Is the Arizona Immigration debacle in anyway related to our obsession with Hollywood summer blockbuster films? Let’s see.
I love movies of all kinds, Foreign, Art House, Independent (even though they don’t really exist anymore), Period Pieces, Documentary, Conscious Drama and or Thriller. I love films that challenge and provoke I do…really. But like George Washington, I cannot tell a lie. If I had to confess as to the type of movie I enjoy the most it would have to be the Summer Blockbuster. I have a lot of friends and acquaintances (my girlfriend even) that will only watch movies that stimulate them and challenge them intellectually. They consider big blockbuster films to represent everything that’s wrong with our capitalist society. As for me, like I said, I like all films, I can watch the movies my girlfriend likes and enjoy them, but the reverse isn’t always true.
I can’t really defend the big Hollywood movie machine but the one thing I will say is that I feel the Blockbusters shouldn’t be written off or ignored especially by those who consider themselves to be socially aware intellectuals. The big films have a tendency to generalize, stereotype and whitewash stories that large audiences absorb. (Oh, small films do this too btw) There are inaccuracies, offensive imagery, and downright disturbing messages injected into a number of monumental films that go unchecked by large audiences because they’re just considered to be fluff or silly entertainment. “It’s just a movie!” “It’s no big deal!” True, except for that fact that these films cost millions of dollars to produce and make tons more at the box office. More importantly, a huge audience views them. An audience that ingests the disturbing messages and imagery along with the high in calorie and carbohydrate over expensive triple buttered popcorn kernels.
Art is in everything. Even in the most offensive and stupid of the BSB (Big Summer Blockbusters) and like all art there are subversive meanings within that must be identified. I’m choosing film as the paintbrush for my argument right now, but this goes for everything; TV, music, books, magazines, video games, theatre, visual art, etc. Film fascinates me because it’s the biggest fellow in the room and the most aggressive in its assertion that it represents the true face of our nation. Music sometimes pushes Film out of the way and they get into a tussle often leaving TV to step in and shine for a bit. But Film, for the most part, is the most vocal. “America looks like me!” It shouts.
I recently found out about a movement and site called racebending.com and it was refreshing at first. For my whole life I thought I was the only PoC who thought this about fiction. Then it went from refreshing to depressing (RHYME!) when I saw the angry backlash against the movement. I guess I was naively expecting to automatically be met with “Oh my goodness, we’re so sorry, we’ll try to do better representing marginalized underrepresented groups of people. ” That’s not what happened. I won’t get into the whole back and forth about racebending it’s too (sigh) just too.
Racebending: the act of casting someone, for a part in a play, movie, or show, that is any race or ethnicity other than the desired or originally proposed one OR the upcoming summer blockbuster directed by M. Night Shyamalan ‘The Last Airbender’. The movie, based on a popular children’s cartoon called Avatar The Last Airbender, depicts a fantastical world in which the setting, characters and their history are heavily influenced by Asian culture. All of the characters in the cartoon were originally drawn to reflect the different types of Asian cultures and physiques. The controversy began when lead characters of the movie were re-cast as white and Dev Patel (Slumdog Millionaire) as the villain. Now that the movie is finished and being released this summer, movements to boycott, protest, speak out against the film have hit a crest and the director and film studio both have been forced to comment on and justify their actions.
I didn’t know much about the racebending movement until a little while ago. I only knew of the original cartoon through my niece & nephew and the kids I teach. But when I saw an article with M. Night responding to the controversial casting I thought to myself, “Wow. This is new. Someone from a Hollywood studio is responding to an effed up decision?” The nature of these things is that they’re usually swept under the proverbial rug by the studio heads and never see the light of day much less garner a response. But the movement was seemingly too big to ignore. They had to say something…so what did they say? Well. First M. Night came out with, “When we were casting, I was like, ‘I don’t care who walks through my door, whoever is best for the part.’” …Okay. This is a sticky one, artistically I can totally agree with that statement. Best actor for the part! Sure! But we don’t live in a perfect world. If the best actor got the part every time, 90% of the crap out there would be recast. Also, someone could interpret the statement as, “There are no good Asian actors.” I can’t buy that however I’ve been to auditions both in front of and behind the table and sometimes the part you want to cast despite his/her appearance has to go the best person to walk through the door.
I’ll give you an example of what I mean. Very recently I helped with auditions for a play. Previously, I read for one of the roles that’s written as a White man. I’m black… but the playwright insisted I read the part in front of an audience because she thought I was the best actor to do the character justice (Not to brag). She wanted to know if the play was good enough to put on its feet…it was. But I’m not suitable for the part because the playwright, who happens to be my friend, feels it’s extremely important that the character be played by a White man (the playwright is a black woman) My girlfriend is helping produce the play and they wanted my input on who I thought the character was. We went through a lot of bad auditions. A lot. Ultimately looking for someone to read it the way I did (apparently I’m great at being white…which coming from anyone else could have been very, very devastating) Finally, two of the last actors we saw rocked the audition. But there was a problem, one was White, the other was Bi-racial. They were both outstanding in their own way, both terrific actors. The White actor looked the part, knew the character inside and out, took notes and made alterations. He was only lacking a certain feel of playfulness. Playfulness was something the Bi-racial actor had in spades. For all intents and purposes he was the character, even more so than I was. He was amazing. After a 2nd audition and some careful consideration he got the part. The playwright felt justified in her decision because she felt he looked more Hasidic than Black and she was going to rewrite the character as a Jew. So I guess what I’m saying is, it is possible that the 4 actors M. Night cast were the best fit for the roles…
However, when “The Last Airbender” producer, Frank Marshall, released a statement responding to the studio’s initial casting call (which called for “Caucasian and any other ethnicities”) I knew something wasn’t adding up. In what, I think, is colossal step forward for the racebending movement, Frank Marshall stated that he “agree[s] that this casting notice was poorly worded and offensive. However, it was not written nor distributed by the production, or the studio, but by a local extra casting entity that did not consult with either. Ultimately, we all take responsibility for not doing a more thorough job monitoring these frequently used third-party agents and Paramount has since been in regular dialogue with Asian American advocacy groups including the Japanese American Citizens League and the Media Action Network for Asian Americans to ensure that such a mistake does not happen in the future.”
The movie got made and is still being released, but I think this is progress. At least I think so. The studio blinked. And now they and others will hopefully think twice before whitewashing future projects. But does this answer the question about whether the actors chosen were the best for the roles and ultimately what does this have to do with Arizona’s Immigration Law? Back to the play my friend (let’s call her ‘R’) wrote. She hired an actor who wasn’t aesthetically what she’d initially envisioned but was literally the best for it. His force of personality and talent was such that it bent her original vision and thus, she tailored the role to suit him. It’s possible the 4 actors M. Night cast did the same thing…possible. But personally I don’t think that’s what happened. Like R, M. Night/Paramount had a preconceived idea of what the character should be. The difference is that R saw a PoC in the role, she also saw talented White and Bi-racial men and ultimately decided that although the best guy for the part wasn’t quite White, she could pass him off as Jewish (which is an interesting conversation unto itself – that could/should happen if you think about the fact that considering Jews to be White is a fairly new phenomenon) I do not believe an actor of Asian descent was ever given the same level of consideration for the lead roles as Caucasian actors were for ‘The Last Airbender”. The casting call asked for “Caucasian” first, and Hollywood’s history unfortunately leads me to believe that White wasn’t just listed first. It was their preference.
Let me also add the cartoon that the movie is based on also looks like anime. Now I’m not big into the anime scene at all but I know people who are and I’ve always wondered and asked why don’t the characters in anime cartoons look Asian? They look Caucasian (another rhyme!) No one has ever given me a clear answer to that one but when I saw A.T.L.A for the first time I remember thinking “Wow they look Asian!” And if I think that, somebody else (who may be Asian themselves) probably does too. The race of the characters was a very big deal and it shouldn’t have been considered something flexible. Especially considering Hollywood’s stubborn refusal to bend lead roles in the other direction. But before I get into that mess I have a few more examples I want to discuss.
Let’s take a look at another film coming out this summer “The Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time”, starring Jake Gyllenhaal who plays the titular character Prince Dastan. The movie is based on a popular video game set in ancient Persia, which is now Iran. Now Jake Gyllenhaal is not Persian or Iranian. He was born in LA, his pop is Swedish and his mom descends from Ashkenazi Jewish heritage (the Jewish population that originates from a region of Germany called Ashkenaz) Jake is not The Prince of Persia or Iran. There has been some rumbling about this casting but not nearly on the scale of The Last Airbender. So why is that? Let’s think about our current geopolitical climate in terms of proms and high school. America is the popular guy (even though everyone knows he kind of peaked and has been coasting on the success of his great touchdown pass from junior year) Iran is not the popular kid at the prom. He’s the guy nobody likes and everybody thinks he’s going to go the trench coat mafia route at the prom. That’s a very blanket generalization, but you get the point. Iran is one of our current big bads. In a post 9-11 climate when the US is currently occupying Iraq and Afghanistan the chances of a Iranian American actor landing the lead in a multi million dollar epic is slim to nil. That’s a shame.
I was still wondering why there was no backlash to The Prince of Persia like there was to T.L.A. then my head started to get that tingle; I remembered a radio segment I heard on NPR recently about how many older Iranians were identifying themselves as White on the census form. Historically, Iranians have always been racially considered White. This might be a reason why Jake Gyllenhaal’s casting didn’t rouse too much of a stir… then I discovered eyeranians.com where the issue of identification is discussed. One of the authors of the site calls on all Iranians to identify themselves as Iranian and not White or Persian on the census forms because “Marking yourself Iranian helps us flex our collective muscle together as a minority in the US. If done properly, it can have huge positive consequences from a cultural and political standpoint, and as well as financially through government grants, economic assistance, and minority owned business contracts. Politicians, businesses, schools, cultural institutions, government agencies, financial aid, civic centers, and more depend on public census data to tailor their services to each community.” And then I remembered what I read about comedian Maz Jobrani who himself is Iranian. He’s also an actor. He talks about how as a kid growing up in the U.S. he wasn’t considered White by other students and he was called stuff like “camel jockey.” He also talks about what it was like living here as an Iranian actor after 9-11, “Whether you’re Indian, Pakistani, Arab, Iranian, Afghan or whatever, you just get thrown into this category. And nine times out of 10, you’re depicted as bad.”
He doesn’t get the lead role, or the girl, he gets the bomb. It’s no wonder Jabroni’s Showtime comedy special was called “Brown and Friendly” That just ain’t right I don’t care about the same old excuses about how “people aren’t ready” or “there are no bankable Iranian movie stars” What was the last movie Jake Gyellenhaal starred in that was a huge blockbuster success? (Crickets)
Hey Sam, not so fast! Characters’ races change all the time! There have been tons of Black actors cast in roles originally written for White actors. Denzel Washington in the Pelican Brief (Although in the book the character hooks up with Julia Roberts character, in the movie that doesn’t happen) Will Smith in Men In Black, Michael Clarke Duncan as Kingpin in Daredevil. Eartha Kitt and Halle Berry as Catwoman. Sam Jackson as Nick Fury in the Ironman flicks. Why so silent Sam? What do you have to say about them, huh Sam?
Well, a lot actually.
There has been progress in the roles black actors in this country have been able to attain. Actors like Will Smith, Denzel, Halle, and Jamie Foxx have been able to command due to their popularity (And rightfully so) roles that are fuller and more 3 dimensional. Most roles like that aren’t written for people of color so adjustments have to be made for actors of color who can draw an audience. Even so, there are only a few of them and Denzel and Will are getting old. Two recent films involving Black racebending star, Idris Elba of The Wire. Both films are based on comic book properties but only one, to my knowledge, has stirred any controversy. In The Losers, about a ragtag team of covert elite soldiers who shoot guns and blow things up. Idris plays Roque. Roque’s the 2nd in command, likes knives and SPOILER ALERT!!!! He’s the bad guy. In the comic book by the same title, the character is white, and Idris is a damn fine actor who very well may have been the best actor for the part. I can believe that. But after watching the film I started thinking – Could he have been cast as the leader of the group? The guy in charge who happens to also have several hot and steamy love scenes with Zoe Saldana?
In another film currently in production, Thor based on the popular Marvel comic, Idris plays God Heimdall guardian of Asgard. The comic takes it’s roots in Norse mythology and Thor, God of Thunder, flies down from Asgard and helps out mankind. Over at 4thletter.net writer David Brothers writes about how some fans have reacted to this casting. One fan doesn’t appreciate the blind casting and wonders how people would react if another comic character like the Black Panther were cast as Brad Pitt. But is the anger over the obvious color change? What about Sam Worthington as Perseus or Liam Neeson as Zeus in Clash Of The Titans? Neither of them are Greek or Greek looking. But if we want to talk about the Nords why do the Vikings in the kids’ film How to Train Your Dragon speak with a Scottish accent? Why do they speak English period? Heimdall is a mythical being, a god with a helmet and sword protecting a city that has a rainbow for a bridge. If you can make that leap of logic should the characters color be a hang up for you? Okay let’s say it is just like it is for the fans of Airbender, here’s the difference. In neither film is Idris Elba the lead; he’s a supporting character. He doesn’t get the girl or majority of screen time. There was never any real consideration for him to play the lead in either film. And if there had been, the reaction would probably be similar to the one Will Smith received when he was considered for the role of Captain America. If you don’t remember… fans weren’t having it. “Cap is white” (from a post titled Awwwww, Hell No! Will Smith Rumored for Captain America!?!?). I think these sentiments are funny considering the new figurehead of our nation is brown.
And here’s where I tie in immigration. We, as a nation, find ourselves at a tipping point. I believe the country is going through a growth spurt, and just like puberty it’s awkward and kinda painful. In the year 2042 the White American majority in this country will decrease making White Americans for the first time in this country minorities. The reality of a Black president for many is the clearest indication that the America of yester year has passed. More and more people from South America, Asia, The Caribbean, and Africa are immigrating to this country and becoming citizens. That’s the reality of it. However our fantasies such as TV and Film don’t reflect this change, they still overwhelmingly cater to a model of America that changed.
Take the movie Kickass. A movie about a kid who decides to become a superhero in the “real world” But I don’t think the character lived in the real world. The character is a nerdy kid that lives in a poor and rough area of NY, just like Spiderman without the powers. But Spiderman was written in the sixties when NY looked very different especially the outer boroughs like Queens, Bronx and Brooklyn. It was way more plausible a kid like Peter Parker would grow up in an outer borough like Queens, now not so much. Today he would probably be named Peter Perez or Peter Punjabi. Riots, White flight, economic upward mobility made neighborhoods that were traditionally Italian, Irish and Jewish in NY into neighborhoods that are mostly Hispanic, Asian, Middle Eastern, African etc. But our heroes are still “White” not even Polish, Ukrainian, or Greek. Just White. There’s a scene in Kickass where two of the White superheroes attack and kill a room filled with Black people. What’s the message? Brown is bad? Brown is not friendly? Kill Brown? Brown is suspicious looking? Brown needs to be deported? I written about this before entertainment has the power to train people into thinking and getting used to ridiculous tropes. And when these horrible stereotypes work in concert with xenophobia, homophobia, racism, religious discrimination, etc, you get things like Arizona’s Immigration law. Proponents of this law have drunk the cool-aid, they believe there are real Americans (as Sarah Palin put it) and fake ones. The fake ones warrant suspicion, the fake ones are infringing on the rights and freedoms of hard working, blue collar, salt of the earth real Americans. What’s a real American? Ask the casting agents responsible for the majority of movies and television shows we watch. I see casting sheets all the time that ask for the following.
Looking for all American Caucasian male or female within the ages of 25-35.
In the same casting call I’ll also see this.
Also looking for African American and or ethnic looking actor, ages 25-35.
So who is All American? I know…Sam Worthington. Even though he’s Australian. How many movie and television stars are from the U.K., Canada, or Australia?…a lot. House, Fringe, Law & Order, The Mentalist all of these shows are lead by someone from one of these countries. Do they really represent the face of America? The leaders of this country? If you’re one of the white citizens that live in areas like Arizona, New Mexico, Texas where large amounts of the population is Mexican, you see them in all facets of life as teachers, politicians, doctors etc. You could have a few reactions, a sensible one in which you realize that America country of constant change filled with different types of cultures or people. Or you think to yourself that the image of America doesn’t fit the image you grew up with, America was Leave it to Beaver and the Andy Griffith Show. Those comforting images of yesteryear are outdated and you’re freaking out. Something is wrong! The country is going down in flames! The terrorists are coming! Immigrants are costing us our jobs! My tax dollars are paying for some lazy (fill in the blank) to sit on his/her ass and not work. You want it like the way it was. You want the old guard back in charge.
Just like the fanboys over at DC Comics. DC Comics, home of such famous comic characters as Superman, Batman and Wonder Woman, has become one of the great American past times for youth in this country. In recent years, characters not quite as popular or as iconic as the aforementioned big three would be updated and tailored to bring in a new audience, mainly PoC like myself. Firestorm, was originally a two white men who joined to become the enflamed headed hero, was transformed into a troubled black teenager. And The Atom, who was originally a White man was transformed into an Chinese American. The whole deal is written in a article by Chris Sims over at Comicsallience.com, he talks about the uproar from White fans to have their sacred characters returned to their former racial glory. DC has disturbingly complied and the shift is part of a bigger marketing ploy called The Return to the Heroic Age (or something like that). Apparently stories starring characters of color was too unsettling for readers. Their safe little world was changing for the worst. This fanboy outcry is no different from all the rage spouted out by the tea partiers and proponents of this awful immigration law. Our fictions will always inform us of what our sacred cows are. America’s sacred cow is it’s delusion that White/Straight and Male is Standard and anything else isn’t and therefore isn’t important. I think this picture illustrates it rather well.
I feel that if there is anything consistent about the world we live in it’s that everything changes. Everything. The change is happening now – the future is here. Let us start to change the way we tell America’s story…our story. Because as much as I get angry, shake my fist and curse, I love this country. It’s my home. I’ve lived in some other awesome places in the world but I chose to come back here because in no other country I can think of could a man like Barack Obama become President. That’s what makes us special, we truly are a county of immigrants. “Give us your poor, your tired, your huddled masses longing to be free…”
We take em all. We don’t slam the door shut on anyone regardless of myth, prejudice, or hysteria. Our immigrants can become citizens and their children can become president.
