TWIW: Academy’s Diversity Booster, plus Viola Davis, Saoirse Ronan, Alicia Vikander and more — Brandy McDonnell comments

January 25, 2016January 25, 2016 Brandy McDonnell 0 Comments Academy Awards, alicia vikander, ampas, Cheryl Boone Isaacs, diversity in film, frances marion, saoirse ronan, the week in women, twiw

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The Academy’s Cheryl Boone Isaac has announced “a sweeping series of substantive changes” to boost diversity, including a commitment to doubling the number of women and diverse members of the Academy by 2020, but can the Oscars truly change unless Hollywood changes, too? Viola Davis addresses diversity issues in television and film. Saoirse Ronan and Alicia Vikander take on new roles and a tribute to Oscar-winning screenwriter Frances Marion. Read more in THE WEEK IN WOMEN

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Brandy McDonnell

Brandy McDonnell writes features and reviews movies, music, events and the arts for The Oklahoman, Oklahoma's statewide newspaper, and NewsOK.com, the state's largest news Web site. Raised on a farm near Lindsay, Okla., she started her journalism career in seventh grade, when she was elected reporter for her school's 4-H Club. Taking her duties seriously, she began submitting stories to The Lindsay News, and worked for the local weekly through high school. She attended Oklahoma State University, where she worked for The Daily O'Collegian and earned her journalism degree with honors. She worked for three years at small Oklahoma dailies The Edmond Sun and Shawnee News-Star. In 2002, she joined The Oklahoman as a features reporter, writing about movies, the arts, events, families and nonprofits. She moved to The Oklahoman's entertainment desk in 2007. In 2004, she won a prestigious Journalism Fellowship in Child & Family Policy from the University of Maryland's Philip Merrill College of Journalism. Along with her membership in AWFJ, she also is a founding member of the Oklahoma Film Critics Circle. Brandy writes The Week In Women blog for AWFJ.org.