this is bbc news. the headlines: security officials in ukraine have accused russia of depriving belarus of its sovereignty. it comes after russia's president, vladimir putin, announced that his country would station nuclear weapons there. president biden has ordered that federal aid be sent to mississippi, as emergency services work to help hundreds of people who've been left homeless by a tornado. at least 25 people have died in mississippi, with one person killed in alabama.

voters in berlin are to decide whether germany's capital should be carbon—neutral by 2030. it comes after a year of campaigning, but critics say the timeframe is unrealistic. donald trump has launched his campaign to return to the white house, with a rally for supporters in the state of texas. he used the platform to attack those who are seeking to put him behind bars. you're watching bbc news. now it's time for talking movies: the changing face of hollywood. people were genuinely excited about the movies and about movie stars.

on oscar night, it was a big deal. it was huge. everybody went to the movies and everyone cared. that is no longer true. people are very comfortable now being outspoken about the sexism, the inequality that women have suffered through for decades. tonight, we broke that glass ceiling! | hello from los angeles. i am tom brook and welcome to talking movies. in today's programme, in the wake of the academy awards, we look back at the changing face of hollywood, the efforts that are being made to bring about greater diversity and inclusion. with the oscars now over, the film industry is reflecting on how it all went. the first academy awards ceremony took place in this landmark hollywood hotel in 1929.

95 years on, the oscars is facing challenges. wings was the very first movie to win the academy award for best picture. a silent film, a story involving world war i combat pilots, in love with the same woman. the oscar ceremony that year was attended byjust 270 people at the hollywood roosevelt hotel and it lasted just 15 minutes. i arrived in los angeles to cover the oscars for the first time in the 1980s with the late, great bbc film critic barry norman. in subsequent years, american film reviewer david anderson, who wrote for newsweek, joined barry to comment on the oscars for the bbc. the biggest voting branch in the academy is actors. this veteran hollywood—based film critic and film festival programmer is still thriving.

he remembers the 1950s, when the oscars were a much larger cultural phenomenon, reflecting perhaps america's superpower status. the big stars would all be there, the elizabeth taylors, and kirk douglases, burt lancasters, they would get enormous ratings in those days. hollywood had become the world's great empire and they were making great movies that were big and on great themes, the ten commandments. around the world in 80 days. in some ways, it was a flattering self—portrait! because america was the new global empire. and the oscars reflected that? and the oscars reflected that. in the heyday of the academy awards, the oscars had such currency because it was one of the few windows giving movie fans the opportunity to gawk at their idols. there wasn't so much access

to celebrity, that you weren't looking at people's instagrams and twitter accounts and seeing every single red carpet played back on youtube and knowing exactly who was dating who. it was all controlled by the studios. and so, when you got access to the stars on oscar night, it was a big deal. everybody showed up and it was a big event. and the movies were in the popular culture. everybody went to the movies and everyone cared. that is no longer true. it's been a real crisis of relevance for the academy, in part, because i think the movies are less relevant. people go to the cinemas now to see big—tempo movies like avatar, top gun. there are much fewer movies that wed the oscars to popular culture. when you think about the �*80s and �*90s, movies like terms of endearment, forrest gump — these big hits that weren't franchises, people went out and saw them.

so when the academy nominations went out every year, people had seen those movies. if i get an interviewee, would you go to that instead of the package? i spent several years intermittently broadcasting live from the red carpet. it was a thrill. and a privilege. but fraught with technical difficulties. do you hear me? the red carpet had grown to become almost as important as the ceremony itself. a top fashion runway. my producers wanted me to ask questions like, who are you wearing? versa ce. vera wang. tom ford for gucci. which only served to give major fashion brands free advertising. most of the stars were accommodating but, sometimes, they just didn't want to talk to me about anything. when you were a little girl in australia, did you watch the oscars? i'm going to move on. i have my girlfriend here... i won't take it personally. please don't. it was also tough to keep the stars in position until a slot became available in our output so i could interview them live.

jamie lee... actually, one of the biggest thrills i had was working alongside the late joan rivers, whose unique, often abrasive interviewing style, made her own red carpet fixture. made her a red carpet fixture. i really liked her. when you're on the red carpet, you talk to people and say quite rude things about what they are wearing. i say the truth. how did the british nominees size up? the british nominees today. it depends what they're wearing. ironically, the massive red carpet coverage added to the growing media saturation of celebrities at the time, eroding their specialness and their power to transfix, and making the oscars less of a draw. the great thing about the oscars is that it is live television and anything can happen, like when a streaker appeared at the ceremony in 197a. last year, my colleague peter bowes was broadcasting live on sunset boulevard when will smith suddenly shocked everyone watching the ceremony by slapping chris rock. we don't know what happened,

but i feel very sad about it. this year, i was back commenting on the proceedings with peter at the hollywood roosevelt hotel, the site of the first oscars. i think we can both agree that it was actually a good awards show. the conclusion was that it had been a pretty good academy awards. see you next year, hopefully. but i was disheartened to see that when the ratings came out, only 18 million viewers in the us tuned in to watch the ceremony, a bit higher than last year, but audiences used to be routinely in the 40—million range. that's one of the biggest changes for the oscars, it's become a diminishing american spectacle. oh, i think the academy is very concerned about the lower ratings. the tv rights to the academy awards fund the academy, they're worth millions and millions of dollars, and the lower the ratings, the lower those fees are going to be.

so they've got to be quite concerned. on the red carpet not so long ago, it was extremely rare to come across openly gay participants like sir ian mckellen. there were very few people of colour. i hardly ever interviewed female film—makers because there were simply none there. but the academy has been diversifying its membership. it is a work in progress, and those it nominates are beginning to look more inclusive, more like the real world, and that could perhaps help the awards regain its cultural relevance. as much as there has been change within the academy, the membership is still largely white, older and male. but there are efforts under way to bring about diversity through initiatives and education. here in the academy museum, there is an impressive exhibition that shows off the historic contribution that black americans have made to cinema, and it's quite an eye—opener. i first came to the academy museum just prior to its opening in 2021. it's a striking new addition to la's cultural landscape, a definite destination

for movie lovers. while it has popular mementos like the ruby slippersjudy garland wore in the wizard of oz and bruce the shark from the blockbusterjaws, it has a mission to educate. with this in mind is this exhibition, celebrating black participation in the american film industry. the museum's president and director, jacqueline stewart, explained the significance of what was on view, including a special tribute to hattie mcdaniel, who was the first african—american to win an academy award in 1940. she is one of the most important figures in the history of american cinema. she is the first african—american to be nominated for and to win a competitive oscar for her role as mammy in gone with the wind. now, you come on and

eat itjust a little. that was a film that was really contentious. many african—americans were upset about the revival of this romantic vision of slavery and the role she played as a mammy, as a servant, but she saw it as a role of great dignity, she played the role incredibly well and was rewarded for it, and i think it's important for people to recognise the sacrifices and the hard work that she really demonstrated during this early period. hattie mcdaniel. while mcdaniel may have broken barriers in collecting her award, she was forced to sit at the back of the ballroom during the ceremony, away from her castmates, because she was black. she gave a very dignified speech. i sincerely hope i shall always be a credit to my race and to the motion picture industry. the exhibition features numerous works from over the decades, including props, posters and footage of race films, films that had a black cast and were made mostly between 1915 and the 1950s for african—american audiences. in many ways, it's a prehistory

to what many people think is the start of black cinema in the early 1970s. there were these blaxploitation films, i don't know if you remember these. shaft. super fly. we wanted to demonstrate to people that there are 80 years of film making that preceeded that moment. did it surprise you as you put the exhibition together about how much work had been done by black people in cinema going back decades? mm, i think it's a real revelation to our visitors — when you can bring people through that history with the use of posters and photographs and costumes and props. it really makes you feel the presence of these artists in the space. i think it's an exhibition that honours these film—makers and really does something to bring their work to life. ifound the exhibition had a big impact on me, opening my eyes to a huge body of work. cinema created by black americans, by some very talented individuals.

i have to admit, sometimes, i'm brought to tears in that exhibition because these are people who never would have been recognised in this way during their lifetimes. and we bring it together in such an epic way, and people hear their voices and they see the quality of their acting and they see the documentation of all the labour that they contributed to their craft. in a way, it's heartbreaking that they made such a huge contribution in their lives and, really, were put down for it, almost. it's heartbreaking, on one level, but these were people who understood that they were part of a greater movement and they were notjust doing this work for themselves, but for future generations. and you hear these actors, these performers, express that sentiment all the time. women were involved in hollywood at the very start of the studio system but, overall, they've been something of a rarity behind the camera. until, that is, the #metoo

and time's up movement, which forced the film industry not only to conduct allegations of sexual abuse, but also of gender inequality. so, what's changed since then? with women in the film industry, there has been change, but it's often a story of two steps forward, one step back. a best adapted screenplay oscar for sarah polley. the writer—director of women talking. we know that we are bruised and infected and pregnant and terrified. a film that gave a solitary voice to female film—makers at this year's academy awards. produced by frances mcdormand, and with a nearly all—female cast, the film is a story of the rape of women within an isolated religious community. we will be ex—communicated, forced to leave the colony in disgrace if we do not forgive these men. and the summits that women hold to decide on action.

i would rather stand my ground and shoot each man in the heart and bury him in a pit than flee. sadly, i think this film will always be timely. there's never been a moment where women have not been having to fight for basic things or defend basic things that were hard—won. we have been preyed upon like animals. maybe we should respond like animals. with its exploration of sexual violence, it could be described as another post #metoo—era film. the arrest of hollywood producer harvey weinstein in 2017 for sexual offences precipitated the call for change within the industry. cheering and applause actress geena davis, the long—time campaigner for gender equality, says the biggest difference is that women are indeed talking about the injustices and inequality they've suffered. it's made it ok to talk about it, finally, that people are very comfortable now being outspoken about the sexism, the inequality, the unequal pay, the unsafe working environments that women have suffered through for decades.

while in the modern era, the number of female directors in hollywood has never edged much beyond the 10% figure, the drive for inclusion came with big gains. chloe zhao became the first woman of colour — and only the second female ever — to get a best director oscar in 2021 for her film nomadland. then sian hedes�* film, coda about the hearing child of deaf parents, scooped last year's best picture oscar. despite the commitment made to get more women behind the camera, this year's oscars really seemed like a bit of a setback because none of the directing nominees were women. among the films critics that were overlooked was the woman king by gina prince—bythewood and starring viola davis, the story of historical female warriors.

till, by chinonye chukwuthe, the true story of a mother's struggle forjustice after the murder of her son... this was my boy! emmett till! and she said, by maria schrader, the story of how female journalists at the new york times uncovered harvey weinstein�*s abuses. if that could happen to hollywood actresses, who else is it happening to? now, according to the director of a global think tank studying inequality on screen, we are looking at a downturn in women behind the camera at the downturn. looking at the top films each year, we saw an uptick right before the pandemic. for the first time since we've been doing this work. female directors were in the double digits, right? they broke that 10% marker. that number now has started to come down, and when we talk about directors in general, we're really talking about white women because if we think about women of colour, they rarely, if ever,

get a bat behind the camera. when it comes to behind the camera in film, not as progressive as one might hope. but there are encouraging signs that we are in a new era for women in hollywood. two women in their 60s won oscars this year for their acting, in an industry notorious for ageism. but its visible success like this best adapted screenplay oscar for women talking that matters most in this industry and, now, it's hoped all of the talking will lead to more action. beautiful, we got it, thank you. talking about sex is something that hollywood has had to get a lot better at since the #metoo and #timesup movements, but it had implications on film sets when sex scenes are part of a story line. it's led to a newjob in hollywood that many have barely even heard of. in los angeles, the intimacy co—ordinator has become part of the changing face of the industry.

lady chatterley�*s lover, by dh lawrence, was famous for its sex scenes. the latest screen adaptation of the love affair between an aristocrat and her gamekeeper had an intimacy co—ordinator to make sure those scenes looked realistic, but were choreographed. so, what is the day—to—day role of an intimacy co—ordinator? i met amanda blumenthal to find out. she has worked across hollywood on productions including the affair. the white lotus. so romantic. being the ricardos. and euphoria. every time i feel good, i i think it will last forever. the job of an intimacy co—ordinator is to create a safe environment onset for performances when they're doing scenes with intimate

content, whether that is nudity, simulated sex... scenes where they are exposed such as medical scenes, childbirth scenes, while also helping the director to realise their creative vision. just how sensitive a topic sex scenes are is illustrated by frankie zeffirelli's 1968 film romeo and juliet. i have more care to stay than will to go. the teenage lovers were 15 and 16, respectively, at the time of filming,

in the old days it was like ok, get on with it. and i think that what we've learned about the business, it's really great that is there. similarly, when people do feel safe, and they believe their voice is heard, then you perhaps don't need an intimacy co—ordinator. so it's like great to have it all in place everyone is protected. few actors would say intimate scenes are comfortable to shoot, but hollywood is making progress in making sure they feel safer. well, that brings our special edition of talking movies to a close, in which we've been looking at the changing face of hollywood. emma, it's really interesting in a way looking at the recording i've done and you've done in terms of the screen representation, you do get that there is positive

progress being made. look at the oscars and all of the asian film talent doing well, but there is still a long way to go in the industry, isn't there? there is, but it's been seismic over the last few years if you think about the profound effects of oscars so white, #metoo, #timesup, so change is happening, maybe it's a bit slow but we're getting there. at least we're going in the direction and we will leave you with one of my favourite songs about hollywood, from one of my favourite british musicians, ray davis of the kings and the title of the song is celluloid heroes. # you can see all the stars as you walk down hollywood boulevard # some that you recognise # some that you hardly have heard of # la la la la la la la # i wish my life was

a nonstop hollywood movie show # a fantasy world of celluloid villains and heroes #. all hello, hello, things are turning briefly all hello, things are turning briefly culled over the next hello, things are turning briefly culled over the next briefly culled over the next few days and — culled over the next few days and briefly culled over the next few days and with that culled over the next few days and with that briefly culled over the next few days and with that cold are culled over the next few days and with that cold days and with that cold are embedded culled over the next few days and with that cold are embedded days and with that cold are embedded across scotland, the showers with that cold are embedded across scotland, the showers across scotland, the showers today have been giving with that cold are embedded across scotland, the showers today have been giving across scotland, the showers today have been giving a dusting of scotland, the showers today have been giving a dusting of snow. have been giving a dusting of snow. further_ have been giving a dusting of snow. further south, a different story been giving a dusting of snow. further south, a different story with rain moving eastwards. behind it, with rain moving eastwards. behind it. spells— with rain moving eastwards. behind it. spells of— with rain moving eastwards. behind it, spells of sunshine developing. still reigned it, spells of sunshine developing. still rained it, spells of sunshine developing. still reigned clear away it, spells of sunshine developing. still rained clear it, spells of sunshine developing. still reigned clear away from south east still rained clear away from south still reigned clear away from south east england this afternoon and behind — still rained clear away from south east england this afternoon and behind it, a still rained clear away from south east england this afternoon and behind it, a legacy of cloud. many east england this afternoon and behind it, a legacy of cloud. many will see bright or sunny spells. wintry showers piling will see bright or sunny spells. north wintry showers piling into north east will see bright or sunny spells. wintry showers piling into north east england, curbing will see bright or sunny spells. north east england, curbing east anglia. east england, curbing east anglia. and north east england, curbing east anglia. and a east england, curbing east anglia. and a cold — east england, curbing east anglia. and a cold feeling

north east england, curbing east anglia. and a cold feeling day east england, curbing east anglia. and a cold feeling day anglia. and a cold feeling day compared to yesterday. and a cold feeling day compared to yesterday. vertically for the north sea coasts, with the north—easterly wind~ _ compared to yesterday. vertically for the north sea coasts, with the sea coasts, with the north—easterly wind. mainly dry for the north sea coasts, with the mainly dry tonight as many of the wind. mainly dry tonight as many of the wintry— wind. mainly dry tonight as many of the wintry showers start mainly dry tonight as many of the wintry showers start wind. mainly dry tonight as many of the wintry showers start to mainly dry tonight as many of the wintry showers start to fade, the wintry showers start to fade, increasingly clear wintry showers start to fade, the wintry showers start to fade, increasingly clear skies, wintry showers start to fade, increasingly clear skies, but we could see — increasingly clear skies, but we could see cloud across parts of wales and south west england, may be light but_ wales and south west england, may be light but temperatures below freezing for many and light but temperatures below freezing for many and that could lead to _ freezing for many and that could lead to icy— freezing for many and that could lead to icy stretches as well. freezing for many and that could lead to icy stretches before things turn lead to icy stretches as well. lead to icy stretches before things turn wet and lead to icy stretches as well. before things turn wet and lead to icy stretches before things turn wet and windy but very mild. high pressure is the dominant feature very mild. high—pressure is the dominant feature in high pressure is the dominant feature in very mild. high—pressure is the dominant feature in the high pressure is the dominant feature in the very mild. high—pressure is the high pressure is the dominant feature in the new week, it is the only day of the week we feature in the new week, it is the is the only day of the week we see the only day of the week we see the setup. notice is the only day of the week we see only day of the week we see the setup. notice the next atlantic is the only day of the week we see the setup. notice the next atlantic system _ setup. notice the next atlantic system waiting the setup. notice the next atlantic setup. notice the next atlantic system waiting to nudge in. for much of monday, mostly dry with system waiting to nudge in. for much for much of monday, mostly dry with spells system waiting to nudge in. for much of monday, mostly dry with spells any for much of monday, mostly dry with spells any of monday, mostly dry with spells any wintry showers starting spells any wintry showers starting to fade. but we could see any wintry showers starting to fade. but we could see rain, spells any wintry showers starting to fade. but we could see rain, any wintry showers starting to fade. but we could see rain, sleet and to fade. but we could see rain, but we could see rain, sleet and snow_ to fade. but we could see rain, but we could see rain, sleet and snow pushing into the to fade. but we could see rain, sleet and snow pushing into the northern isles snow pushing into the northern isles later in the _ snow pushing into the northern isles later in the day and northern isles later in the day and cloud developing later in the day and cloud developing across northern isles later in the day and cloud developing across parts later in the day and cloud developing across parts of wales cloud developing across parts of wales and south west cloud developing across parts of developing across parts of wales and south west england. here, cloud developing across parts of wales and south west england. here, temperatures south west england. here, temperatures in double figures, wales and south west england. here, temperatures in double figures, highs at—

temperatures in double figures, highs at best of six to nine celsius. and an atlantic front moves its way eastwards through monday night and into tuesday, bringing a speu night and into tuesday, bringing a spell of— night and into tuesday, bringing a spell of rain. the wind is picking up, and as it bumps into the cold out across— up, and as it bumps into the cold out across parts of scotland with a higher ground, we could see snow here through tuesday morning. and that band _ here through tuesday morning. and that band of rain extends eastward through the day. some of that will be through the day. some of that will drier be heavy, turning drier and bright across northern be heavy, turning drier and bright across_ be heavy, turning drier and bright across northern ireland through the afternoon. temperatures up slightly the compared to monday, but given the cloud _ compared to monday, but given the cloud and the rain, still a cool feeling — cloud and the rain, still a cool feeling day. compared to monday, but given the cloud and the rain, still an and south—westerly wind strengthen feeling day. and south—westerly wind strengthen further as south—westerly wind strengthen further feeling day. and south—westerly wind south—westerly wind strengthen further as feeling day. and south—westerly wind south—westerly wind strengthen further as we day. more strengthen further as we day. more further as we day. more atlantic front strengthen further as we day. more further as we day. more atlantic front is pushing strengthen further as we day. more further as we day. more atlantic front is pushing across bringing spells of heavy rain. atlantic front is pushing across front is pushing across bringing spells of heavy rain. to sun of the week bringing spells of heavy rain. to spells of heavy rain. to sun of the week ahead, cold frosty, sum of the week ahead, cold frosty, but mainly— sum of the week ahead, cold frosty, but mainly sunny start to the new week ahead, cold frosty, but mainly sunny start to the week ahead, cold frosty, but mainly but mainly sunny start to the new week. but things sunny start to the new week. but things will but mainly sunny start to the new week. but things will turn sunny start to the new week. but things will turn increasingly wet and

this is bbc news broadcasting to viewers in the uk and around the world. the headlines: ukraine accuses vladimir putin of making belarus a "nuclear hostage" after the russian leader said he would station nuclear weapons there. a state of emergency in mississippi— after a powerful tornado kills at least 26 people. as soon as we go from one vehicle to the next vehicle or from as soon as we go from one vehicle to the next vehicle orfrom building as soon as we go from one vehicle to the next vehicle or from building to building, we could hear screams and we could hear cries for help. donald trump heads to texas

to start his campaign to win back the us presidency in 202a.