In a bid to expand and diversify its ranks, the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has extended invitations to join to 178 Hollywood figures. It is an eclectic bunch! You have Aaron Sorkin, and you also have the women who wrote the Katherine Heigl rom-com The Ugly Truth. You have directors Lisa Cholodenko and Tom Hooper, and you also have Tim Hetherington, the deceased co-director of Restrepo. You have actors like Vincent Cassel, Jennifer Lawrence, and Ellen Page (who was nominated for Juno ages ago … c’mon, Academy, catch up) and you also have Beyoncé, Dominic Monaghan, and spouses Tea Leoni and David Duchovny. We are not totally sure of the rhyme or reason behind all these choices, but they are definitely going to have some fun Academy mixers. [Awards Tracker/LAT]