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

New Zuko anonymous February 2 2009, 18:14:46 UTC

Look at the director
http://www.mnightfans.com/gallery/sixthsense_bts/SS_bts020

and then the new Zuko
http://photos.dev-patel.net/displayimage.php?album=lastup&cat=0&pos=4

Interesting that this is the directors favorite character and then who he cast as Zuko..very interesting!

Re: New Zuko opal_skies February 4 2009, 04:43:57 UTC

I think it's more interesting that he's cast a man of Indian descent of Zuko if the rumors of his wanting to play Iroh are true. :-/

kogas_chick February 2 2009, 18:37:55 UTC

Has anybody seen M Nights new actor for Zuko? McCartney has turned down the role and in an attempt to satisfy us he is choosing Dev Patel as Zuko? Dev Patel is a very dark skinned indian i believe is his nationality? Zuko has much paler skin and could be more japanese/korean/chinese before looking Indian. What are peoples thoughts on this? I myself am not satisfied with this choice.

kogas_chick February 2 2009, 20:55:29 UTC

on the same page with u there.

i think he wanted to play his uncle

chaobunny February 2 2009, 22:06:10 UTC

Are you kidding, I'm thrilled! Dev Patel could total be Zuko. For one, I'm hugely excited that a change has been made.

kogas_chick February 3 2009, 00:13:03 UTC

how? zuko is not even dark skinned. dev could pull off looking like sokka before looking like zuko

Thread 5

anonymous February 2 2009, 19:47:41 UTC

My thoughts are THIS is my Zuko and always will be :O)
http://www.graffitiverite.com/dante.JPG

PS yes, they should have gone a different route

avatar_mom February 2 2009, 21:34:57 UTC

I am sooo confused. M. Night is quoted as saying, "Then I saw 'Slumdog Millionaire,' and the kid just grew in my eyes."

He seems more suited to play Sokka (for those of you who watch Skins you'll understand what I mean)Is it just me or does it seem that M. Night doesn't "get" Avatar...or someone doesn't "get" Avatar.

Many are saying they are happy that Zuko is not being played by Jesse, but my confidence is still low. Some argue, "Dev is Asian!", which is true. But if you are going to switch gears and recast this very IMPORTANT character wouldn't it be better to try to hit it more on the mark?

At least we know how well this actor can act...

chaobunny February 2 2009, 22:17:35 UTC

I don't know. For the first time in weeks, we've actually received good news about the movie, so I'm going to try and feel optimistic for at least a little while. If one actor was changed, who's to say the rest won't be? I think we've got some sort of a change here, after all.

Protest idea. anonymous February 2 2009, 22:09:32 UTC

Have a protest sign that says something like,

'We won't accept 'tokens'.

Even though I'm sure Dev is a fine actor (judging by 'Slumdog Millionair's' success), it still doesn't behoove well for the production to cast just one Asian into a lead, and an important one at that.

Re: Protest idea. anonymous February 2 2009, 23:28:44 UTC

I don't think M. Night got Patel over McCartney because he's being racially sensitive. Slumdog is one of the most buzzed about movies out right now, and he's most likely being pragmatic in choosing an actor whose star is very much on the rise over one who--inside the acting sphere--hasn't even gotten his off the launch pad yet.

Re: Protest idea. anonymous February 2 2009, 23:58:43 UTC

I realize that. Just saying...

Re: Protest idea. tryxkittie February 2 2009, 23:50:08 UTC

Yeah definitely, and those protesting definitely have to go into further detail (though again make it concise and to the point) as to exactly why we don't like this new turn of events and how casting Dev, a fine South Asian actor, doesn't make things much better and instead introduces a whole new host of problems.

We shouldn't be discouraged at all! If anything, this shows that we 'silly' fans and our 'complaining' is at least powerful enough to pressure Hollywood bigwigs into kicking out an actor they've already chosen. We DO have power. Even if they don't change the rest of the cast, we can at least make a huge enough ruckus that people will be FORCED to acknowledge the racist actions of Hollywood - and of course, if need be, hopefully hurt their box office sales a little.

Thread 13