Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira whitewash
- Thread starter Dusty Ayres
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Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
hey hey hey
good bye
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hey hey hey
good bye
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Olivia Wilde.
Okay, she's not busty enough, but she's got the 'tude.
Olivia Wilde.
Okay, she's not busty enough, but she's got the 'tude.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
I absolutely love this post.
!!
Because if they called it the National Association for the Advancement of African Americans, it would be NAAAA. How would you pronounce that?So why does no one change the names of the NAACP and the UNCF?
I absolutely love this post.
!!
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Why NOT the double standard? The world is multi-ethnic, yet seldom do Hollywood films represent that.
How many years did a white guy play Charlie Chan? Why not let Asians get a chance to play him?
Why NOT the double standard? The world is multi-ethnic, yet seldom do Hollywood films represent that.
How many years did a white guy play Charlie Chan? Why not let Asians get a chance to play him?
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Oh well. Then I guess somebody needs to start the "Agebending and other teenagers speak up against Akira youthwash" thread.
Oh well. Then I guess somebody needs to start the "Agebending and other teenagers speak up against Akira youthwash" thread.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Because there will never be true equality in a world full of double standards.
Because there will never be true equality in a world full of double standards.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Principal photography is complete. It's set for release on March 9th, 2012.
Lucy Liu signed on to play Charlie Chan some years back, but the project didn't make it out of development.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
I'm still not sure how this is different than Seven Samurai vs Magnificent Seven, or resetting Shakespeare in a totally different time and place. Doing a reinterpreted version of another culture's story is an old tradition across the globe, probably dating back at least to the Bible "borrowing" the Flood story from Gilgamesh -- more get "whitewashed" because there are more whites in the production process and viewing audience, but other than that...?
I'm still not sure how this is different than Seven Samurai vs Magnificent Seven, or resetting Shakespeare in a totally different time and place. Doing a reinterpreted version of another culture's story is an old tradition across the globe, probably dating back at least to the Bible "borrowing" the Flood story from Gilgamesh -- more get "whitewashed" because there are more whites in the production process and viewing audience, but other than that...?
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Well, on the surface, there's nothing wrong with doing an American movie based on Akira - which is what Magnificent 7 was; it was a new story with different characters based on Seven Samurai, but not titled "Seven Samurai," as was Battle Beyond the Stars. Stories inspired by and based on 7 Samurai, but redone in different genres with lots of differences. Likewise West Side Story was based on Romeo & Juliette, but with an all-new story, new dialog, new characters, etc.
It sounds here like they'll just be doing Akira, as is, but swapping people and places for American people and places.
btw, I really hate when someone moves a Shakespeare play into a different time period then its subject. There's something...just...wrong about it, IMHO.
Well, on the surface, there's nothing wrong with doing an American movie based on Akira - which is what Magnificent 7 was; it was a new story with different characters based on Seven Samurai, but not titled "Seven Samurai," as was Battle Beyond the Stars. Stories inspired by and based on 7 Samurai, but redone in different genres with lots of differences. Likewise West Side Story was based on Romeo & Juliette, but with an all-new story, new dialog, new characters, etc.
It sounds here like they'll just be doing Akira, as is, but swapping people and places for American people and places.
btw, I really hate when someone moves a Shakespeare play into a different time period then its subject. There's something...just...wrong about it, IMHO.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
The problem with the "apply the same rules to reversed situations" approach to equality is that it doesn't correct for the fact that you are beginning from a place of inequality. The exact same decisions and actions have different ramifications in different contexts. If the double-standard functions as a corrective then why not go with it until such a time as the playing pitch is even?
Artistically I can get on board with atypical casting for new interpretations. If a director can do something interesting or thought-provoking with such a change, there's no reason for that not to make great art. It can be awesome. It will also inevitably also be a commentary on race. This is why Patrick Stewart's Othello was not just about 'the most talented man for the role'.
Pragmatically on the other hand, a whitewashed recasting means one less part for a non-white actor in an industry where he's already competing for a tiny percentage of available roles. And it's another missed chance for a movie that could have appealed to those of us in the audience who are dying to see some stories about all the people in the world who aren't white men.
The potentially interesting number of ways in which any story can be retold is infinite. The money and resources in Hollywood are finite. The number of movies my cinema will screen this year are finite. I for one would therefore much rather see at least one version of something which contains some frickin' diversity. It needn't be Akira specifically - but if they won't even cast asian actors in Akira then what really are the chances of 'Untitled Project Where A Black Woman Over Forty and a Gay Japanese Fireman Fight Aliens' getting made? (Incidentally, I would go see that movie so many times the cinema screen would wear out.)
The problem with the "apply the same rules to reversed situations" approach to equality is that it doesn't correct for the fact that you are beginning from a place of inequality. The exact same decisions and actions have different ramifications in different contexts. If the double-standard functions as a corrective then why not go with it until such a time as the playing pitch is even?
Artistically I can get on board with atypical casting for new interpretations. If a director can do something interesting or thought-provoking with such a change, there's no reason for that not to make great art. It can be awesome. It will also inevitably also be a commentary on race. This is why Patrick Stewart's Othello was not just about 'the most talented man for the role'.
Pragmatically on the other hand, a whitewashed recasting means one less part for a non-white actor in an industry where he's already competing for a tiny percentage of available roles. And it's another missed chance for a movie that could have appealed to those of us in the audience who are dying to see some stories about all the people in the world who aren't white men.
The potentially interesting number of ways in which any story can be retold is infinite. The money and resources in Hollywood are finite. The number of movies my cinema will screen this year are finite. I for one would therefore much rather see at least one version of something which contains some frickin' diversity. It needn't be Akira specifically - but if they won't even cast asian actors in Akira then what really are the chances of 'Untitled Project Where A Black Woman Over Forty and a Gay Japanese Fireman Fight Aliens' getting made? (Incidentally, I would go see that movie so many times the cinema screen would wear out.)
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
She's awful... just... so awful... So, I'm glad.
Well said.
She's awful... just... so awful... So, I'm glad.
Well said.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Yeah, Pelucidar or my favorite of all of Burroughs' novel series, Carson of Venus. For the lead role, I could see Aaron Eckhart. Duare is a good opportunity to cast a nonwhite actress - Asian, Hispanic or Polynesian would work. I personally envision her as a cross between Yunjin Kim and J-Lo, so the genetic engineers better get to work, fast!
This will infuriate the tiny percentage of the audience who know anything about Akira to begin with, who are too few in number to have any perceptible impact on the box office compared with the audience who will go see it just because Keanu Reeves is in it.
But the basis for this thread is incorrect. Hollywood cares only for money, and not one iota for equality or anyone's idea of fairness. If they thought the best way to capitalize on Akira was to cast an all-Japanese cast, they would fall all over themselves doing just that.
Damn that American writer for creating Tarzan. I'd rather more focus was put on a John Carter movie or even Pelucidar, if someone wants to bring a Burroughs character/setting to life.Hey, I'm always up for a good Keanu flick!
Sorry to interrupt with honky news, but everyone's favorite chest-beating, loincloth-wearing, blindingly-white "African" (or does he consider himself a Primate-American?) is swinging his way back onto the big screen. TWO Tarzan movies in the works?
Hey, Tarzan is tan. He's a bronze god!!!! And he's a British!!!!! So he's Anglo-Mangani.
Americans. They think the whole world revolves around them
Yeah, Pelucidar or my favorite of all of Burroughs' novel series, Carson of Venus. For the lead role, I could see Aaron Eckhart. Duare is a good opportunity to cast a nonwhite actress - Asian, Hispanic or Polynesian would work. I personally envision her as a cross between Yunjin Kim and J-Lo, so the genetic engineers better get to work, fast!
I'll bet they change a whole lot more than just the characters' races and ages. They'll change everything and anything they need to, to maximize the potential profit. Most likely, we'll end up with AINO.
This will infuriate the tiny percentage of the audience who know anything about Akira to begin with, who are too few in number to have any perceptible impact on the box office compared with the audience who will go see it just because Keanu Reeves is in it.I like it, and very often it works well. It shows creativity and emphasizes how timeless the plays are, that they can survive the transition well, even when the result is as far afield as Forbidden Planet, which after all was one of the inspirations for Star Trek, which in turn often made Shakespearean references.
But the basis for this thread is incorrect. Hollywood cares only for money, and not one iota for equality or anyone's idea of fairness. If they thought the best way to capitalize on Akira was to cast an all-Japanese cast, they would fall all over themselves doing just that.
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Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
People go to see Keanu on purpose?!
Yabbut that's not what I'm talking about. FP was a story based on the story of a Shakespeare play. I'm talking about a completely literal, line-for-line Shakespeare play filmed in a modern setting, a le DeCaprio's Romeo + Juliette. It's just my personal taste that that doesn't work.
People go to see Keanu on purpose?!
Yabbut that's not what I'm talking about. FP was a story based on the story of a Shakespeare play. I'm talking about a completely literal, line-for-line Shakespeare play filmed in a modern setting, a le DeCaprio's Romeo + Juliette. It's just my personal taste that that doesn't work.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Yes, people do see Keanu on purpose. He is a huge international movie star, or so I hear.
I imagine that factors in a lot in casting decisions.
I wasn't wild about Romeo+Juliet, but I've seen a lot of cool adaptations of Shakepeare (largely on the stage), such as The Merry Wives of Windsor set in the swinging' 70s. It's a lot of fun and doesn't mess up the play in the least.
If it weren't for adaptations, we'd never have Mendelssohn's A Midsummer's Night's Dream; Prokopiev and Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet ballets; and Verdi's Otello, Falstaff and Macbeth, not to mention Kiss Me Kate and West Side Story on Broadway.
People go to see Keanu on purpose?!
Yabbut that's not what I'm talking about. FP was a story based on the story of a Shakespeare play. I'm talking about a completely literal, line-for-line Shakespeare play filmed in a modern setting, a le DeCaprio's Romeo + Juliette. It's just my personal taste that that doesn't work.
Yes, people do see Keanu on purpose. He is a huge international movie star, or so I hear.
I imagine that factors in a lot in casting decisions.I wasn't wild about Romeo+Juliet, but I've seen a lot of cool adaptations of Shakepeare (largely on the stage), such as The Merry Wives of Windsor set in the swinging' 70s. It's a lot of fun and doesn't mess up the play in the least.
If it weren't for adaptations, we'd never have Mendelssohn's A Midsummer's Night's Dream; Prokopiev and Tchaikovsky's Romeo & Juliet ballets; and Verdi's Otello, Falstaff and Macbeth, not to mention Kiss Me Kate and West Side Story on Broadway.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
I like Reeves. People complain that he only plays himself, but that's the same thing with, I dunno, Pacino, Connery, etc...
I like Reeves. People complain that he only plays himself, but that's the same thing with, I dunno, Pacino, Connery, etc...
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
The only time I have a problem with Keanu Reeves is when he's trying to do serious drama. I just can't buy it. But when he's in something fun he's just fine.
The only time I have a problem with Keanu Reeves is when he's trying to do serious drama. I just can't buy it. But when he's in something fun he's just fine.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
I'm glad I only checked out The Day the Earth Stood Still remake from the public library.
I'm glad I only checked out The Day the Earth Stood Still remake from the public library.
Re: Racebending and other Asian-Americans speak up against Akira white
Which is silly, because you're imposing one of the dramatic conceits of 19th Century Realism/Naturalism -- that the play should seek to accurately re-create the world as it exists or existed -- onto 16th and 17th Century plays that were written with zero attempts to accurately portray the various societies they depicted.
Which is silly, because you're imposing one of the dramatic conceits of 19th Century Realism/Naturalism -- that the play should seek to accurately re-create the world as it exists or existed -- onto 16th and 17th Century plays that were written with zero attempts to accurately portray the various societies they depicted.