Marlon Wayans weighs in on the White-Oscars boycott.

Actor/comedian Marlon Wayans of the Wayan
brothers, is out making the publicity rounds to
drum up attention for his new spoof comedy
"Fifty Shades of Black," which opens Jan. 29. But
wherever the actor goes, he's being asked to
weigh in on the many shades of gray in the
complex and far more serious #OscarsSoWhite
issue.
"I can't promote my movie!" Wayans told The
Times Wednesday, laughing. "I’m going to have to
change my movie from 'Fifty Shades of Black' to
'Fifty Shades of White' just so it can be
mentioned at the Oscars!"
While Wayans expressed solidarity with the aims
of the those who've criticized the Academy for
the lack of any actors of color among this year's
nominees, he stopped short of endorsing a
boycott.
"I always go, 'Let’s try to be productive
instead of counterproductive.' Instead of
just sitting out, I’d rather go, 'Let’s come
together and communicate.' That’s how you
solve issues.... I think the remedy could be
a peaceful one. I don’t know if there needs
to be a loud boycott. But there definitely
needs to be some sensitivity toward it."
While the Academy has come in for some
blistering criticism in recent days, Wayans says it
is incumbent on everyone, including filmmakers,
studios and the audience, to push for greater
diversity in movies.
"Does Hollywood need to make more
movies [with minorities]? Absolutely," he
said. "Do we need to make movies of the
quality that will be recognized by the
academy? Sure. It falls on everybody in the
film community, and we all have a job to
do. I use it as inspiration and invigoration."
"My brothers taught me, 'You don’t knock
on the door of Hollywood and ask to be let
in. You kick it off the hinges.' I don’t know
what complaining is going to do. I don’t
want a consolation prize, like 'Best Black
Actor goes to…' I take on the challenge, and
I know we’ve got work to do. It’s nothing
new."
Part of the problem, Wayans said, is that black-
led films rarely command the kinds of budgets
that other major studio movies do.
"We should have a sit-down with the
Academy, but we should also have a sit-
down with the film studios because we’re
not getting the budgets that we need to get
that kind of consideration," he said. "Look,
'The Revenant' was made for a lot of
money. The bear alone was $100 million."
He laughed. "And I’m sure the Oscars are
going, 'What are you angry about? The
black bear was awesome in 'The Revenant!'
"
While Wayans expressed support for the message
Jada Pinkett Smith offered in protesting the
Oscars' lack of diversity, he jokingly questioned
her timing.
"I agree with what Jada said. I don’t agree
with her timing because, as her friend, she
looked like an angry wife. You don’t shade
no sister’s husband. She’s like, 'No, I know
my baby was good in that damn
'Concussion' movie. And I’m going to give
the Oscars a damn concussion if they don’t
recognize him. They shaded him on 'Ali.'
They shaded him on the movie with my
son. And now you’re going to shade him on
'Concussion?' Not today.”
In regards to Chris Rock remaining as host or
dropping out in solidarity with those who've
called for a boycott he said..
"Should Chris Rock host? Sure. Everybody
just gave him a ton of material. This is
going to be a lot of fun. He should put
himself in every single one of these Oscar
movies as the black guy. Just superimpose
himself in every last single one."