC who have been neglected for most of history.

These wonderful women continue to inspire the upcoming generation of filmmakers to continue reaching for the stars and awards.