Academy Gold Profile Video (Aug 2017)
The Grio (March 2022)
Disney Creatives Behind ‘The Proud Family,’ ‘Encanto’ on Telling Diverse Stories in Animation
Encanto premiered in 2021 and was praised for showing an entire range of a Latino and Afro-Latino experience in the animation field. Akinloye, production office manager of the film, revealed this was a very intentional choice on the creative front. “I think the directors were very intentional, and the writers and producers…the whole creative team were intentional about having a large family, multigenerational family, [and] having Afro-Latino representation,” he explained. By listening to Black and LatinX employees throughout the process, Akinloye explained, “The filmmakers definitely did their due diligence with making sure that they can connect with the human elements and the basic foundation of what folks can relate to, so that everyone can see themselves now—not just in how they may look, but then also, how the characters are.”
UCLA Daily Bruin (March 2022)
| Oscars 2022: Lush World of ‘Encanto’ Blooms From On-Screen Representation (Article) |
Additionally, alumnus and production office manager on “Encanto” Babatunde Akinloye said he worked across departments to ensure accuracy and authenticity to the Madrigals’ story, such as with the choreography. As part of the Disney Animation Black Employee Group, Akinloye said he participated in discussions about skin tones for Afro Latin characters and also oversaw relationships with Disney’s internal Latino employees in the Familia group.
Los Angeles Times (July 2020)
| In 2017, The Academy Launched an Internship Program to Boost Diversity in Hollywood. How’s it Working? (Article) |
Akinloye says he’s been heartened to see an increasing number of young Black professionals like himself working in the film industry. “It’s a very different landscape than what I came out into in 2008 as a fresh film school grad,” he says. “I think companies are aware of the need to have diverse talent bringing their experiences and cultural perspectives. It’s not just something that looks good on paper, it’s a smart business decision. But there’s always more work to be done.”
VoyageLA (Sep 2019)
| Meet Michael Washington, Babatunde Akinloye, Justin Jemerson and Richard Stevenson Jr. (Article) |
"There’s not too many people that look like us in this industry with our skillset. We all know filmmaking from A to Z. We’re all shooters, so we’re able to provide full production service for any narrative, non-fiction or live project.”
Los Angeles Times (Aug 2018)
| Film Academy Internship Program Attempts to Move the Needle on Inclusion (Article) |
Babatunde Akinloye is among the program’s early success stories. Since finishing his internship last summer, the Inglewood native has landed a job at the production company MACRO, whose mission is to bring stories of people of color to the screen. “When I was coming out of UCLA, I was the only African American in my class of 30 film students,” says Akinloye, who credits his Academy Gold mentor, Disney production executive Tendo Nagenda, with helping him make key connections. “It definitely used to frustrate me — and there still is some frustration there. But to be part of Academy Gold and now be here at Macro, I’ve seen firsthand that things are trending in the right direction.”
Associated Press (Aug 2017)
| New Academy Gold Program Connects Interns with Oscar Winners (Article) |
Babatunde Akinloye, a USC graduate student who's interning at Disney, said the Gold program makes him feel like the industry really wants to become more inclusive. "There's lot of genuine people here who are working to give us access to just a phenomenal amount of resources," he said. "For me, it's just great knowing that they value diversity and are putting their effort behind doing that."
Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper (April 2013)
| Dodgers, Major League Baseball Honored Jackie Robinson (Article) |
“It’s a great privilege to stand here amongst the pillars of our community,” said Babatunde Akinloye, one of the scholars who works at Magic Johnson Enterprises, “I consider it a true honor to be an alumnus of the Jackie Robinson Foundation. They have provided me a great deal of resources, opportunities and experiences that allowed me to step into the front doors of Mr. Johnson’s company, and carry myself in a professional manner with dignity, integrity, and with the level of character that Jackie Robinson carried himself on the field. I am honored to be here and to continue his legacy.”
UCLA College Report (Vol. 6: Summer 2006)
| UCLA Wasserman Blue & Gold Scholarship (Article) |
"Akinloye, who wants to use his degree to create films that represent the African-American experience, is one of 40 undergraduates in the Wasserman Blue and Gold Program, which helps bring to UCLA students from high schools that traditionally sent few students to the campus. This is one of several scholarship programs made possible by a gift from Lew and Edie Wasserman, establishing the largest endowment for undergraduate support at UCLA. In total, the Wasserman Fund pro- vides $5,000 scholarships to 120 students each year."
