Actors and academy members comment on the Oscar controversy

With the Academy Awards just weeks away, actors and members of the academy continue to weigh in on the lack of diversity in the nominees this year. For the second year in a year no actors of color were nominated in the acting categories, which has caused an uproar.

Penelope Ann Miller, member of the academy, said it was a competitive year in film and she supports the talent of black people.

She told The Hollywood Reporter, "To imply we are racists is extremely offensive."

Another member of the member said race was the furthest thing from his mind when his cast his ballot and he was also extremely offended.

Actress Halle Berry, who is the first and only African American woman to win the Oscar for best actress said the lack of diversity is "heartbreaking." Berry believed that her win was a break through for African American women but she is disappointed that no other woman of color has won since she won 15 years ago.

Actress Helen Mirren defended the academy and doesn't think it is fair to attack them. She said the industry needs to look at what films are made and how they are cast.

The problem with the lack of diversity in the nominations is not with the academy, but with the studios who are creating films. More films featuring people of color and different backgrounds need to be made in order to create more diversity. It is not the academy's fault if they don't not have enough movies about a variety of people to examine and vote on. Casting directors should hire actors of color.