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[JaggedSac]

I can't be racist. I watch Dwayne Johnson movies all the time at my house.

 

[flkraven]

If you are making a movie and you have investors in your movie, will you try to write and cast it in a way to increase the chance of a return on investment or do you stick to your creative guns?

The majority of people can relate to the white guy. Not everyone can relate to the black guy. Casting the white guy will increase the probability of ROI and will probably produce the highest ROI. Debating this and trying to change it is about as pointless as me as a hispanic trying to get white guys to see me as an equal. It's just never going to happen.

It's the same reason you don't see hispanic in leading roles either. I wish it could change but it's about money, nothing else.

Of the top 5 highest grossing actors of all time (boxofficemojo), 3 are black (Morgan Freeman, Samuel L Jackson, Eddie Murphy). In the past decade, basically any movie starring Will Smith was box office gold. Your argument is noted, but disproven by evidence.

 

[Abounder]

Why didn't more of them go see The Book of Life if the numbers are so substantially different? It sure didn't do very well despite looking quite beautiful and having a great cast.

Not just that but I saw marketing for it all over.

According to its wiki that film's highest debuts were in Mexico and Brazil, but yea there's a lot more to making a movie successful than catering to demos. Hell, you can still have a great product and not make bank. Maybe it will be a hit for home theaters and streaming.

I think Idris Elba as the next James Bond would be amazing and I know that he would pull it off perfectly. It would also send a great signal to audiences and US film culture and industry

Even if we just focus on age Idris is getting too old for a multi-film Bond deal, Hollywood and Co. is also ageist

 

[otapnam]

I think Idris Elba as the next James Bond would be amazing and I know that he would pull it off perfectly. It would also send a great signal to audiences and US film culture and industry

maybe not idris, maybe a new guy?

do you guys ever think sometimes if theres a minority "IT" actor/actress they soak up roles that could goto other minority actors?

 

[The Last Wizard]

I did not know this

Porn is just the only kind of media were I feel the 'need' to 'relate' somewhat.

We had a few threads on porn where it was very insightful on how racist the industry is. For example, a white woman having sexy with a black man can "tarnish" her image and make her less marketable to the her racist audience. A lot of women in the industry have come out and confirmed this too.

 

[NaughtyCalibur]

If you are making a movie and you have investors in your movie, will you try to write and cast it in a way to increase the chance of a return on investment or do you stick to your creative guns?

The majority of people can relate to the white guy. Not everyone can relate to the black guy. Casting the white guy will increase the probability of ROI and will probably produce the highest ROI. Debating this and trying to change it is about as pointless as me as a hispanic trying to get white guys to see me as an equal. It's just never going to happen.

It's the same reason you don't see hispanic in leading roles either. I wish it could change but it's about money, nothing else.

"White movies" bomb spectacularly all the time, especially in recent years ("John Carter" arguably the most spectacular of all) so I just can't get behind this mindset AT ALL anymore.

In fact it makes Hollywood seem MORE racist if anything. Willing to constantly take a risk on one race, even after massive failures, but not the other? Smh...

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

You mean Idris Elba who had a breakout role on a much beloved American television show?

The Wire isn't really a mainstream show. Tons of black characters and a slow burn. Look at how many times HBO tried to kill it. David Simon is pretty good at diverse casts. Treme was also very good.

Unintentional racism I don't think is the right word. It's background racism. It's racial attitudes that are never examined or questioned because they're just taken for granted, they're just "normal." That's why he says Hollywood is a white industry, "it just is".

True. I just couldn't articulate a better term.

 

[biggersmaller]

How serious are we suppose to take this article? I mean, Chris Rock does a great job of portraying the black struggle through stand-up comedy - but he clearly cannot write worth shit. He's all over the place. Is he joking when he's accepting racism, then serious when 'exposing' it?

It's a white industry. Just as the NBA is a black industry. I'm not even saying it's a bad thing. It just is.

The black people they do hire tend to be the same person. That person tends to be female and that person tends to be Ivy League. And there's nothing wrong with that. As a matter of fact, that's what I want for my daughters.

Clearly his insight is to his own personal experience, but I would love to see someone run with his general theme and publish an analysis of the top 50 movies of the last 10 years - showing the racial makeup of the cast. I doubt 13% of those actors would be black to reflect the overall US population, so why not just propose the industry publicly state that to be the goal?

 

[Sho_Nuff82]

Found it

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=820

Oh GAF. I was on IGN at the time and it was a little less...raw in how open everyone was about their preference.

 

[Wag]

I'm waiting for a Jewish Jedi.

 

[Fixed2BeBroken]

If you are making a movie and you have investors in your movie, will you try to write and cast it in a way to increase the chance of a return on investment or do you stick to your creative guns?

The majority of people can relate to the white guy. Not everyone can relate to the black guy. Casting the white guy will increase the probability of ROI and will probably produce the highest ROI. Debating this and trying to change it is about as pointless as me as a hispanic trying to get white guys to see me as an equal. It's just never going to happen.

It's the same reason you don't see hispanic in leading roles either. I wish it could change but it's about money, nothing else.

this is like the most defeated post ever.

grow a pair and get some pride man

 

[OG_Original Gamer]

Look at your example!! Fast and Furious is the perfect international product! Black people are represented, hispanics check, asians present! but the two leads are white, one's even a ken doll. Coincidence or the perfect movie for an international market?

People really believe Vin Diesel is white.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

Clearly his insight is to his own personal experience, but I would love to see someone run with his general theme and publish an analysis of the top 50 movies of the last 10 years - showing the racial makeup of the cast. I doubt 13% of those actors would be black to reflect the overall US population, so why not just propose the industry publicly state that to be the goal?

No one wants to do this because it would be embarrassingly bad. Hell, I doubt anyone here can even name 5 movies in the last year that had a black lead despite dozens of movies being released. And the few that do all recycle Will Smith, Sam Jackson, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman because Hollywood is afraid to take a chance on a young new actor if they aren't white

 

[Chuckie]

We had a few threads on porn where it was very insightful on how racist the industry is. For example, a white woman having sexy with a black man can "tarnish" her image and make her less marketable to the her racist audience. A lot of women in the industry have come out and confirmed this too.

This is really fucked up :O

 

[aeolist]

i don't watch TV or (much) standup so i've never seen anything from kevin hart. this article just made me go watch this: http://comediansincarsgettingcoffee.com/kevin-hart-you-look-amazing-in-the-wind

this guy's hilarious

 

[Can Crusher]

A lot keeps being said about black actors, but he brings in a better point. Where are all the Hispanics? They seem to have it way way way worse, when you consider there are way way more of them than black people in the U.S, and more interestingly in L.A.

 

[biggersmaller]

The Wire isn't really a mainstream show. Tons of black characters and a slow burn. Look at how many times HBO tried to kill it. David Simon is pretty good at diverse casts. Treme was also very good.

However, they didn't cancel it did they? It's not HBOs fault that The Wire wasn't as successful as The Sopranos. I hope you're not implying HBO considered canceling a show because it had lots of black characters and slower pacing vs the more obvious reason: mediocre ratings.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

A lot keeps being said about black actors, but he brings in a better point. Where are all the Hispanics? They seem to have it way way way worse, when you consider there are way way more of them than black people in the U.S, and more interestingly in L.A.

Everyone who isn't white has it worse. I think it's mainly that he's speaking from what he knows, so as a black actor in the industry. It sucks there aren't any "big" hispanic actors, are there? I mean...I feel like Antonio Banderas was the last major one that I can remember

However, they didn't cancel it did they? It's not HBOs fault that The Wire wasn't as successful as The Sopranos. I hope you're not implying HBO considered canceling a show because it had lots of black characters and slower pacing vs the more obvious reason: mediocre ratings.

I think his point was more speaking towards the low ratings, which the attempts to cancel it were indicative of

 

[NipplesAndToes23]

A lot keeps being said about black actors, but he brings in a better point. Where are all the Hispanics? They seem to have it way way way worse, when you consider there are way way more of them than black people in the U.S, and more interestingly in L.A.

Hispanic isn't a race it's an ethnic group which is more associated with culture and according to statistics, most of the Hispanics here are White.

 

[Ronin Ray]

Can someone explain to me this whole I have to relate to the main character thing? I have never watched a movie and needed to relate to the main character or anything. I always get lost in movies and use it as a from to escape reality for a few hours. I guess that's why I watch scfi and action movies and not serious drama or stuff like that. I have enjoyed movies the more I am not like the characters on screen. Maybe I am the only one.

 

[aeolist]

Can someone explain to me this whole I have to relate to the main character thing? I have never watched a movie and needed to relate to the main character or anything. I always get lost in movies and use it as a from to escape reality for a few hours. I guess that's why I watch scfi and action movies and not serious drama or stuff like that. I have enjoyed movies the more I am not like the characters on screen. Maybe I am the only one.

it's an excuse that people who are uncomfortable watching positive minority portrayals in media use to cover for their reaction, whether it's conscious or not

 

[LakeEarth]

Everyone who isn't white has it worse. I think it's mainly that he's speaking from what he knows, so as a black actor in the industry. It sucks there aren't any "big" hispanic actors, are there? I mean...I feel like Antonio Banderas was the last major one that I can remember

Louis CK was born in Mexico, but he's moved to the US when he was a kid, long enough to lose the accent. Plus the hair color.

 

[ezrarh]

A lot keeps being said about black actors, but he brings in a better point. Where are all the Hispanics? They seem to have it way way way worse, when you consider there are way way more of them than black people in the U.S, and more interestingly in L.A.

If you look at the television and movies produced in Mexico, you'd think it's just white people speaking Spanish. I wouldn't expect to see a darker skinned Mexican in Hollywood and am not sure if there's even a demand for it.

 

[studyguy]

A lot keeps being said about black actors, but he brings in a better point. Where are all the Hispanics? They seem to have it way way way worse, when you consider there are way way more of them than black people in the U.S, and more interestingly in L.A.

Big latino actors? They're few and far between, I treat it like any other minority actors. Same goes for big Asian actors. Still incredibly annoying to see most latinos on American shows depicted as either: Gangbangers or drug cartel lords, it's the same stereotyping say and Asian actor gets as that one guy who knows kung fu, or the token black guy

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

Big latino actors? They're few and far between, I treat it like any other minority actors. Same goes for big Asian actors. Still incredibly annoying to see most latinos on American shows depicted as either: Gangbangers or drug cartel lords, it's the same stereotyping say and Asian actor gets as that one guy who knows kung fu, or the token black guy

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006LPDE/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Whitewashing of Latino/Hispanic actors has been a thing since Hollywood came about.

 

[jWILL253]

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=820

Found it

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=820

I've been too, but all I could get was this http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=32205

 

[biggersmaller]

You know, I'm just going to defend the movie industry in this regard because I love movies, and too many people are willing to make generalizations and assumptions in regards to an extremely large and complex industry. I agree that there needs to be more black people in movies, but I'm not willing to call Hollywood racist.

No one wants to do this because it would be embarrassingly bad. Hell, I doubt anyone here can even name 5 movies in the last year that had a black lead despite dozens of movies being released. And the few that do all recycle Will Smith, Sam Jackson, Denzel Washington, and Morgan Freeman because Hollywood is afraid to take a chance on a young new actor if they aren't white

It's counterproductive to make such ridiculous statements (Don Cheadle, Jamie Foxx, and Forest Whitaker would also like to be added to your list). It's bad, but it doesn't help to make it out to be much much worse than it actually is.

There are also many new black actors being cast in major roles (a "chance" as it were). Some examples:

Chadwick Boseman
Michael Jordan
John Boyega
Anthony Mackie
Omar Sy
Damon Wayans Jr
Kevin Hart
David Oyelowo

 

[Jado]

If you are making a movie and you have investors in your movie, will you try to write and cast it in a way to increase the chance of a return on investment or do you stick to your creative guns?

The majority of people can relate to the white guy. Not everyone can relate to the black guy. Casting the white guy will increase the probability of ROI and will probably produce the highest ROI. Debating this and trying to change it is about as pointless as me as a hispanic trying to get white guys to see me as an equal. It's just never going to happen.

It's the same reason you don't see hispanic in leading roles either. I wish it could change but it's about money, nothing else.

You're mostly right, except that minorities relating to white people has mostly to do with being conditioned to accept the image and POV of white people. But the rest is spot on. Hollywood follows the money and if tomorrow's new hotness with audiences are dramas with corporate intrigue between Brazilian, Chinese and Americans, that's what will be seen across TV. White people mostly wanna see white people, but it's not a unique issue among whites. You see this pattern elsewhere.

So let's not even try.

Trying often involves taking a huge risk and going broke, which most businesses would rather not do. It has to be done really well. Most movies and shows are mediocre (critically) and unmemorable (in terms of entertainment and buzz). Although not always the case, they sometimes need the familiar white face to generate interest with simple-minded Americans.

Great read.

I'm waiting for the day (probably won't see it in my lifetime) where a relatively unknown or low key black actor stars in a big studio picture that doesn't have to do with race.

I think Star Wars Ep. 7 will meet this criteria if the rumors are true. In the 90s, I think Will Smith obviously fit bill. There was Fresh Prince and his music career, but he wasn't an A-list star with top billing before Bad Boys and Independence Day.

bro c'mon lets not start this bs argument. the average white male has zero in common with the fictional white male characters in most major films. thats a complete cop out. the average white male works a 9-5 , they arent superheroes, spies, detectives, or hobbits.. lol so idk what white males would find in common with these characters besides white skin. if white skin is all it takes to relate then i must be over thinking it.

This isn't what the discussion is about. White people just generally like to see white faces on the screen, for old/basic reasons having to do with familiarity on a very superficial, visual level. This is replicated in cultures around the world. It's an unfortunate truth and Hollywood is probably doing a better (but still not great) job of changing this than any other film industry in the world. The inner workings and staffing of Hollywood are an even bigger problem than the limited representations they have on screen.

 

[Espada]

A lot keeps being said about black actors, but he brings in a better point. Where are all the Hispanics? They seem to have it way way way worse, when you consider there are way way more of them than black people in the U.S, and more interestingly in L.A.

Massive amounts of white washing, basically. Look at media from Latin America and you'd be convinced that Hispanics are nothing but fair skinned and blue eyed (and often blonde). Our community has a lot of issues with skin color and race to deal with.

If the Hispanic population increases in the country, I don't expect Hollywood to change much at all.

 

[jWILL253]

You know, I'm just going to defend the movie industry in this regard because I love movies, and too many people are willing to make generalizations and assumptions in regards to an extremely large and complex industry. I agree that there needs to be more black people in movies, but I'm not willing to call Hollywood racist.

Bet you're not ready to call the sky blue, either...

 

[Slayven]

You know, I'm just going to defend the movie industry in this regard because I love movies, and too many people are willing to make generalizations and assumptions in regards to an extremely large and complex industry. I agree that there needs to be more black people in movies, but I'm not willing to call Hollywood racist.



It's counterproductive to make such ridiculous statements (Don Cheadle, Jamie Foxx, and Forest Whitaker would also like to be added to your list). It's bad, but it doesn't help to make it out to be much much worse than it actually is.

There are also many new black actors being cast in major roles (a "chance" as it were). Some examples:

Chadwick Boseman
Michael Jordan
John Boyega
Anthony Mackie
Omar Sy
Damon Wayans Jr
Kevin Hart
David Oyelowo

They changed the leads race and it was based on a true story

 

[HK-47]

I can relate to aliens, zombies, space marines, demons, devils, animals just not memebers of another race of my own species.

This mentality is why i didnt even watch breaking bad. Honestly. A better show like the wire came out and got shitty viewership because the cast was predominately black.

Why should I consume predominately white media when no one wants to consume black media?

I perused through a heartland america type catalog the other day. Not one single minority model. In 2014. What message does that promote?

I understand your point but The Wire and Breaking Bad are in no way similar and The Wire had way more going against it than a minority cast (like the fact that it was super dense, novelistic and complex and not pick up and watch friendly. Pre Netflix, pre streaming).

 

[HK-47]

Big latino actors? They're few and far between, I treat it like any other minority actors. Same goes for big Asian actors. Still incredibly annoying to see most latinos on American shows depicted as either: Gangbangers or drug cartel lords, it's the same stereotyping say and Asian actor gets as that one guy who knows kung fu, or the token black guy

Many asian actors are going overseas because of this.

 

[gutter_trash]

The worst are NYC centric movies and TV shows that completely don't reflect the demographics of the city at all.

Take the show friends, there is nothing NYC about that show at all but eh the story says it is

 

[studyguy]

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00006LPDE/?tag=neogaf0e-20
Whitewashing of Latino/Hispanic actors has been a thing since Hollywood came about.

Doesn't help much that latinos in general white wash their own media as well. Telenovelas and Spanish news all have lighter skin actors/reporters.

 

[Oersted]

If you are making a movie and you have investors in your movie, will you try to write and cast it in a way to increase the chance of a return on investment or do you stick to your creative guns?

The majority of people can relate to the white guy. Not everyone can relate to the black guy. Casting the white guy will increase the probability of ROI and will probably produce the highest ROI. Debating this and trying to change it is about as pointless as me as a hispanic trying to get white guys to see me as an equal. It's just never going to happen.

It's the same reason you don't see hispanic in leading roles either. I wish it could change but it's about money, nothing else.

The new Star Wars has a black guy, a hispanic and a woman. Doomed!

 

[entremet]

Found it

http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?t=820

LOL.

Boy have some posters changed. Some in this thread!

 

[A Fish Aficionado]

Doesn't help much that latinos in general white wash their own media as well. Telenovelas and Spanish news all have lighter skin actors/reporters.

Yeah, and dark skinned ones are relegated to comedic or ignorant stereotypes.

 

[Vice]

I think a bigger point he made is the lack of non-whites in off-screen film roles. I believe he said something along the lines of "Why can't a Mexican pick the boing noise for Dodgeball?"

 

[Slayven]

The worst are NYC centric movies and TV shows that completely don't reflect the demographics of the city at all.

Take the show friends, there is nothing NYC about that show at all but eh the story says it is

Know what bothered me the most? Monica and Rachal lived in this huge amazing apartment, but Joey and Chandler's apartment was right across the hallway and was a rathole.

 

[Abounder]

Doesn't help much that latinos in general white wash their own media as well. Telenovelas and Spanish news all have lighter skin actors/reporters.

But to be fair it's unfortunately a global media phenomenon to favor light skin although Hollywood being the top culture export doesn't help

I think a bigger point he made is the lack of non-whites in off-screen film roles. I believe he said something along the lines of "Why can't a Mexican pick the boing noise for Dodgeball?"

Yea racism and sexism is much worse behind the scenes compared to the A-list actors. Where are the minority producers, directors, etc?

 

[studyguy]

Know what bothered me the most? Monica and Rachal lived in this huge amazing apartment, but Joey and Chandler's apartment was right across the hallway and was a rathole.

Sitcom apartments are all just doors leading to wormholes. One guy can have a studio apartment larger than most homes while his neighbor has his struggle pad with one room and half a bathroom.

 

[entremet]

Know what bothered me the most? Monica and Rachal lived in this huge amazing apartment, but Joey and Chandler's apartment was right across the hallway and was a rathole.

Rachel's was rent controlled I believe. They mentioned it on the show. I think she inherited from her grandmother or something.

 

[Cow Mengde]

Such a shitty excuse too.

GTA San Andreas was awesome a big part because it embraced black culture.

You're also a criminal in GTA.

 

[studyguy]

But to be fair it's unfortunately a global media phenomenon to favor light skin although Hollywood being the top culture export doesn't help

I'm sure it contributes tremendously, yeah. Still, it's annoying as shit either way to see most minority actors pigeonholed into the same roles in Hollywood. Star Wars leads have people shook, I'm all for that.

 

[BeatResetsTheWorld]

If you are making a movie and you have investors in your movie, will you try to write and cast it in a way to increase the chance of a return on investment or do you stick to your creative guns?

The majority of people can relate to the white guy. Not everyone can relate to the black guy. Casting the white guy will increase the probability of ROI and will probably produce the highest ROI. Debating this and trying to change it is about as pointless as me as a hispanic trying to get white guys to see me as an equal. It's just never going to happen.

It's the same reason you don't see hispanic in leading roles either. I wish it could change but it's about money, nothing else.

Well then fuck those people.

 

[biggersmaller]

They changed the leads race and it was based on a true story

That movie was terrible, and who knows why they cast a card counter (who happened to be asian) as a white man. Is the only answer racism? Are you insisting American media needs more asian actors cast as math geniuses (bringing the total in that movie to 3)? Are you not aware of the recent trend of black actors revisiting characters originally portrayed as white. Including Thor - a freaking nordic god?

 

[Espada]

Doesn't help much that latinos in general white wash their own media as well. Telenovelas and Spanish news all have lighter skin actors/reporters.

If I had a penny for every time a darker skinned hispanic person was cast as a servant/maid/criminal in a telenovela I'd be rich. It's really depressing and one of the biggest things that convinces me that us becoming a larger share of the population will change little in the media.

 

[Vice]

That movie was terrible, and who knows why they cast a card counter (who happened to be asian) as a white man. Is the only answer racism? Are you insisting American media needs more asian actors cast as math geniuses (bringing the total in that movie to 3)? Are you not aware of the recent trend of black actors revisiting characters originally portrayed as white. Including Thor - a freaking nordic god?

Well, a role based on a real person is different than a fictional character.

 

[jWILL253]

That movie was terrible, and who knows why they cast a card counter (who happened to be asian) as a white man. Is the only answer racism? Are you insisting American media needs more asian actors cast as math geniuses (bringing the total in that movie to 3)? Are you not aware of the recent trend of black actors revisiting characters originally portrayed as white. Including Thor - a freaking nordic god?

I'ma need you to look at that IMDB listing one more time.