Hey guys I'm interested to hear your views on this subject.
About 3 weeks ago I auditioned for a well know supermarket chain's new TV commercial. The brief was a last minute casting on Spotlight, and it specifically STRESSED they needed ASIAN actors to portray a couple.
To my complete frustration the ad is now airing and the couple cast are WHITE!
There's absolutely no way no Asian actors couldn't fulfil the part, it was seconds on screen & non speaking.
It's tough enough getting race specific role, full stop.
So do I submit myself in future for Caucasian roles now and maybe female too?!
A friend of mine (Chinese) has experienced the same frustration in castings over the years, arguing with a few CD's that there was absolutely no reason why non-white actors of any race couldn't play the main roles, which usually go to white actors. Most CD's agreed, but said 'white' is what most audiences and advertises wanted, and expected to see on their screens. He usually left disgusted, and I don't blame him. He now makes his own films.
I also know of an actress who had a very positive audition with a major theatre company. She got the part, only to be told a few days later, they had decided to recast and make the part a man's. She was understandably gutted, and didn't know whether to take it personal!
I can't really come up with any great consolation for this behaviour, but the truth may be that, at least, it wasn't the casting director's responsibility. Often, the client decides to change the brief after reconsideration, and the casting has to shift to accomodate it.
This is, of course, common across the board and has nothing to do with ethnicity. I had a rather similar situation not so long ago when I auditioned for a commercial on the specific basis that what was desired by the client was 'quirky' looking character actors. Within a day, the same advert released a revised call for actors which now stated that the one thing they didn't want to see any more of was 'quirky actors' - 'actors must NOT be too quirky,' that kind of thing. The only reasoning for this abrupt about turn is that the clients must have spent the night reviewing their options, and decided to pursue the ad in a different way. The casting director then simply follows client request, and searches for other suitable candidates.
But there is no question that you're right that the change made here seems utterly arbitrary: which doesn't make things any less frustrating.
I understand how you feel it's very disheartening and frustrating especially as you said it is hard to get race specific roles as it is. I know that everybody struggles in this industry but when you audition for a role that you know you can certainly do only to find out they went with someone completely different to what they stated, you start to wonder if it was even worth it. Especially when you've read through countless castings and find only a couple that you are suitable for. Similarly I recently read a casting brief that stated they did not particularly mind what race you were only to then say they didn't want people of certain ethnic minorities. This can be quite upsetting when it starts to become a regular thing.
Mary you are very right about what the advertisers and audiences want as I have found this out for myself. The only thing you can't change is the colour of your skin so what do you do?
Thank you for your replies guys. Whilst I definitely agree wirh some of the frustrations etc, if they decide to change from quirky to non quirky, male to female etc, that's a breakdown change, BUT when they specifically state in capital's ASIAN ACTORS, are they just trying to tick boxes or simply that no Asian actor could come up with the goods (I seriously think not!).
I'm going to try my luck at Caucasian roles. Who knows!
casting briefs for commercials change by the minute. Don't read too much into it...and I def advise applying for roles which are NOT your casting type.
Well said Mark. Generally when it comes to Castings they do sometimes change their minds and go with something that "feels" more right. It's a complete nuisance not to mention it wastes the time of Actors who worked hard to actually get it spot on. I guess one of the luckiest tools is just...be situational if you have to.
Interesting to read this. I find that so many ads specify 'white', and never thought to apply anyway in case they change their minds. TBH, I feel that comparing racial casting to someone with or without quirks is not really apposite.
Also, I wonder if white audiences (including actors!)know that 'the client' who ordered the ad is doing what they claim YOU are obliging them to do: They claim YOU will not relate to/believe in a black mum for M&S or a black family in those Virgin Holiday ads or a black couple in the Iceland ads. Nonsense, isn't it?
Also, I'm seeing more black men being paired with white women in the British ads, which is really taking black actresses out of the equation, especially those with dark skin. Mixed-race ones do a lot better, but still not as well as black men of all hues.
This is the state of affairs that led to America's 'Black Girls Rock' TV show, and articles like 'Who Stole All the Black Women From Britain?'
I know acting is hard for everyone, but I've been in this business a long time and that blanket statement isn't really helpful, nor does it cover the issues at hand.
But thanks, Mark Kempner - I'm going to do as you advise and see what happens.
I understand your disappointment but I have been told no at castings and auditions for being:
Not black
White
Too small
Too talk
Too old
Too young
Not blonde
Etc etc infact I thing you're at an advantage being an Asian or mixed race or anything other than White because of the sheer competition !
Thanks for your response. I'm surprised this blog has reignited as it was initially started many moons ago.
With regards to your comment on competition, and being Asian, it's actually more difficult and not advantageous, mainly because Asian roles are few and far between and if their is one "up" then every Asian actor is up for it.
A Caucasian actor friend of mine infact gets more castings despite there being more Caucasian actors,"competition", purely because as a ratio, there's more "Caucasian castings" and as a result is seen more.
People need to realise the number of ethnic actors graduating is on the increase but role opportunities aren't.
So the competition is more fierce in that.
It really is a harsh industry especially in austerity Britain. I think they go very mainstream to play safe. There is a lot less risk taking in the industry. I know it is not on the same level but I sometimes feel I am not chosen for having red hair as my 'look' doesn't conform to the 'norm'. Maybe if and when the country gets back on it's feet roles will open up and be more representative of the country today. Can but hope. Wishing every one opportunities, success and dreams being realised. XXX
The commercial is not based on your race, talent, or even your sex. It is based on the largest percentage of people in the community that the research shows will buy the product.
Don't ever take commercials personally.
An actors life is founded on the bedrock of rejection.
Brian Croucher
Brian, I feel that's a little simplistic. You have to ask yourself, do you feel put off by a product or service because it's being advertised by a black or Asian person? Where is it coming from, this assumption than white people can't tolerate someone who doesn't look like them in adverts? Is it true? I don't know one white person who admits to feeling this way.
I don't think the OP is taking the rejection personally, but he is irritated at the lack of opportunity for actors of colour.
There is so much indirect racism in this industry and we try to turn a blind to it. I was given the Lead in a commercial so was part of the casting process, and got to audition the other roles at spotlight alongside the CD.
For the 'Receptionist' role and the 'Director' role there were no ethnic minority invited to audition apart from a friend I INVITED TO AUDITION. I had read the script an there was NO reason for this.
I then urged that my black female friend get the role of the receptionist SO they added another receptionist to the script and said she had to be white, to 'balance' the commercial when everyone else was already white.
It is unacceptable but most people don't care as it doesn't affect them. A change will come if we speak up.
Tracey I am sorry you are wrong business is business,I am afraid commercials are there to sell a product not to enhance our careers, we are just a small part of it. They are selling to the UK which is made up of a very large percentage of white people so they use white actors, it is not a conspiracy, it a little bit more subtle than black v white.
Brian Croucher
Hi Brian, I think many commercials have enhanced or even launched actors' careers - Take Tamsin Greig, Mark Benton... Great actors before the commercials but in the public eye and roaring success after been seen in commercials..... I think that if you are a non white actor these days you are at an advantage for adverts, as the UK is becoming more and more multi racially mixed..
Dear Julia, yes, commercials can certainly launch or enhance careers, you are right.
But Brian is also right - they are not there "for" actors, they are there for the product. However, one could say that about all performing opportunities - they are there for someone to make money; very few are there for some benevolent producer to discover and present a new talent - that's just the sideline.
But I disagree with you, Julia, that you are at an advantage if you are non-white. That's absolutely not true. Most roles are cast white, whether they need be or not, as Paris Robin illustrates. How, then, is that easier for non-white actors? Perhaps you think there are so few of us that we stand a better chance of getting non-whitespecific roles? I wish that were the case. There are certainly more non-white actors around than when I started out, but the opportunities have not grown exponentially.
In fact, the roles that used to be naturally cast black are now opening to everyone - look at the 'Urchins' in 'Little Shop of Horrors'. Just on this site, you can see how many have been white over the past few years. I would argue that the roles were clearly written black. And yet - anyone seen a black 'Audrey'? Thought not. I'm glad there was a black Eponine, but I don't think that's the answer; one isolated black in a family of whites in a musical.
You all know black people have lives that take in the same emotions, experiences and stages that yours do. Why can't adverts reflect that without white people thinking, 'Nah, that's not me.'? Honestly, do YOU think that? Don't forget, there was a time when you never had black footballers. You're not telling me that wasn't a 'business' decision! It changed. Because change was viable, financially. This should, too, for the same reason, if people stopped 'turning off' as consumers when they see a black face. If indeed they do, which would make this a very racially-divided country.
Paris Robin is right - people tend to turn a blind eye to racism in the arts. Actors are especially quiet - our careers are so precarious that no-one wants to rock the boast or be seen as a trouble-maker.
You must login as a candidate to participate in the forum.
Please note:Messages written in the forum do not represent the views of The Mandy Network, nor have they been vetted by The Mandy Network staff.
If you read something which you believe to be offensive or defamatory, please contact us and we will take the appropriate action.
