KenzinFive
Member
I haven't seen the video yet, so I was lurking the comments here to see if they mention TLA, because that has to be one of the most blatant examples of white-washing ever.
God, that movie still makes me so angry.
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John Oliver - Hollywood Whitewashing
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I haven't seen the video yet, so I was lurking the comments here to see if they mention TLA, because that has to be one of the most blatant examples of white-washing ever.
God, that movie still makes me so angry.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
It's clearly not that, it doesn't take much to realise that they didn't care so much about issue of none white as antagonists in comparison to white washing the entire movie. We have a god damn movie about the Gods of Egypt helded by a scottish guy and mayb one or two minorities, it's a total farce. The same movie is also projected to bomb like Exodus did.
Yeah white dudes are better at the roles, all the damn time even for extra's It makes a lot of sense I wonder, why someone hasn't thought of that before.
Nerdkiller
Membeur
I think that's Othello.
Saint Gregory
Member
Nah, that title rightfully belongs to Exodus:GaK (until Gods of Egypt is released later this month).
I think that whenever people bring up the whole "Hire the best" argument, these just so happen to be a lot of white men.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
Gods of Egypt is worse, the vast majority of the characters don't look anything like (costume-wise or others) the depictions of what the Gods they're supposed to be portraying. I pretty sure a school play, could come with something that looks more authentic.
I watched the last samurai a few times and the fact that title refers to Ken Watanabe's character and not Tom's is new information to me.
EdibleKnife
Member
Bale being one of the best didn't do much to save Exodus or make it more interesting. Plus this denies that there are people of color who are great actors who don't get the chance to show their stuff even in material tailor made for them.
The Faceless Master
Member
quote was from November 2014
KenzinFive
Member
You're right, the Last Airbender isn't as bad as Exodus and Gods of Egypt, but it's still one of the worst. It's just depressing that people have been making this criticism a lot louder for several years and we have a movie coming out that looks like the WORST example of it. It's mindbogglingly tone deaf.
silvermember
Banned
Oh look the best actor argument. Also it is hard hire the best actor when a significant portion is ignored.
If you are going to make a movie about a specific location you best use actors that match that location. If you don't want to, hire a writer and make a movie about something else.
metalslimer
Member
It's amazing how the best actors for roles are almost always white though unless it's a "black movie"
So are white people just more talented than the rest of us are is there is a huge problem that needs to be addressed?
So are white people just more talented than the rest of us are is there is a huge problem that needs to be addressed?
Miles Quaritch
Member
Self fulfilling prophecy. Black actors don't get many roles as it is, so when a role for a minority comes up and it's played by a white actor, people default to seeing that person as the best person for the role as they've been exposed to that actor much more than a minority who might have been better for the role.
theignoramus
Member
They probably dont give much thought to whose not in the room when they cast and "white" is the default and safe choice.
Father_Brain
Banned
Eh, I'd say Exodus is at least slightly worse, simply because it makes some vague pretense of being historical fiction rather than a pure fantasy like GoE.
Saint Gregory
Member
How do you quantify something as subjective as "who's the best actor?". I don't even think anyone is saying the entire cast of Exodus should have been potrayed by north Africans but I still remember that one graphic that showed all the servants/criminals in the movie being played by PoC, which really drove home the point that clearly the filmakers understood that Egyptians were themselves PoC but apparently not in any roles that actually mattered.
The Faceless Master
Member
"Hire the best" is just code for hire more white men.
we all know it. think about when the phrase is used non-ironically.
Principate
Saint Titanfall
True but that's common as fuck as the video plainly show's, I'm personally more offended that peoples culture and history are being entirely ignored.
Gentleman Jack
Member
Joke post?
Why is every white person cast automatically getting the benefit of the doubt here? The white actors are always assumed to have been the best for the role. I wonder why that is.
WrenchNinja
Member
Perfect video.
Henchmen21
Banned
Good bit and they didn't even bring up the whitewashing of Khan with Benedict cumberfuck in "Into Darkness".
Is it weird that I know exactly who that pornstar was with the black hair and earring?
Is it weird that I know exactly who that pornstar was with the black hair and earring?
Yeah John Oliver hit it out of the park with this segment
I like Joel edgerton but that part was hilarious and true
That's the point
You may be able to justify the casting of Christian bale but not Joel edgerton
Also John Oliver brings up the point of how people freak out when black people are cast in roles perceived to be white roles I.E. there is a double standard
I like Joel edgerton but that part was hilarious and true
That's the point
You may be able to justify the casting of Christian bale but not Joel edgerton
Also John Oliver brings up the point of how people freak out when black people are cast in roles perceived to be white roles I.E. there is a double standard
thesoapster
Member
"French Waldo" lol. Elba would be great. Probably not happening, now, sadly.
Saint Gregory
Member
OK, that one may take the ultimate prize.
Isn't that also the movie where all the actors were exposed to radiation from the nuclear testing going on nearby? Just an all-around disaster.
Howard Hughes was never one for empowering minorities.
Or safety code, seeing as they filmed it downwind from a nuclear testing site and gave members of the cast and crew cancer later on in life as a result of the exposure.
SlimySnake
Flashless at the Golden Globes
It's not weird. You are just knowledgeable and thats a plus in my book.
Now PM me her name you perv.
Khan's casting was a huge missed oppurtunity. All they had to do was do a mass audition for ethnic actors and find the best actor to play him. that guy wouldve done a much better job than Cumberbatch who basically played your standard villain devoid of any personality. This new guy could've potentially become a major star.
IIRC, Robert Redford found Andrew Garfield after auditioning 800 teenagers for the role in Lions for Lambs. He went on to star in Social Network and Amazing spiderman. Whos to say there arent pakistani and indian americans who couldve gone on to play Khan and become a star in the process. If anything bollywood has shown how talented indians can be when it comes to playing charismatic characters.
dsp
Member
Except this is the actual poster for that film
The one you posted is from China, is it not?
Pop-O-Matic
Banned
Scientist Supreme!
Banned
Amazing video.
People bringing up "best actor" bullshit are a waste of time.
People bringing up "best actor" bullshit are a waste of time.
I couldn't believe it. Like wtf.
I was having this argument with a co worker. I agree with Oliver, and he disagreed.
To some of his points I guess...what exactly is the solution here? Are there a bunch of minority actors/actresses out there that are really good at that job that we just don't know about? If there are not, are the studios just to not make these movies because they don't have an actor/actress that looks the part?
To some degree, having an established actor/actress is definitely apart of the green light process for a big expensive movie getting made. On the other hand, lower tier actors/actresses have to start somewhere, but can they get their start in a AAA movie if you will?
To some of his points I guess...what exactly is the solution here? Are there a bunch of minority actors/actresses out there that are really good at that job that we just don't know about? If there are not, are the studios just to not make these movies because they don't have an actor/actress that looks the part?
To some degree, having an established actor/actress is definitely apart of the green light process for a big expensive movie getting made. On the other hand, lower tier actors/actresses have to start somewhere, but can they get their start in a AAA movie if you will?
Mass_Pincup
Banned
Fixed2BeBroken
Member
yea, john boyega and daisy ridley.
Exodus is white-washed.
Scott is correct that it would never have gotten financed if they didn't have a major star. He said it in a shitty way, but Fox wouldn't have put up the money if it wasn't a lead like Bale.
Studios only care about money, especially on something that big.
Most of the major actors in Hollywood are white because of the institutionalized racism that goes unsaid by every single one of them and every exec (same for women in a lot of ways, but I digress).
There's, maybe, a half-dozen men of color that could have played the role because Hollywood doesn't ever give opportunities like that to people of color to begin with, especially someone who would have reflected an Egyptian culture in some way, so when it comes time to cast something like this, there's not enough of a pool to choose from because, again, institutionalized racism has built it that way for decades.
Shitty system all around. Hollywood treats minority actors like character actors - fun to have when you want one, plug them in where you like, but they're not necessary.
Scott is correct that it would never have gotten financed if they didn't have a major star. He said it in a shitty way, but Fox wouldn't have put up the money if it wasn't a lead like Bale.
Studios only care about money, especially on something that big.
Most of the major actors in Hollywood are white because of the institutionalized racism that goes unsaid by every single one of them and every exec (same for women in a lot of ways, but I digress).
There's, maybe, a half-dozen men of color that could have played the role because Hollywood doesn't ever give opportunities like that to people of color to begin with, especially someone who would have reflected an Egyptian culture in some way, so when it comes time to cast something like this, there's not enough of a pool to choose from because, again, institutionalized racism has built it that way for decades.
Shitty system all around. Hollywood treats minority actors like character actors - fun to have when you want one, plug them in where you like, but they're not necessary.
Henchmen21
Banned
His name...I'm gay and the star I was referring to was the one in the baseball cap
Danny Wylde. He quit the industry a while back though
Valid point. But do we hit a wall where they are the rare type of really good actors? Are the movie studios actually doing wide casting calls, and the minority actors that auditioned for minority roles really just not good actors?
I don't believe that there aren't quality minority actors, but what if they aren't auditioning for these roles?
Saint Gregory
Member
I think that it would have been the perfect opportunity to cast some unknowns actually. The big draw of the film should have been the spectacle, while Bale is definitely very talented and well known actor I think his presence was more of a distraction than anything.
Fixed2BeBroken
Member
with your questioning, it's as if you're suggesting, only white people can act well.
smh
also when you're a minority in hollywood, you are trying to get every role you can.
dsp
Member
Haha, I should have actually read it. I just remembered seeing some old thread (here or reddit) about the posters changing (putting white people in the forefront or downright removing minorities) quite a bit in different markets. That one in particular gave me a big laugh.
The thing about all of this whitewashing, as it seems to me at least, is that the investors feel better when there's a bunch of white people starring in their film since they think it will make more money. Ridley Scott is quoted as saying something like that in the Oliver clip. My question is, is that actually true?
Well, I don't see anyone complaining they used "minority" (read, brown) actors for all the fire nation roles either ;P
I hesitate to use the word "malicious", but it was certainly as misgided as the whitewashing to turn the imperialistic more or less white-skinned villains into brown people.
I'm not suggesting that at all. I know that isn't the case. I'm just looking at all possible reasons for why this happens. It's either minorities aren't even given a serious look when they audition, or the minority actor that auditions for a role isn't a good actor. Those have to be the two reasons this happens right? All I was getting at was my question, is do we have proof of one way or the other?
IE, do know have a way to see who all auditioned for the new egypt movie? Did the publisher go straight for GoT guy and 300 guy without having a real audition? That's what I'm getting at.
By rare type of actor, I meant just that, a really good actor. Doesn't matter what race you are, a really good actor doesn't come along often. Morgran Freeman, Tom Hanks. Not that' i'm comparing John and Daisy to those two just yet, but John and Daisy were fantastic in SW. So I wasn't saying only white people can act at all.
He was a massive distraction ironically he took me out of the movie as it was Bale doing Bale things.
gerard butler still has that hilariously thick scottish accent too
NekoFever
Member
It's a vicious cycle. They give the starring roles to white people, therefore all the biggest hits have white stars, therefore we can't give starring roles to non-white people because all the biggest hits have white stars.
the problem here is that studio execs often have no fucking clue what will actually make money, so behaving like they're only making shitty but reasonable economic decisions in a racist system is still wrong
Principate
Saint Titanfall
Pretty sure they are, all those extra's you see in movies aren't just random people largely, they're aspiring actors trying to get into the industry through periferially means.Most of these bif movies don't tend to have massive casting calls for major roles, as many jobs, it comes down to who you know rather what you know. If they wanted to they could find up to standard minority leads. But it as always come down to if they want to. They largely don't.
adamsappel
Member
I don't think you understand. The guy who guards the Rainbow Bridge of Asgard must be white!
Do you want the dialog in modern Egyptian or the ancient dialect? How about their accents? Should the actors learn their lines phonetically, or do they have to be fluent?
I think we can all agree that every ancient tongue just sounds better if it comes out sounding British.
Skin tone-wise, they could have easily gone with only Aang as white. But the whites-are-more-bankable really falls apart when it's a kid's movie and you are casting unknowns.
KenzinFive
Member
That's the other ugly side of The Last Airbender coin: the Japanese-analogous but lighter skinned Fire Nation villains are all brown for some reason. The Inuit-analogous Katara and Sokka are now not only light-skinned, but full blown Caucasian. AND THE DIRECTOR/WRITER IS INDIAN-AMERICAN. I simply don't get it.
THE MOTHER-FUCKING MOVIE COULDN'T EVEN PRONOUNCE THE CHARACTERS' NAMES CORRECTLY ARGHHHHHH.
Ten or maybe twenty years from now, I would hope that someone else would give a live-action The Last Airbender a try.
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