Kobe Bryant Denied Entry Into Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences

Academy Award winner Kobe Bryant had his invitation to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences rescinded over a desire to have him expand his body of work.

Variety is reporting that Kobe Bryant had his membership nomination to the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences denied. The Short Films and Feature Animation branch voted in favor of having Bryant granted entry into the organization, but the Academy’s governors committee overruled the decision explaining that Kobe needs to build up a larger body of work before he can become a member.

With more than 8,000 members, the Academy is focused on responding to criticisms that have called out the group’s "perceived lowering of standards" when it comes to invites. Back in March, Bryant and Glen Keane won the Academy Award in the Best Animated Short Film category for Dear Basketball. Typically, winning an Oscar would automatically allow someone to join the Academy. However, the organization is handling these invites on a case by case basis, and Kobe just doesn’t make the cut... yet. 

Bryant has already expressed a desire to expand his horizons in the industry that go beyond his work in Dear Basketball. "I think the important thing for me is to establish myself within this industry as a serious creator," he said. "I mean, I can write. I can edit. I can produce. I can do those things at a serious level. It’s not something that’s kind of a one-time passion sort of thing. It’s just something that we do every single day."

If Kobe can show that he's committed to the craft, it's probably only a matter of time before he receives that invite to the Academy.

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