Film Academy Invites 683 New Members To Join, Move Towards Diversity

LOS ANGELES (CBS13/AP) - Six months after announcing intentions to double the number of female and minority members in its ranks by 2020, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has invited 683 new members to join the organization.

The academy says its invitees are 46 percent female, 41 percent minority and represent 59 countries.

Idris Elba, Chadwick Boseman, Eva Mendes, America Ferrera and Anika Noni Rose are among the actors invited to membership. Other potential new members helping to increase the academy's diversity include Chinese cinematographer Zhao Fei, Japanese production designer Yohei Taneda, and directors Karyn Kusama and Patricia Riggen.

Sacramento-area native and winner of the 2015 Academy Award For Best Actress Brie Larson tweeted about how she will use her vote:

Should all the invitees accept, the academy says its new class would make the overall membership 27 percent female and 11 percent minority. Currently, the membership is 25 percent female and 8 percent minority.

Copyright 2016 The Associated Press.

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