By: Megan
Peters
It
doesn’t take much to prompt conversation on Twitter, and movie fans responded
to a heated debate in droves this weekend. Recently, a report went live saying Steven Spielberg is hoping to
get Netflix films banned from receiving Oscars, and it seems the streaming
service is responding at last.
Taking to Twitter, the official page for Netflix Film posted a
brief note to fans that’s seemingly in response to Spielberg and his critiques.
“We love cinema. Here
are some things we also love,” the post reads. “Access for people who can't
always afford, or live in towns without, theaters. Letting everyone, everywhere
enjoy releases at the same time. Giving filmmakers more ways to share art.
“These things are not
mutually exclusive.”
This comment surfaced
just days after a report by IndieWire suggested Spielberg is eager to suggest a
rule change within The Academy of Motion Picture Sciences to make streamed
films ineligible for awards.
“Steven feels strongly
about the difference between the streaming and theatrical situation,” a spokesperson
for Spielberg's Amblin Entertainment said. “He’ll be happy if the others will
join [his campaign] when that comes up [at the Academy Board of Governors
meeting]. He will see what happens.”
The report was met with some intense scrutiny online as netizens
weighed in on the director’s notes. Many felt his comments represented an
outdated view on film, but Spielberg is not alone in his concern. According to
reports, other Academy representatives feel Netflix needs to
adhere to certain standards to be eligible for Oscars moving forward.
“There’s a growing sense
that if [Netflix] is going to behave like a studio, there should be some sort
of standard,” one Academy governor explained. “The rules were put into effect
when no one could conceive of this present or this future. We need a little
clarity.”
At this point, no
decision has come down on whether The Academy's standards for streamed films
will be changed for future seasons, but the debate is raging on online. As
sites like Netflix continue to tout more and more critically acclaimed
projects, friction between the company and Hollywood's traditional theatrics is
unavoidable, but it seems Netflix is sticking to its guns with this big hurdle.
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