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History was Made at the Academy Awards

By Jennifer Coley, Gillian Pietowski
Staff Writer, Assistant Features Editor

The 90th installment of the Oscars took place at the Dolby Theatre at the Hollywood and Highland Centre in Los Angeles, California on March 4, and the ceremony made history more than once this year. Guillermo del Toro nabbed the best director award for “The Shape of Water” and is only the third Mexican to claim the prize. Basketball player, Kobe Bryant took home his first award for best animated short film.

Photo of Estephen Mores
Alex Ikhehedu, senior broadcasting major

“I have always been a Kobe fan. It’s another win for him, and it’s great to see him doing things off the basketball court after his retirement. I’m proud of him,” Alex Ikhehedu, a senior broadcasting major, said. Bryant announced his retirement in the Players’ Tribune in Nov. 2015. The lm is a narration and visualization of his letter.

Actor Jordan Peele, widely known for his role in the movie “Keanu,” won the award for best original screenplay for his film “Get Out.” The film was nominated for best motion picture, best original screenplay, best performance by a leading actor, and best achievement in directing.

“Jordan Peele is making history. ‘Get Out’ was such an amazing film,” Taylor Hill, a senior broadcasting major, said. “I honestly believe that movie deserved all the awards that night.” The horror film is about a young interracial couple who just started dating. On a trip to Rose’s (Allison Williams) family house, Chris (Daniel Kaluuya) initially feels the family’s behavior towards him is nothing but nervous attempts to deal with their daughter’s interracial relationship. As the weekend goes on, he discovers the real truth beyond his wildest imagination.

Photo of Michael Atkinson
Michael Atkinson, a film professor

Michael Atkinson, a film professor, was one of the many people who went to see ‘Get Out.’ Atkinson believes to make a great screenplay it needs to have “originality, eloquence, power, intelligence, resonance and respect for the audience.” To those who are fans of film, it is no secret that there has been a lack of diversity within the film industry. 

When Atkinson found out Peele was the first African American to win in that category, it wasn’t a huge surprise.“I wasn’t shocked by Peele being the first, because I know the history of the industry. It’s reflective of almost every other aspect of society in that regard.” he said.

There has been a huge movement in pursuing equality for all, and hopefully the film industry will start to realize its wrong doings and start to improve things. “I think the Academy is trying to take a few big steps, in its own kind of affirmative action kind of way. As with any industrial system, Hollywood won’t balance out in terms of race or gender without getting pushed,” Atkinson said.

The film “Shape Of Water” took home a majority of the awards that night including best picture, best director, best production design and, best achievement in music written for motion picture. Many students have not yet seen the film. “I honestly never even saw a trailer for that movie, but it won about five awards, so I guess it’s worth checking out,” Luis Viloria, a junior broadcasting major, said.

Overall, the 90th academy awards was full of historic, tearful and lovable moments that make viewers wonder what next year will bring.

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