You can find a lot of commentary on the events at Sunday’s 2022 Oscars. Will Smith interrupted the awkward show to confront Chris Rock and then proceeded to cuss the rest of the crowd.
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But I wanted to add my voice to the fray because of all the things everyone is talking about right now, what few people are remembering is that Smith’s bizarre outburst was in response to a joke Chris Rock made while presenting the Academy Award for Best Documentary Feature. This category hosts many hardworking and scrappy artists. When you’re talking about accolades in the acting world, you’re talking red carpet, glitzy award shows and a tour of the morning show/night show circuit. It’s a whirlwind of publicity and public adoration. When you’re talking about accolades in the documentary world, you’re talking about word of mouth buzz, funding for your next project and if you’re lucky, a nomination or two during awards season, where you might get 30 seconds to be seen and heard and to thank all of the hundreds of people who made your project possible. It’s the “little guy” award in a way.
And Will Smith ruined it for the category’s nominees.
Are you even able to remember the names of those who were nominated for? Is it even possible to recall who was nominated? While Chris Rock is to be commended for his recovery, it did take him some time, which was understandable. He eventually managed to launch the (thankfully) prerecorded nominee package, but the audience – both live and at home – were obviously still absorbed in onstage drama. All those names faded into the background…the only chance most of those artists will have to hear their names and work read aloud in front of their peers.
Unavoidable documentary wins. Produced and directed by Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson with partners at Onyx Collective, Concorida Studio, Play/Action Pictures, LarryBilly Productions, Mass Distraction Media, RadicalMedia and Vulcan Productions, Summer of Soul was always going to be the winner, by virtue of the Academy’s voting habits and lobbying practices. It was the glitziest, they lobbied the hardest, it had celebrity attached to it and it followed the Summer O’ BLM. Is this a documentary on a period in American history that was dominated by blacks? It was the right time. The documentary was also a wonderful coincidence.
All of those in the category were aware that documentaries would be winners. They had one chance at Academy glory: to have their names read in that category. Questlove deserves a shout out for his ability to find whatever class was available and acknowledge his fellow nominees when he accepted his award.
Not to be forgotten is that late night singer said what many have been saying about black history for years. It’s time to treat black history as American history…period.
“…even though most will see this as a Black history film, we also need to start reframing that Black history is American history. And to let people know that you know, we had a hand in building this place.”
Smith and Rock were a mystery to me. I bristle at the overanalyzing of my colleagues and fellow pundits who are wringing the “toxic masculinity” or “snowflakeness” out of the whole situation. These two men clearly had more beef than I thought and that just spilled on to the stage Sunday night. I honestly don’t even care what Smith’s problem was, or who he thought he was defending. His actions are the worst thing about him. He pissed on something that many artists spend a lifetime trying to attain. He got to laugh that night, which was ironic considering he had enjoyed it so much.
Chris Rock and Will Smith are able to solve any problem on the stage by themselves. It is now that I don’t care so much about awards show culture anymore.
Will Smith must apologize to everyone in the documentary group. With his outburst, he stole from them. The least he could do is say he’s sorry. Perhaps even funding their next projects.
These are the nominations for the Best Documentary Feature category:
ASCENSION
Jessica Kingdon; Kira Simon–Kennedy; Nathan Truesdell
Film synopsis
The filmmakers examine the contemporary “Chinese Dream” through staggering observations of labor, consumerism and wealth. In exploring the aspiration that drives today’s People’s Republic of China, the film plunges into universal paradoxes of economic progress.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iIiGcrweW1Q
ATTICA
Stanley Nelson and Traci Curry
Synopsis of Film
Inmates from the Attica Correctional Facility took over a portion of the prison, and 39 guards were taken hostage to demand better treatment. On the 50th anniversary of this incident, filmmakers have gathered new interviews as well as archives in order to investigate one the most disturbing episodes in American history.
FLEE
Jonas Poher Rasmussen, Monica Hellström, Signe Bryge Sørensen and Charlotte De La Gournerie
Film synopsis
Danish resident Amin shares his story as a refugee child from Afghanistan, both in the desperate need to preserve his identity and to relieve himself of his burdens. He looks back over his life as he grapples with a secret that he’s kept hidden for 20 years, one that threatens to derail the life he’s built for himself and his future husband.
FIRE – WRITING
Rintu Thomas & Sushmit Ghosh
Film synopsis
Armed with smartphones and tenacity, a fearless group of journalists from India’s only women-led news outlet confronts social injustice while fighting for marginalized voices in the world’s largest democracy.
SUMMER OF SOUL (…OR, WHEN THE REVOLUTION COULD NOT BE TELEVISED) – WINNER!
Ahmir “Questlove” Thompson, Joseph Patel, Robert Fyvolent and David Dinerstein
Film synopsis
This film is centered around an amazing event that celebrated Black culture, history, and fashion during the summer of 1969. The film sheds light on both the power and importance of history.
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