"bureaucratic hoops" Really? Are you kidding? You do know drones could potentially hurt or kill someone? The requirements by the FAA seem fair to me.

You are right Mike and Leah, currently you have a to obtain a Pilots license of some kind (Sport,Ballon, private/comm air or copter) and a FAA exemption that takes 6-12months to get.

I think people are misunderstanding this announcement... this is huge for indie, commercial and corporate cinematography.

I hear ya Andy, you guys were hustling, we all appreciate it. But I agree with Aaron it would have been nice to have seen some footage from the gimbal products, its actually more important than the interview to me.

There are plenty of tools that work with the gimbals but most of them do not work right. And I can never believe any of those sales guys.

I assume ya don't watch the news often?

As a person of color I absolutely know racism and classism is not over.

I have talked to many people of different shades and creed and the overwhelming consensus agrees that those ugly traits are still alive.

I have witnessed it, been falsely accused, and pre-judged many times because of my race. And I promise you I am not the guy running around accusing everyone of being racist.

But discrimination still happens, this is America and this is still earth, nothing revolutionary has happened in many decades regarding this issue, it didn't just magically heal it self, ya know.

If ya have any minority friends ask them their opinion on the matter. Without being condescending and respecting their opinion, you might be surpised by the way they see the world.

I guess we agree to disagree. Things are not as simple as ya make them seem.

It almost seems like you are implying classism and racism are still not alive?

"Deal with it like all of the white people" Ha,ha really? I hear just as much bitching from white males. If thats dealing with it, I would hate to see yal mad.

I feel the NBA analogy is very weak, black people were not allowed to play in major sports leagues until they proved to be better than whites not just on par but exponentially better. So is that what has to happen in the film industry by that logic? Black people have to light 5 times better than Deakins and be 10 times quirkier than the Coens?

It is a system wide problem, otherwise WB would not be doing this initiative and the academy would not admit it needs improving. Its not just Hollywood with the diversity problem, its commercial, advertising and corporate work as well.

I also don't believe it gets constant attention, the two previous years it was barely mentioned.

I will just say there are certain classes in the world that are afforded more experiences and more connections due to where they were born or if born into certain families. Those classes have certain demographics that heavily favor a certain groups of people. We can agree there, right?

Isn't that basically a hand out? You are basically afforded more just because of circumstances. You did nothing to deserve but ya got it.

By that logic in America wouldn't the average white male have a better opportunity than an average anybody else?

Not saying it to bitch just cold hard facts. And there are many reasons for this, that is probably too heavy for this forum.

I was born in a higher socio-economic class than the average public school kid. It defiantly put me in a better position to succeed. Like most ppl born in that class I reaped the benefits of my parents success. I didn't earn it nor did I deserve it. I took the cards I was dealt and played the hand but Im aware that I was given a good hand and want to see others get a fairer shake, especially those who were not dealt the same hand.

Any handout given by a scholarship or a apprenticeship pales in comparison to being born in a above average socio-economic class.

Again I ask does it hurt to see others given an opportunity? (BTW, this is not a great opportunity) Do you feel you are being passed up? Or is this just another display of the white man getting trampled on?

#makehollywoodwhiter

Sounds like perspective to me because I know plenty of people of all races getting skipped over.

Not sure of your location because it can play a factor in this goal, but maybe make it a goal to work with/or network with more POC/women in the industry, at some capacity. Because they are out there. It might give ya broader perspective.

Also, its the big picture, society needs for its growth and maturity to start seeing more women and POC represented on-screen and in jobs/pay which were not previously an opportunity to those groups.

Of course there is no easy button or simple way to achieve a more diverse industry organically, but objecting to an honest attempt seems to be going in the wrong direction.