The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is considering a number of changes (some more likely than others) to its Oscars nominations process, after the group drew criticism and inspired boycotts for only nominating white actors for its four primary awards, for the second year in a row.
One potential change: moving back to 10 Best Picture nominees, according to the New York Times. The Academy had a 10-nominee system in 2010 and 2011, in an attempt to capture more movies that were beloved by mainstream audiences. The experiment was called off after the 2011 Oscars got terrible ratings, notes the Hollywood Reporter.
Having 10 Best Picture nominees could help the Oscars stay relevant—but it’s still no guarantee that movies featuring minority casts, like Straight Oughta Compton and Creed, will make the cut. Under the current system, Academy members are asked to rank up to five movies as their choices for Best Picture, and between five and 10 films are chosen based on how many votes they receive.
Another change on the table is increasing the number of acting nominees to eight or 10 per category—but that might be a harder sell because the five-nominee system for the top four acting categories has been around since the 1930s.
Lastly, the Academy might choose to revoke members’ voting privileges if they haven’t exercised them in several years.
The Academy’s governing board will have a meeting to discuss potential changes on Jan. 26. Earlier this week, the Academy president Cheryl Boone Isaacs announced the Academy would take steps, including reviewing its exclusive recruitment process, to promote diversity within its membership and their Oscars picks. But it remains to be seen whether the Academy’s nearly 6,000 members—mostly white, male, and older—will be able to agree on any new measures.