Ten Years of Oscar Talk

Oscar Talk marked its 10th anniversary with a dynamic celebration at Emerson College Los Angeles (ELA) on February 26 featuring engaging panel discussions from communications experts on the forces shaping the Academy Awards and the film industry at large.

“We’ve only been able to host this event for the last 10 years due to the institutional support of ELA, the School of Communication, and the Department of Communication Studies,” said Owen Eagan, a senior lecturer in the Communication Studies Department who established Oscar Talk. “I think that this is a testament to the value of the program since entertainment has such a significant influence in our lives.”

The first panel of this hybrid event, The Academy Award for Best Director: It’s All About the Race, brought together speakers to examine historical inequities in the Best Director category at the Oscars. Kicking off the discussion, Professor Ken Grout, senior executive-in-residence at Emerson, presented recent research exploring disparities in nominations and wins.

Grout presented data illustrating how the Best Director category has historically included — and excluded — filmmakers of different races. One of his final slides highlighted a sobering reality at the Oscars: no Black filmmaker has ever won the Academy Award for Best Director, and only seven Black men have been nominated in the category’s 98-year history.

“In thinking about what can bring about change, these issues have to continue to be talked about. We need to collect data and understand its relevance in order for those conversations to lead somewhere productive,” said Grout. “I was happy that the data I have assembled thus far was able to be a catalyst for a fruitful discussion on this topic at Oscar Talk this year.”

Joining Grout on the panel were Ikanyeng Rammutla, founder of The Function Creative Company, an emerging multinational creative studio; and Rey Saint-Vil, a film distribution consultant, writer, director, and producer; Communications Studies Assistant Professor Sharifa Simon-Roberts moderated the panel.

“As someone who values the process and product of research, starting with research Ken has conducted, then inviting Ika and Rey to share their insight, led to a discussion grounded in data,” said Simon-Roberts. “Undoubtedly, this approach contributed to a rich conversation that benefits among others industry experts, scholars, students, and consumers.”

The evening ended with an Oscar Buzz panel, with speakers offering their takes and predictions on various Academy Awards categories. Panelists included Tim Gray, executive vice president of the Golden Globes; Emerson alum Jami Philbrick ’98, editor-in-chief of Moviefone; and Carla Renata, also known as The Curvy Critic. Eagan moderated the panel.

“It’s always fun to come back to my alma mater to get to speak. There’s a lot of exciting stuff going on with the Oscars,” said Philbrick, who will be present in the press room at this year’s Academy Awards. “The only way change is going to take place is by pushing for change. So it’s important to talk about these things.”

After producing his tenth Oscar Talk, Eagan said he hopes the issues raised during the discussions will continue to spark conversation long after the event concludes.

“I hope that these panel discussions have contributed to the change we wish to see in the world in some small way. That is the ultimate measure of this event’s success,” he said.

This year’s Oscar Talk event was preceded by a community reception with students, alumni, and members of the public. As part of the reception, Owen Eagan honored the life of Janice Payne, founding internship coordinator of the ELA Program, and read a statement from Gregory Payne, Janice’s brother and chair of the Department of Communication Studies. “The Emerson Los Angeles program is a vital chapter of the success story of thousands of Emersonians. Many of you here tonight knew personally how important Janice was during your time at ELA,” read Eagan. “Janice, for those lucky to know her, was the very essence of what is now described as Extraordinary Emerson.”