Morgan Freeman on Diversifying Hollywood: ‘We Need Writers’

Actor Morgan Freeman said the lack of diversity in Hollywood is not just about the Oscars — the entire film industry needs to change, starting with writers.

“We need to go way back before the Academy Awards. We need to go back to [who’s] behind the camera, who’s helping to make movies,” Freeman told USA Today on Wednesday. He said the problem begins when there aren’t enough stories for actors or production members of color.

“I personally would try to encourage and do try to encourage writers,” Freeman said. “We need writers. If you’ve got stories to tell, that helps. That’s your biggest input. It’s unrealistic to me to say to a white studio, owned by white people, run by white people, ‘Well, why don’t you tell my story?'”

After all 20 acting nominees were white for the second year in a row, the Academy announced an overhaul to its voting and membership procedures on January 22.

[USA Today]