Knuckle Sandwich
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It's really good. Poor outfit choice though.
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Samuel L. Jackson criticizes hiring of British actors, Boyega shoots back
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It's really good. Poor outfit choice though.
Well, there's a difference between playing a historical character and playing a fictional character, so yes, it would be much more outrageous to cast a historical figure like that, but that issue is not present on Get Out, it's just an average man.
Casting a peruvian guy as "Juan Perez from Puebla" wouldn't be outrageous at all if the guy gets the accent and acting right.
Oh, sure it is a problem if they couldn't find local talent, but that's hardly a reason to undermine Get Out, it is a huge problem among Hollywood in general.
Plus, like people have mentioned in the thread already, British and overall foreign actors get cast as american white guys too.
LordRaptor
Member
oooorrrrrrrrrrrr you hire the guy who gave the best performance at the casting call.
It's not like you're veering into blackface territory
This is the hottest of takes in which you disregard the point of at least Django and Hateful 8 (haven't seen Pulp Fiction so can't speak up for that).
Films produced in the U.S. generally receive tax breaks or credits . Just based on that alone, an American Black should be given preference treatment to play the role of an American Black.
Various Artists
Banned
Deserves Credit. Haha.
I mean, I'm not black and I don't think there's any reason to be so dismissive of British actors like he is being, but you can't compare "Being a Jedi" to "Being black in America" - one of those things is fiction, the other is reality. I have no doubt that someone's experiences can only add to their ability to portray something they feel passionate about, that said I don't think it detracts from someone ELSE'S ability to do that as well.
I mean, he's human, he's allowed to be concerned over one thing and not as vocal or obviously concerned about another similar thing. It doesn't make him a hypocrite or anything.
RecRoulette
Member
Clearly prefers subs over dubs.
Netherscourge
Banned
Some where, Ben Carson is smiling right now.
Both black and white brits have taken over Hollywood.
But I do find issue with Sam's assertion that a US actor would have brought something more to the role as if UK and US black male experiences are not similar in terms of interracial dating.
Now this is silly. It was still a problem for interracial dating in the UK even deep into the mid 1980s I personally know plenty of white women who became my aunties who were disowned for having children with black men.
And if anything Daniel Kaluuya would have had insight into how segregated the US is in terms of race. you feel it as soon as you get here.
But I do find issue with Sam's assertion that a US actor would have brought something more to the role as if UK and US black male experiences are not similar in terms of interracial dating.
Now this is silly. It was still a problem for interracial dating in the UK even deep into the mid 1980s I personally know plenty of white women who became my aunties who were disowned for having children with black men.
And if anything Daniel Kaluuya would have had insight into how segregated the US is in terms of race. you feel it as soon as you get here.
hodayathink
Member
This happens with every single ethnicity out there, including white people (white Brits playing white Americans is something that gets brought up all the time). If you're going to get mad about it, get mad about it for everyone, not just when it happens to effect your ethnicity.
Boyega is right. The problem of american actors it's one that goes deep into the ages, they simply lack the preparation and training you see on British actors or even Australian ones. When a director demand emotion on a drama very few american actors can deliever. So americans up your game if you want a chance, start training actors like you should...
family_guy
Member
If that's what happened I have no issues with it, but the casting process isn't necessarily always about who's most talented.
Ninja Scooter
Member
Was a German playing Steve Jobs offensive?
I get upset when actors who aren't from Boston play Bostonians.
Fancyarcher
Member
But talent's not usually why they're hired, it's because they're fairly cheaper. There are plenty of British pretty boys with only slim acting talent who are usually hired because they're willing to work for less. Sometimes they're cast because the director or casting director thinks they're right for the role, but most of the time that's not really the case.
Hollywood cinema or at least major films have never been about acting talent 100%. It's been about what sells first and foremost.
LordRaptor
Member
I was taking the argument to its ridiculous logical extreme, but c'mon.
Get Out isn't cinéma-vérité.
If you want to make that argument, use something like Idris Elba in the Wire.
FunkyPajamas
Member
As a Colombian my approach has always been between "pfft/lol" and "rolleyes" whenever Mexicans get cast as Colombians (which is pretty much always, perhaps with the exception of a Brazilian being cast as Pablo Escobar). It's also funny when movies show cities/towns that are obviously Mexican and pass them as Colombia cities/towns. I don't really get offended by it, though I understand why other people would.
It all goes back to the whole "proper representation for minorities" thing though. I'm not sure where I stand on SLJ's comment. On one hand I think it's petty, on the other there's some merit to what he's saying. To be honest I didn't even know the Get Out actor was British.
lastplayed
Member
What about a Brit playing a maori. That was awkward.
Come on, guys. Pancho Villa is a very important cultural figure in Mexican History. Not just "some Mexican dude". It's understandable to have a guttural reaction like that. Much more so than Jobs.
The better example is David Oyelowo and MLK. I'm sure someone out there might have had a guttural reaction to MLK not being American, but great performance wins out.
neurosyphilis
Definitely not an STD, as I'm a pure.
They both have a point.
BlazinSkatinAxel
Member
He lived the life of a BMF.
Or a Maori playing everyone else. Cliff Curtis makes his living off of being "vaguely ethnic" enough to play anyone in Hollywood.
Idris Elba was so damn good in the Wire I didn't realize he wasn't actually from the US till I finally saw Luther years later. My mind was blown hearing his actual accent.
DontBeThatGuy
Member
I found out long before Luther but yeah, I had no idea at the time.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
No idea, doesn't take much research or knowledge of the country to know how awfully wrong that statement is. The fact his argument relies on bullshit he didn't properly research says a lot.
Anton Sugar
Member
I definitely get the spirit of what SLJ is saying, but think the results should be considered here more. I never got the feeling that Kaluuya "betrayed" his origins and failed the character in that way, but I'm not black.
This kinda reminds me of Michael K. Williams, post-The Wire. He would have people come up to him and say, "Damn man, Omar! I could tell you spent time on the street, just the way you carried yourself--you KNOW!"
But Williams' background and upbringing was *nothing* like Omar's, nor any character in The Wire. He was just a good fucking actor.
This kinda reminds me of Michael K. Williams, post-The Wire. He would have people come up to him and say, "Damn man, Omar! I could tell you spent time on the street, just the way you carried yourself--you KNOW!"
But Williams' background and upbringing was *nothing* like Omar's, nor any character in The Wire. He was just a good fucking actor.
LookAtMeGo
Member
Kingsmen 2 starring Daniel Kaluuya.
I see what he is saying though. It's already incredibly hard for a black American actor that's not one of the usual casted people to get roles and it makes it harder when you throw English actors into the mix. I'm not saying ban British etc actors or anything like that. Just saying it sucks when you already are facing an uphill battle
It's different for white actors. There are plenty of roles for white actors out there. So when 1 or 2 British actors put on an accent it's not really changing the status. But when you have like 10 black roles a year, and 1 goes to the Sam Jackson , the other to Denzel etc. and then you have an Englishactors also thrown into the mix, it's hard for black American actors to penetrate
It's different for white actors. There are plenty of roles for white actors out there. So when 1 or 2 British actors put on an accent it's not really changing the status. But when you have like 10 black roles a year, and 1 goes to the Sam Jackson , the other to Denzel etc. and then you have an Englishactors also thrown into the mix, it's hard for black American actors to penetrate
neurosyphilis
Definitely not an STD, as I'm a pure.
Man white is white. Most are privileged and have nothing in the world to worry about, nor face racism, nor do they struggle to get roles like other races.
no.
this is very much a black american/PoC thing so please don't white wash the narrative pls&thx
While I understand Samuel's overall point in regards to "US Discrimination against Black people =/= British Discrimination against Black people", we're talking about a film and acting. As long as you look the part and can play the part well, that's all that should matter and for good reason. A lot of films would suffer greatly if actors were cast only if they were from the same non fictional locations as the fictional/non fictional characters (ex: the same city or state).
Ninja Scooter
Member
It's a difference between ethnicity and nationality. Someone from Mexico and someone from Peru could be of the same race or ethnicity. Meanwhile Louis CK is of Mexican ancestry. Would it make more sense to cast Louis CK as Pancho Villa?
Mammoth Jones
Member
Exactly. Scarcity creates infighting.
Clinton514
Member
That's not how it works, but seeing it unfold, it's like white americans don't care what country portrays white americans in movies, not sure how other countries react to their white people played by americans/foreigners.
I think Leo Dicaprio got flack for his portrayal of a white african once?
Uh... the UK is about 23 nevadas, population wise.
AnotherDayAnotherDollar
Banned
They have been interacially dating for hundreds of years? I didn't know the UK was Brazil. Citation needed on this one, Sam L.
This. There are a lot of british actors right now period. And none of can really speak with a native american accent. Either american actors are horrible or there's a british thing going on right now.
This. There are a lot of british actors right now period. And none of can really speak with a native american accent. Either american actors are horrible or there's a british thing going on right now.
What the hell? The crux of Jackson's argument is that the issue of interracial relationships in Britain was solved in the distant past and no British actor could possibly relate to the premise of the film the way a black American could. Which is so inaccurate it scuppers the entire argument.
Spectacular work, as always.
But that's the thing, it is inaccurate, but you can understand the spirit of "Give African american actors the shot they deserve", he just articulated the message in an incredibly inept way.
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