Comments | aang_aint_white: So many ways to speak out

aang_aint_white

So many ways to speak out

Jan 30, 2009 02:39

We've updated our post about the February 7th casting call in Philadelphia with specific information as to the time and place, and several local volunteers are helping to organize a protest. If you're interested in joining in, please do so -- the stronger a front we present, the harder it will be for Paramount Pictures to continue to ignore us ( Read more... )

what you can do

Comments 66

Jesse is continuing to make a jackass of himself... anonymous January 31 2009, 07:10:44 UTC

Check this interview:
http://www.mtv.com/movies/news/articles/1603949/story.jhtml

"Jesse McCartney will be joining "Twilight" star Jackson Rathbone in the upcoming M. Night Shyamalan-helmed flick "The Last Airbender." McCartney - who plays Prince Zucko - assured fans of the writer/director who feel he may not be right for the part that Shyamalan has it all figured out"

"Although he is still learning all about the popular cartoon that first made its debut in Asia before gaining popularity in America, it was his little brother who was already a fan when McCartney signed on to the flick. "I heard about the series from my little brother who's an avid 'Avatar' fan,"

Get you're facts straight Jesse!!!!!!!!!!

Re: Jesse is continuing to make a jackass of himself... aang_aint_white January 31 2009, 07:18:56 UTC

Oh yes. Yes we have seen. We particularly enjoy the implication that only "hardcore fans" would object to the idea of a white actor in yellowface and the overall issue of Hollywood whitewashing. It trivializes the issue in a way that's quite frankly insulting.

It's sad -- we really do want to leave the actors out of this as much as possible, as they aren't responsible for the casting policy and shouldn't be punished for Paramount's bad decisions. But it's incredibly unfortunate 1) that they continue to make ridiculous and borderline offensive statements in interviews and 2) that Paramount is leaving them hanging out to dry in this way in the first place. Two actors and a casting director are the closest we've gotten to an official statement -- WHY, when things are deteriorating in this way?

Time will tell, perhaps.

Re: Jesse is continuing to make a jackass of himself... anonymous February 1 2009, 02:46:55 UTC

Do I have permission to kill Jesse now?

No need to kill Jesse... anonymous February 1 2009, 04:52:03 UTC

... his acting career taking a critical hit to the point where it's completely unsalvageable will be sufficient enough.

Thread 6

For those who think it's too late... anonymous February 1 2009, 21:10:55 UTC

...it's only fair to remind you all of an old Hollywood saying that seems to have been forgotten as of late.

'Anyone can be replaced.'

Even if it's on short notice; if something/someone doesn't work out (actors, directors, etc) then they can be easily replaced with someone else. Geneviève Bujold was replaced by Kate Mulgrew for Star Trek: Voyager after the pilot due to the demands of acting for a TV show.

So anyone who's thinking it's too late... remember that.

Some Improvement??? anonymous February 2 2009, 06:28:42 UTC

Has our prayers been answered?

Zuko??

http://www.mnightfans.com/index.php?subaction=showcomments&id=1233550002&archive=&start_from=&ucat=11&

Is this Aang?

http://www.mnightfans.com/avatar/

bluegreenpen February 2 2009, 07:43:22 UTC

I just found an article saying that Jesse McCartney has been replaced by Dev Patel, and that Suki is being acted by a girl called Jessica Andres: http://agualimon.wordpress.com/2009/02/02/atlas-friky-diky-cast-replacing-jessemc-suki-appears/

imnotasquirrel February 2 2009, 15:11:54 UTC

If this is true, I will be happy, even though I don't think Zuko (or the Fire Nation in general) is India-based. I am a bit worried though that he will be the designated token Asian character, and people will then point to Dev and say, "Okay, you got your Asian, can you please shut up now?"

But still...at least the cast won't be whitey mcwhite anymore. :) I'll take my kicks where I can get 'em.

Dev bluegreenpen February 2 2009, 16:14:06 UTC

Dev was born and raised in Europe. Here is a clip from him in SlumDog, I think he will do an amazing Job. He is an amazing actor

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QII_TAJ2BBY

socchan February 2 2009, 16:19:09 UTC

Here's the article they linked. It looks legit, but I'm holding out until we get another source or three. [Edit:] Aaaand a good ol' Google search turns up this. [/Edit]

I'm similarly worried, actually. In addition to your "token Asian actor" issue, my concerns are that both Katara and Sokka have canonically darker skin than Zuko, and also that Zuko plays something of an anti-villain for a good part of the story. For basically the whole first season, while Zuko is a sympathetic character, he's not really one of the "good guys", and he doesn't get to be until season three. Up until that point, the Gaang (as it stood) is still pretty much played by all white kids (assumptions made re: Noah Ringer). Suki, who admittedly has less of a problem with being portrayed as a hero, also has considerably less screen time.

I dunno; I'd call it a step towards the right direction, I guess?

Thread 10

Rasicim in HollyWood anonymous February 2 2009, 12:01:37 UTC

Looks like the second Twilight film New Moon is also dealing with what the Last Airbender is. Take a look at this little snip it from an article. So sad!

"Native Americans are outraged over what they hold as deceptions in and around the production of the Hollywood film series “Twilight.”

With the commercial success of Twilight, Hollywood is abuzz with agents molding, fitting, and pushing their celebrity actors to pass as Native Americans."

Re: Rasicim in HollyWood bluegreenpen February 3 2009, 17:38:05 UTC

I loathe Twilight the series, but I still think it's another huge mess up on part of the casting directors for those movies.