Going through many audition calls, most of them without any reason have specified even the racial backgound of the actor. Seems we are stepping into racism again. I mean can not a arabic or a turkish couple have problem in court. It's time we all rise our voices and stop the hidden and quiet racism that nobody dare to talk about, of the fear of being laughed at, or not listened to and neglected. Now correct me on this if i am wrong, but isn't that true, that in usa, they are not allowed to publicise auditions whith racial references?
Is it only we follow that country exclusivley on invasion of other countries, but let their inspiring aspects pass our by/
davoud rastgou
As I said, I think sterotyping is a more 'problematic' issue than any latent racism within the industry. Is it not itself 'racist?' Here, I'm haggling with terms, because I think to be actively 'racist' means that you are employing a deliberate policy of undermining others on the basis of race, whereas I think the acting industry, at worst, can be accused of pandering to prevailing attitudes about race without questioning them enough. So, for example, to cast a cleaner who is the only non-Caucasian seems to me, perhaps, condescending (although, at the same time, it may well reflect a certain amount of real world demographic) but it's not 'racist' in the sense that refusing to ever cast a non-caucasian at all (or solely as a figure of fun) would be. In this sense, I don't think British TV is 'racist' in the same way it was in the 1960's (when whites would literally 'black up' if they needed to show the audience black or asiatic characters on screen - I suppose it might have been the case that there were none working in the industry and they had to make do as best they could - but I can't help but think they might have tried a little harder, had they wanted to).
Still, I'm not sure if you are going to stand upon your dignity about who or what you end up playing, you should ever become an actor. Our job is to embody every character that we play as sympathetically as we can; even playing a stereotype, we can turn that stereotype around.
Well said Lee,I think you sum up the problem precisely.Which explains the Vodafone casting and their methods, although being caucasian I still would never be cast in their commercial as I just happen to look like the guy who has come to rob the place.
Hang on! Doesn't that make the industry fac(e)ist not racist or is that something completly different?
Bringing this thread to its natural conclusion I think we are all agreed, excluding the original poster who has been deafening us with his subsequent silence since opening this can of worms, that we are not being discriminated against by our race but by our looks and that this fact will never change in the area of Film & TV...Theatre being a different animal altogether!
Have a great day guys, got to go...I have a body to dismember!
Come on guys, I think this thread has really run its course!!
I'll never be a James Bond, and that does not bother me. Being the bddie, is far more challenging!!! Likewise i'll never be Othello, but what I can say is that I for myself will try my best and give a damn good performance, at every audition, and hopefully be succesful, at creating the character they want, because of what I bring, to the audition, regardless of race.
This is what most of you actors should be feeling to, otherwise like previously mentioned, you're in the wrong business. Mind you, if you went for something else, i'm sure the "card " would be used once again!!
I'm doing some work on the BBC's Little Dorrit this week and the lead actress is a black woman.
I don't think Dickens wrote her as a black woman but the CD is happy to cast the lead regardless of colour.
The fact is, this country is still overwhelmingly white, Christian, European country. Black people and Asians, outside of our major cities are still a minority and this is bound to be reflected in the roles on offer.
If I was living in Nigeria or Malaysia I wouldn't expect any special treatment or favours or affirmative action. That's life!
FYI. Colin Salmon was right up there in the final stages of the casting process before the producers finally went for Daniel Craig so we were very VERY close to having our first coloured James Bond.
My understanding was it was between the two of them for the role! Daniel Craig won the role 'cos his portrayal of Bond in the final screen test was 'grittier'!
yes we could,but we have to look at the facts,whereas i agree certain castings call for a certain ethnicity many a casting overlooks the fact that here in the UK we live in a very Multicultural society and perhaps if certain persons in certain positions took note of that fact then there wouln,t be so mant grumbles!
It's really interesting reading some of the points made on this blogg.
If I was a casting Director, I would feel so restricted casting non caucasian actors, for fear of typcasting, and being deemed racist. This is purely because of the issues, which I feel in some cases, and I mean most cases, racism purely dosent exist.
It seeems most caucasian parts, rarely have issues made about their colour, but as soon as a non caucasian part is cast, everybody jumps on that bandwagon, of racism/typecasting!!
If the vodaphone casting stated the cleaner must be caucasian..how many people would have claimed that was racist? Non probably!
No wonder some casting directors I have met, seem, nervous and raise the question "do I have a problem with playing...". No I don't I'm an actor, playing someone i'm not!
The more we moan about racism in casting, the more damage we are doing to the system.
I think to accuse casting directors or production companies of being racist in their casting policy is a very strong word.
Being racist means that you hate someone just because of their race or ethnic origin. Doesn't it?
Now I am very sad to admit that in my day job (which is nothing to do with this profession) I have heard people come out with horrible racist comments about some Birmingham people. Which makes me so angry. How can you judge someone before you've even spoken to them or got to know them. How can people just assume things because of someone's race or ethnic origins. Now that's racism. It's awful and evil and people should not be making comments like that in 2008.
So I am very glad to say I have never heard those comments said when I have been working for professional film, theatre or television companies.
It's true to say that we all get stereotyped,but this is less imaginative casting not racism.
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