David Oyelowo on female directors and why #OscarsSoWhite isn't over
With his latest film, A United Kingdom, hitting theaters Friday, David Oyelowo, 40, sat down with USA TODAY to talk about why #OscarsSoWhite is far from over and how Donald Trump's election has changed discussions at home with his children.
On why Octavia Spencer's Oscar nomination is so important:
The actor seeks out roles that celebrate a different side of the black experience, which is partly why he’s overjoyed to see Octavia Spencer’s Oscar nomination for playing a NASA mathematician in Hidden Figures. “There’s a disproportionate amount of recognition for playing slaves domestic servants, criminals, sports stars and musicians," he says. "We are so much more than that." To see Spencer recognized for playing a positive, real-life role, "that’s a change. That’s different. I’m looking forward to more of that.”
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On why #OscarsSoWhite is far from over:
"It would be naïve and very shortsighted to think this is the end of the challenges faced by people of color in relation to the movie industry. The infrastructure that enabled two years of #OscarsSoWhite is still very much in place," he says. "You could argue in relation to women (directors), it’s worse."
David Oyelowo aims for 'A United Kingdom' in a tale of race and royalty
On why having a seat at the table matters in Hollywood:
Oyelowo, who has expanded his producing credentials with such projects as Captive, HBO's Nightingale and A United Kingdom, stresses how imperative is is to have people of color in decision-making positions in Hollywood. "I can insist upon who I want to direct a film, as a producer," says Oyelowo, who pushed for Amma Asante (Belle) to direct his latest film. "Basically, we’ve just got to accept that people are biased. They exercise their bias in daily life in what they do and in what they want to see in the world, and so you’ve just got to spread the love, so people of different backgrounds, races and genders can exercise their bias."
On why 'A United Kingdom' skipped the awards race:
Fox Searchlight acquired A United Kingdom last fall at Toronto Film Festival, but decided to hold the film until 2017 to avoid being crowded out by the crush of prestige projects at the holiday box office.
"Awards season is wonderful when you’re one of those handful of films that gets anointed, and I really mean that," he says. "I don’t necessarily think it's always to do with the quality of the film. There’s kind of an alchemy that takes place and you can never predict it."
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On what he's teaching his sons after Trump's election:
The British-Nigerian actor, who recently became a U.S. citizen, says the election has put the onus on parents. “As a father who wants his sons to have the utmost respect for women, to not objectify women ... and then that kind of behavior being condoned by being afforded the highest office in the land, you have to say, 'OK, fine, yes, we apparently live in a country where that can get you all the way — but not in this house,' " he says.
