The National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences (NATAS) is taking major steps to keep current in the ever-changing television and digital entertainment sphere. The organization has announced a plethora of changes in its new set of Daytime Emmys rules.
Of the 15+ changes to be introduced this year, Soap Central has listed out the new rules that will greatly affect soap operas below. (For more information on the changes not set to directly affect daytime dramas, click here.)
-- A non-gender specific Outstanding Younger Performer in a Drama Series category will replace the Outstanding Younger Actor and Younger Actress in a Drama Series categories.
-- All of the performers eligible for gendered acting categories will be open to enter the category they feel best fits their gender identity. (An example of this is Asia Kate Dillon, a non-binary cast member of Showtime's Billions, who chooses to compete in the Supporting Actor category at the Primetime Emmys.)
-- Several Creative Arts Emmy Awards categories will be open to both broadcast dramas and digital drama entrants, including: Outstanding Art Direction/Set Direction/Scenic Design for a Drama or Digital Drama Series; Casting for a Drama or Digital Drama Series; Costume Design for a Drama or a Digital Drama Series; Lighting Direction for a Drama or Digital Drama Series; Multiple Camera Editing for a Drama or Digital Drama Series; Music Direction and Composition for a Drama or a Digital Drama Series.
-- Outstanding Makeup, Outstanding Costumes, and Outstanding Hairstyling reels will be required to include only "everyday" makeup and hairstyling. Special event, Halloween, special effects, prosthetic, and period makeup and hairstyling reels will now belong in the newly created Outstanding Special Effects Costumes, Makeup, and Hairstyling category.
Says NATAS president/CEO Adam Sharp of the new Daytime Emmy Awards rules, "The changes we have instituted for this year's Daytime Emmy Awards reflect the increasing diversity of the programs and individuals honored, as well as that of daytime television's many fans. Our Academy is determined to remain on the forefront of inclusiveness in our industry and we're grateful to GLAAD and other organizations and voices who give their time and wisdom to help shape our competitions."
In addition to the announcement of several new rules, NATAS also announced its call for entries for this year's competition. Early entries are due Wednesday, December 18, while the final deadline is Wednesday, January 15.
As previously announced, the 47th Daytime Emmy Awards will take place at the Pasadena Convention Center in Pasadena, California, over the course of three nights instead of the previous two. The dates for 2020 have been set as June 12, June 13, and June 14.
What do you think about the changes NATAS has introduced for this year's Daytime Emmy Awards? Are there any changes you think the organization still needs to make? Are there any changes that were introduced that you think are unnecessary? We want to hear from you -- so drop your comments in the Comments section below, tweet about it on Twitter, share it on Facebook, or chat about it on our Message Boards.
