DEI Stories behind Oscar 2023 Winners
What 'Everything Everywhere' has taught us about racism and representation in Hollywood
DEI Stories behind Oscar 2023 Winners
Whether or not you watched the 95th Oscars on Sunday night, we have you covered! The Oscars, the most prestigious awards ceremony in the film industry, are widely anticipated every year. While the awards are intended to honour the best films and performances of the year, they are also a reflection of the industry’s values and priorities. In recent years, the issue of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) has been at the forefront of the discussion, with calls for greater representation and opportunities for underrepresented communities in Hollywood.
This year in nominations, Asian actors have made history. The Oscars recognized the most number of Asian acting nominees in a year. “Everything Everywhere All At Once” was a big winner. The movie is about an immigrant wife and mother facing an IRS audit of the family laundromat, and discovering that there are multiple versions of the universe — and herself. The movie had 11 nominations, the most of any film, and won 7 awards: best actress (Michelle Yeoh), supporting actor (Ke Huy Quan) and actress (Jamie Lee Curtis), best original screenplay, best picture, best director (Daniel Scheinert and Daniel Kwan), and best film editing categories.
“Naatu Naatu” is the first Indian film production to win the Academy Award for best original song. The movie was Netflix’s most-watched non-English movie last June, and according to IMDb, it earned nearly $155 million worldwide, while being India’s fourth-highest-grossing picture.
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What ‘Everything Everywhere’ has taught us about racism and representation in Hollywood
Michelle Yeoh, a 60-year-old Malaysian-born with an already long astonishing career in Asia, is the first Asian woman ever to win best actress at the Oscars for her performance in “Everything Everywhere All at Once”. Michelle’s achievements have made her a role model to people of colour, Asians and women, particularly those who reach a “certain age”. Through different interviews, we get to hear Michelle Yeoh’s lived experiences and perspectives on the topics of ageism, gender equity and much more.
CBS: “Ladies, don’t let anyone ever tell you you’re past your prime,” Michelle said at the ceremony, who also dedicated the award to her mom and all the moms in the world. Learn about ageism and gender equity.
CNN: “And then someone said to me, ‘You speak English!’ …and then I said, ‘yeah, the flight here was about 13 hours long so I learned.” Yeoh was born in Malaysia and grew up speaking English, like many people who live in Asia and around the world. Learn about unconscious bias and racism.
DW: Yeoh didn’t work for two years as Hollywood kept offering her roles of “fragile Asian women”. Learn about stereotypes and their impact.
Oscar winner Ke Huy Quan felt joy when his ‘birth-given name’ was read aloud at Dolby
The 51-year-old actor Ke Huy Quan moved from Vietnam to Hong Kong as a refugee and then to the US. He was once told to change his name toward the beginning of his career. He starred with Harrison Ford in 1984’s Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
LA Times: “When I started as a kid, it was my real name, Ke Huy Quan, and then I remember, when it got really tough, my manager told me that, ‘Maybe it will be easier if you were to have an American-sounding name.’” There can be various reasons why people change their names on their resumes. Some job seekers may change their names on their resumes to avoid discrimination based on ethnicity, gender, or religion. They may believe that their name might negatively impact their chances of getting hired due to implicit biases. Harvard Business School: Minorities Who ‘Whiten’ Job Resumes Get More Interviews. Hiring managers and recruiters: how do you screen resumes? Here are some tips on How to Create a Great Candidate Journey
The National: “My journey started on a boat,” Quan said in his acceptance speech. “I spent a year in a refugee camp, and somehow, I ended up here, on Hollywood’s biggest stage. They say stories like this only happen in the movies. I cannot believe it’s happening to me. This… this is the American dream!” Over the course of history, immigrants have made noteworthy contributions to the development of various countries. Immigrants have been important contributors to economic progress, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Immigrants have played key roles in job creation, scientific achievements, and economic development throughout the world. Learn about Immigration Successes Stories. Immigrants’ cultural perspectives, traditions, and values also enrich the diverse cultural fabric of the country, making it more vibrant and lively, bringing an increase in needs and expanding business opportunities.
How to make your DEI wins known to your Staff, Clients, customers and Business Partners
Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) are important in today’s Workplace, Business and Society. DEI can help organizations tap into a broader pool of talent and perspectives, which can lead to increased innovation, creativity, and problem-solving. By creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace, businesses can attract and retain a broader range of employees, which can enhance their competitiveness. As markets and customers become more diverse, businesses that prioritize DEI can better understand and serve the needs of their customers. This can help increase customer loyalty and drive revenue growth. A workplace that prioritizes DEI can help create a more positive and supportive work environment. This can improve employee engagement, productivity, and retention rates. Employees who feel valued and respected are more likely to be motivated to perform their best work. Promoting diversity, equity, and inclusion is essential not only for ethical and social reasons but also for achieving business success and meeting legal requirements. DEI pulls together more colourful experiences, invites opportunties, improves staff satisfaction, customer engagement and organizational reputation. If Diversity, Equity and Inclusion are important to your organization, make your efforts and commitments known publicly by getting the Diversity Equity Inclusion Workplace™ Certification! Amplify the value and impact.
Diversity Equity Inclusion Workplace Certification is an innovative way of valuing your commitment and interest and how excellent you are performing in diversity, inclusion, equity and community relations.
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