Oscar nominees Diane Warren, Mary Zophres, Terence Blanchard and more celebrated inclusion, diversity and the rising role of women at TheWrap and WanderLuxxe‘s party at Norah in West Hollywood on Wednesday night.
Among the many Oscar nominees attending the party were “BlacKkKlansman” composer Blanchard, “Free Solo” filmmakers Elizabeth Chai Vasarhelyi, Shannon Dill, and Jimmy Chin and Melissa Berton, nominated for the documentary short “Period. End of Sentence.”
Nominees in categories ranging from Best Picture to Costume Design to Documentary Feature were on hand to raise a toast to mark such progress. And there were also be plenty of women on the Oscar ballot celebrating: Warren, who is up for Original Song with “I’ll Fight” from “RBG;” Mildred Iatrou Morgan and Ai-Ling Lee, co-nominees for Sound Editing for “First Man” (Lee is also nominated for Sound Mixing); Zophres, costume designer for “The Ballad of Buster Scruggs”; and more.
With films like “Black Panther,” “Green Book” and “BlacKkKlansman” in contention, the 2019 Academy Awards reflect a celebration of diversity in film theme, actors and among filmmakers unsurpassed by any year before it. Yalitza Aparicio is the first indigenous actress ever to be nominated for Best Actress for “Roma,” directed by Mexican filmmaker Alfonso Cuarón, who is nominated in multiple categories this year — to name just a few examples. There is still work to be done: Just 25 percent of nominees in gender non-specific categories are women — leaving some to question whether an #OscarsSoMale hashtag would gain traction. Also, Asian actors did not appear in any of the acting categories. What’s more, only four of the possible 20 acting nominations this year went to people of color.
Stars at the party included DJ Shangela Pierce from the Oscar-nominated “A Star Is Born;” “Sideswiped” creator and star Carly Craig; DJ and record producer Paul Oakenfold; and many more.
Women and diverse nominees raised a glass to inclusion at TheWrap-WanderLuxxe Oscars Party this week. Watch our Founder/CEO @sharonwaxman reflect on the progress that's been made in Hollywood this year and share what work still needs to be done. #WrapOscarsParty pic.twitter.com/IXRZuPJa2L
— TheWrap (@TheWrap) February 14, 2019
TheWrap’s CEO Sharon Waxman, along with leaders from GLAAD and Color of Change, spoke during the party’s big toast to honor the nominees and also acknowledge that Hollywood still has a ways to go before achieving true equality. (Watch Waxman’s speech here!)
Outfitted with signature cocktails from sponsor Guillotine Vodka, TheWrap’s Oscar party was put on in conjunction with WanderLuxxe for what was a night to remember. Come back to TheWrap.com to catch more photos and videos from the party.