The 96th Academy Awards, like any other year, was a historic event. While movies like Oppenheimer made it big and entered into the history books, Cord Jefferson made history in his way. The first-time director not only won an Oscar for Best Adapted Screenplay for his feature American Fiction but also called out Hollywood for its lack of inclusivity when it comes to movies and budgets.
Advocating for the film industry and the audience to be more inclusive towards small-budget films, his speech has been going viral on the internet, earning some well-earned praise from the fans.
Oscar Winner Cord Jefferson Goes Brutal At The Oscars
Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction is not a big-budget film, yet it has an Oscar win against five nominations and countless other accolades. A critical hit, the movie is based on the 2011 novel by Percival Everett, Erasure, and is a cruel satire revolving around a writer with a novel called My Pafology, taking down the racial stereotypes of the white population.
An impressive feature, while the movie offers an incredible commentary on the compartmentalization of Black creatives in the industry, its director/ screenwriter Jefferson called Hollywood out for pretty much the same and called for diversity and equality among films in terms of budgets.
While accepting his award, Jefferson stated,
“It’s a plea to acknowledge and recognize that there are so many people out there who want the opportunity that I was given… I understand that this is a risk-averse industry, but $200 million movies are also a risk. But you take the risk anyway. Instead of making one $200 million movie, make 20 $10 million movies or 50 $4 million movies.”
Adding that the next Scorsese, Nolan, and Greta are already out there desperate for their one shot, Jefferson’s speech was met with much applause despite fans calling it a brutal roast of Hollywood’s current ideology when it comes to movies, budgets, and quality.
Fans React To Cord Jefferson’s Brutal Roast Of Hollywood
Cord Jefferson’s American Fiction was reportedly made against a budget of $10 to $25 million (via Screen Daily and The Film UK). A stark contrast with many movies nominated at the Oscars, this one has been at the receiving end of critical praise.
After Jefferson’s speech calling Hollywood out for not always treating small-budget movies the same way as big-budget movies went viral, fans had some of the most interesting reactions.
All the actors who ask for extraordinary amounts of money to be in movies clapping along.
You're apart of the problem 🤦🤦— Doug Black (@DougBlack7) March 11, 2024
But then they wouldn't be able to reap as big of tax breaks! Think of the tax breaks Spencer! 😢
— BulletWilliam 🇺🇦Thank you masking and vaxing (@BulletWilliam_) March 11, 2024
yea except the actors in that room won't work for less money
— Tom DiMaggio (@tomdimaggio) March 11, 2024
I'd take a 4 million dollar original idea movie over a 200 million dollar Avengers universe movie ANY DAY OF THE WEEK. #Oscars
— Lisa Garey (@LisaGareyYYC) March 11, 2024
Look at how proud he is. He’s like “YES! TELL EM!” pic.twitter.com/DMLhXIDPr9
— New Perspective (@NuwuPerspective) March 11, 2024
Those movies are being made. They are out there. The public screams about this and people applaud, but the bottom line is the public goes to see the 200 million dollar movies. Not the 10 million on the regular.
— dreams7 (@drem4you) March 11, 2024
While fans also called out the actors applauding for the speech who would most probably not work for a small-budgeted movie, they also remarked that dozens of such movies are already made but end up overshadowed by the big-budget ones.
American Fiction can be rented on Amazon Prime.
