You have to give The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS) a lot of credit for being proactive. In light of the #Oscarsowhite movement moving forward this year with Latinos also demanding inclusion, this year’s 90th Oscars® producers Michael De Luca and Jennifer Todd have heard the cry. In a flurry of press releases from AMPAS within a two-week span, all announced at least one new Latino presenter at the Oscars® this Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® which broadcasts live on the ABC Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT.
The #OscarsSoWhite movement started with the African-American community in 2015 on social media. After three years that movement produced results at the Oscars both in presence, nominations and in awards for African Americans. However, the Latino community stood on the sidelines waiting to see when “inclusion” would include them, in spite of the fact that Latinos represent 24 percent of all movie ticket buyer.
This year the National Hispanic Media Coalition was done waiting. Making sure to convey that the demonstrations are not against AMPAS, rather the Hollywood studio and big production companies, NHMC’s President and CEO Alex Nogales stated, “We’re publically serving notice to the motion picture executives that we’re not asking for equity anymore. We’re demanding it.”
The first Latina/o to be announced as a presenter was Daniela Vega, the transgender opera singer and stage actress from Chile who was touted by critics as deserving of an Oscar nomination for her role in this year’s Oscar-nominated foreign film A Fantastic Woman.
As news of the protests organized by the NHMC, one held on February 5th the day of the Oscars® Nominees Luncheon and the second protest scheduled for March 3rd the day before the telecast of the 90th Oscars spread, the Latino presenters began to increase
Among the list of Oscar-nominated and winners luminary presenters that include Emily Blunt, Sandra Bullock, Dave Chappelle, Ansel Elgort, Jane Fonda, Viola Davis, Emma Stone, Jodie Foster, Ashley Judd, Nicole Kidman, Matthew McConaughey, and Helen Mirren are:
Oscar-winning actresses Rita Moreno won her Best Supporting Actress Oscar for her role of Anita in West Side Story). Additionally, she appeared in the Oscar-winning film The King and I as well as the Oscar-nominated films Carnal Knowledge, Summer and Smoke and Singin’ in the Rain. She is currently one of the stars in Netflix’s One Day At A Time.
Lupita Nyong’o, who was born in Mexico, won an Oscar for Actress in a Supporting Role for 12 Years a Slave. Most recently, she starred in the Oscar-nominated Star Wars: The Last Jedi and Black Panther. Her credits also include the Oscar-winning film The Jungle Book and the Oscar-nominated Star Wars: The Force Awakens, as well as Queen of Katwe. Nyong’o will next appear in Little Monsters.
“Together, these artists represent some of the most beloved movies of our generation,” said De Luca and Todd. “It’s an honor to welcome them to the 90th Oscars stage.”
Also announced earlier Oscar-nominated Gael García Bernal (for No) and voice talent for this year’s Oscar-nominated film Coco. Bernal along with Natalia LaFourcade and Miguel will perform the Oscar-nominated song Remember Me from Coco, music, and lyrics by Kristen Anderson-Lopez and Robert Lopez.
Also presenting will be Oscar Isaac who has starred in three Oscar-nominated films (Star Wars: The Last Jedi & Star Wars: The Force Awakens and the Oscar-winning Ex Machina. His seminal role in Inside Llewyn Davis in 2013 put his name top of Hollywood’s list. He will next appear in Annihilation and Life Itself.
Gina Rodriguez will also grace the stage as a presenter. She lent her voice to this year Oscar-nominated animated feature film Ferdinand. Although mostly known for her TV role in her CW series Jane the Virgin her list of film credits on the rise her last film Deepwater Horizon released in 2016 and Rodriguez will next appear in Annihilation and Miss Bala.
An actor, playwright, and composer, Lin-Manuel Miranda returns to the Oscar stage as well, having received an Oscar-nomination for his Original Song How Far I’ll Go from the film Moana. Known best for creating and starring in the Broadway musicals Hamilton and In the Heights. For this work, he has been recognized with Tony Awards®, Grammy Awards® and the 2016 Pulitzer Prize for Drama for Hamilton. He will next appear in Mary Poppins Returns.
“These actors have embodied some of the most heroic, aspirational and indelible characters ever brought to the screen,” said De Luca and Todd. “In so doing, they’ve not only entertained the world but illuminated the full range of the human experience.”
Presenters also include Eiza Gonza?lez, who starred in this year’s Oscar-nominated Baby Driver. She will next appear in Alita: Battle Angel, Highway and The Women of Marwen, and Eugenio Derbez (How to Be a Latin Lover).
The 90th Oscars will be held on Sunday, March 4, 2018, at the Dolby Theatre® at Hollywood & Highland Center® in Hollywood, and will be broadcast live on the ABC Television Network at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT. The Oscars, produced by De Luca and Todd and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel, also will be televised in more than 225 countries and territories worldwide. Additionally, “The Oscars: All Access” live stream from the red carpet and backstage will begin at 6:30 p.m. ET/3:30 p.m. PT on Oscar.com.
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