What does Will Smith's resignation from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences mean for his career? - ABC News

Will Smith has resigned from the motion picture academy following his Oscars-night slap of Chris Rock.

"I will fully accept any and all consequences for my conduct. My actions at the 94th Academy Awards presentation were shocking, painful, and inexcusable," Smith said in a statement.

Rock, who was about to present the Oscar for Best Documentary when Smith confronted him on stage, declined to file charges when asked by police.

So, without legal charges, does Smith's resignation hold any significance for his career, or is it purely symbolic? Here's what we know.

What is the Academy?

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (or the Academy) is the body behind the Oscars. It makes the selection of each year's nominees, decides who wins, and organises the awards ceremony.

The Academy was founded in 1927, and was initially more focused on solving labour disputes, which were rampant at the time.

The first Academy Awards took place two years later, in May 1929, with just 12 awards.

Hollywood's most prestigious organisation bestows valuable industry credibility on its members.(AP: Matt Sayles/Invision)

Today, there are just under 10,000 members around the globe, divided into 17 branches based on speciality (such as directors, actors, writers, costuming) and 24 categories of award.

How do you become a member, and what's the point?

Membership of the Academy is limited to people working in the production of theatrically-released motion pictures, but is open to candidates from all countries.

Membership is open once a year, in the Northern Hemisphere Spring, and prospective members have to be invited or sponsored by two existing members from the branch they wish to join.

Each branch has its own eligibility criteria but Academy Award nominees are automatically eligible for membership and do not require sponsors.

Smith's wife, Jada Pinkett Smith remains a member of the Academy.(Reuters: Eric Gaillard)

Aside from credibility and industry networking opportunities that membership to the prestigious group presents, members of the Academy enjoy a number of other benefits.

They may nominate Oscars candidates in their speciality branch, and vote for the winners of each category.

That means those who are snubbed have only their peers to blame.

In addition, Academy members are invited to see new films at a theatre in Los Angeles for free within two weeks of debut.

Do you need to be a member to be nominated for an Oscar?

While only Academy members may nominate for the Oscars, the potential nominee doesn't need to be a member.

Come nomination time, members receive a ballot paper on which they list their picks for awards season.

Then comes a counting process similar to how Australia votes in elections. 

The counting is handled by the accountants of prestigious firm PricewaterhouseCoopers, who sort through the first picks, then second preferences, then third, and so on until a top five is decided.

Final voting papers with the names of nominees are then distributed, collected and counted, with only two partners of PwC knowing the results of the final ballots until the gold envelopes are opened onstage during the ceremony.

Is resigning from the Academy a career-breaker for Smith?

Short answer: no.

Will Smith is the only person in history to have ever voluntarily resigned from the Academy.

His wife, Jada Pinkett Smith remains a member, having joined in 2018 after the couple lent their voices to a 2016 campaign for more diversity in the Academy. 

Later in the ceremony, Will Smith took to the stage after winning Best Actor for his role as Richard Williams in King Richard. (AP/Invision: Chris Pizzello)

The Academy's standards of conduct policy states it is "categorically opposed to any form of abuse, harassment or discrimination".

Academy president David Rubin, who accepted Smith's resignation, said disciplinary proceedings would continue.

"We will continue to move forward with our disciplinary proceedings against Mr Smith for violations of the Academy’s Standards of Conduct, in advance of our next scheduled board meeting on April 18,” Mr Rubin said.

Given Smith's voluntary exit from the organisation, the previously discussed actions of suspension or expulsion from the Academy would no longer be relevant.

Some have speculated Smith would have his award for King Richard revoked. It's a possibility, but unprecedented and highly unlikely.

The only award ever rescinded was in the 1969 season, when a winning documentary was found to have been nominated in the wrong year.

It would be a big call for the Academy to revoke his award when others who have faced expulsion such as Harvey Weinstein and Roman Polanski have kept their statues.

Instead, it's more likely Smith may face temporary sanctions on his activity in Academy-controlled parts of the industry.

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2022-04-02 02:51:38Z
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