Hollywood Whitewashing - Page 10

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrTyres 

 

But, Dan, that only leads me to a worse question: Is there a lack of black extras in Hollywood or studios trying to keep the black man down? :D

Well, yes, that was basically my point. The lack of major ethnic characters sort of fits the premise, but the lack of diversity in the backdrop of the show suggests it's still guilty of whitewash-y casting on some level, though I suppose one could argue it's just a reflection of the highly segregated nature of this city (as a resident of Philly I can tell you that the gang tends to hang out in parts of the city that really are a little "whiter," for what it's worth). Still, that's a bit of a stretch and either way it points to deeper problems.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

In the publishing world, they DARKEN people on the covers!  

 

The opposite of what was done to Rosario Dawson in the Clerks II poster (some stylistic desaturation!!!!), but with a similar intent, it seems.

But I thought silhouettes were graphically cool. Are we sure it's to conceal race? Maybe that Haulin Ass mudflap girl's been black all this time!

Quote:

Originally Posted by neoolong 

Doesn't one of the characters kinda sorta get a black girlfriend he picked up at a college with a bunch of black people?  It was in the first season.  Truth in Television!

Yep. Just watched that one not that long ago actually. It actually "addresses" (AKA Pokes fun at) some racial/racist topics as well.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 

But I thought silhouettes were graphically cool. Are we sure it's to conceal race? Maybe that Haulin Ass mudflap girl's been black all this time!

 

Perhaps... but the clothes conveniently remain un-silhouetted.  STYLISTIC!  

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

 

Perhaps... but the clothes conveniently remain un-silhouetted.  STYLISTIC!  

So maybe they aren't concealing race, they're making him SUPERblack.

You may have a point, Darkmite8!  Remember the superwhite stars of Knight & Day?

Something occurred to me while watching HOW THE WEST WAS WON. Why is it that everyone brings up the ridiculousness of Charlton Heston playing a Mexican in Welles' TOUCH OF EVIL (in '59 no less), but no one has a problem with Brooklyn Jew, Eli Wallach, doing the same in THE MAGNIFICENT SEVEN 1 year later and THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY 7 years later?

Is it just believability here? Hypocrisy, considering how well-loved Sturges' and Leone's westerns are?

Yeah, I recognize I'm looking at historical films from older decades, but I just thought I'd stir the pot. Heston gets no free pass here. ;)

Watching DUCK YOU SUCKER. Rod Steiger (like Eli Wallach before him) as a Mexican is kinda magnetic actually.
 

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 

Watching DUCK YOU SUCKER. Rod Steiger (like Eli Wallach before him) as a Mexican is kinda magnetic actually.
 

 

I wish I wasn't quite so cynical about this but personally if I had to guess I'd say it's because among later generations of film geeks Wallach is much better liked than Heston is.

I also think that Heston was so known for being the lantern-jawed caucasian all-american throughout the bulk of his career that his turn as Ramon Miguel Vargas is more jarring for many.

It's been a while, my friends.

http://www.avclub.com/articles/thomas-jane-fired-from-sylvester-stallone-movie-fo,58219/

Sung Kang replaces Thomas Jane in Walter Hill's Stallone movie, Headshot possibly due to a Joel Silver mandate that the project has a multi-racial duo.  Jane is understandably pissed, and doesn't mince words.  Small penis reference!

Not that big a deal, considering Jane isn't really the "young" cop specified in the script, and because he's kind of borderline direct-to-DVD at this point. Kang is probably cheaper and has a little more visibility in some circles.

I do wonder if Sly signed off on this, however, as it doesn't seem he would kick a dude like Jane to the curb.

Ultimately, it's a good thing.

Oh, it's definitely a good thing in terms of the whitewashing issue.  No complaints from me.  Kang is cool. 

Sung Kang co-starring in a Stallone action movie directed by Walter Fucking Hill is kind of surreal.  If I die before I see this I'll be pissed.

http://www.zimbio.com/pictures/EGGuZtvwd7j/Sung+Kang+Set+Bullet+Head/No9YhKU4PhF

Fell asleep while watching THE LAST AIRBENDER last night. Take that, M Night!

White-washing? More like snooze-inducing.

Surprised this did $319 mill worldwide.

Hey!  The man gave you a good night's sleep!  Who are you to complain!?

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

Hey!  The man gave you a good night's sleep!  Who are you to complain!?

You mean an "M Night's sleep". It was restless. At least THE HAPPENING's  laughfest wore me out from all the knee-slapping and side-splitting. This just defeated me with its bland.

I wish the casting was my only complaint. They removed most of what made the show good.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 

You mean an "M Night's sleep".

 

Damn.  I missed that train.

Watched MACHETE, which is not only amazing for having so many Hispanic actors, but for having landscape-faced and ex-con Danny Trejo in the lead. The white-washing that made me think of this thread? Steven Seagal. He's playing a Mexican, but he's the villain (end boss), so I guess it's ok. ;)

Bumping to link this piece.  I should start watching LUTHER.

http://thinkprogress.org/alyssa/2011/10/19/346546/luther-producer-phillipa-giles-on-race-and-the-shows-approach-to-casting/

Cracked covers some of the issues that have been mentioned in this thread... plus a few more.

http://www.cracked.com/article_19549_5-old-timey-prejudices-that-still-show-up-in-every-movie.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcnooj82 

Cracked covers some of the issues that have been mentioned in this thread... plus a few more.

 

http://www.cracked.com/article_19549_5-old-timey-prejudices-that-still-show-up-in-every-movie.html

Actually he is wrong about the Pelican brief. There was actually a sex scene but Denzel didn't want to upset his black female fans, seriously.

I remember reading that Denzel's wife told him to take that scene out.  Can't remember where I read that, but it was a long time ago.

Quote:

Originally Posted by DARKMITE8 

Fell asleep while watching THE LAST AIRBENDER last night. Take that, M Night!

 

White-washing? More like snooze-inducing.

 

Surprised this did $319 mill worldwide.

go watch the cartoon. seriously, more then makes up for that shitfest.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Malmordo 

So why did he cast Michael Parks as a Mexican?

 

A bit late on this, but Ricardo Montalban was originally cast as Esteban (The Mexican pimp)...he missed the cast read through, so Parks offered to fill in for him.  He blew QT and everyone else in the room away with his interpretation so much that QT fired Montalban and replaced him with Parks on the spot...it was a spontaneous and gut decision.

Never knew that bit of trivia.  Cool story.  Too bad for Montalban.

Do we have any Hawaiians on the boards? I'm dubious about this George Clooney-as-a-hapa business, but for all I know it could be accurate casting.

I was confused by your post.  Fortunately, it was right as The Descendants was about to start!

Clooney plays a guy whose great great (great?) grandmother was a descendant of King Kamehameha.  She married a missionary.  Clooney's family owning one of Hawaii's islands while not being very Hawaiian-looking is a part of the story.