Ethnic casting

**Nubiangeek** · 05-02-2006, 04:53 PM

Isn't it interesting that whenever they need someone of a certain ethnicity, they do whatever they can to find such a person, but do not cast people of these ethnicities in their other shows? Something to ponder: if directors would start casting ethnic actors in shows that do not call for certain ethnicities, they might have people when they really need them. Just a thought!

**Connie_M-T** · 05-03-2006, 03:14 PM

Directors might be willing to cast ethnic actors if they showed up at auditions. I have been to many auditions and had my own auditions when no one of any ethniticity (sp) showed up to even consider casting.

**Amphitryon38** · 05-03-2006, 09:56 PM

I was very fortunate to have ethnic actors audition for Midsummer last month.

I cast both, but I will admit the parts are not large.

I also cast in parts that could go either way. I felt I cast based on the auditions. It did not occur to me to cast a black actor in one of the lover's part.

I think that is partially because I'm not sure that I need any unintentional meanings. (I'll put plenty of intentional meaning in the show!)

One of the reasons I don't typically pick an "ehtnic" show is because:

I don't consider myself capable of relating an "ethnic" experience. Therefore, I would not be the best director to influence the actors.

And I have no idea of the turnout. And since I have no personal contacts with ethnic actors (except through this board! Yea!) I wouldn't know where to begin if I couldn't get enough actors.

This is the second time that IA has broached this subject and I always re-think my position. It's good to be stretched.

Great question.

G

**Nubiangeek** · 05-07-2006, 10:33 AM

The reason I brought it up was because I was recently involved with Ragtime (a wonderful experience, I might add). It took us a while to get the people that we needed to fill out the cast. Another cast member and I were discussing the reason why it was so hard to fill out the cast, and we discovered that it was because they had to 'go looking' for people to fill the cast. I just thought that it would be nice not to have to 'go looking' for people if you had them right there in the theater family.

GaryWood · 05-07-2006, 10:49 AM

Originally Posted by Nubiangeek

Isn't it interesting that whenever they need someone of a certain ethnicity, they do whatever they can to find such a person, but do not cast people of these ethnicities in their other shows? Something to ponder: if directors would start casting ethnic actors in shows that do not call for certain ethnicities, they might have people when they really need them. Just a thought!

Oh, no....he....DI-N'T!

We've discussed this topic IN DEPTH in another thread. Would someone mind posting a link to that thread? I'm too busy.

And, not wanting to rehash too much, but for TWO feature films, auditioning well over 100 people, I've had 2 Asians and 4 Blacks take the time and effort to audition. With the exception of the one black man that turned me down because the part wasn't big enough, I played them all.

So, which came first, the chicken or the egg? You want a part? Audition. When you don't get it, audition again. Take classes. Learn. And audition again. And again. But don't quit and blame your inability to get a part on racisim. BullSh*t. Talk to Sidney Poitier, Billy Dee Williams, Denzel Washington about racism. They'll tell you stories.....

And then they'll tell you how they OVERCAME them.

THEY BECAME THE BEST.

And...I'm...spent.

**Nubiangeek** · 05-07-2006, 12:13 PM

I was not trying to start a big commotion or anything when I brought up this topic. It was just an observation that I had. I have been in the theater community for over 20 years in this area, and I was just noticing that things haven't changed. I did not say that anyone was being prejudiced. I don't care if someone casts minorities or not. The problem that i have is when they come looking for us when they need us, but don't want us any other time. We recently had some trouble where we were virtually blackmailed into keeping some people around basically because we had no other choice other than to not do the show. As a director, i wouldn't want to have this dilemma either.

GaryWood · 05-10-2006, 09:11 AM

Sorry to stir this up again, but I've been behind....

I feel I MUST respond to this because I'm taking it personally. I have a problem with this statement...

Originally Posted by Nubiangeek

I did not say that anyone was being prejudiced. I don't care if someone casts minorities or not. The problem that i have is when they come looking for us when they need us, but don't want us any other time.

1. You've said it TWICE, so I don't think there is a misunderstanding.
2. It's completley contradictory. You begin by saying that no one is being "prejudiced" yet you are being discriminated against (is this proper grammer?). And,
3. As a producer of two movies with predominently (sp?)white casts, I feel I'm being "generalized" as a bigot.

We have had the discussion before, but it's important when someone starts generalizing about race issues. Even if they preface it with "No offense..but...".

So....it would be easy for me to generalize and say, "Blacks, Hispanics, Asians, whatever, are too lazy to get themselves to the auditons." Or..."They think they are too good to audition." Or..."They don't want to put in the long days and hard work that it takes so they are afraid to committ." Or....(fill in the blank with any stereotypical, bigotted remark you want).

But the truth is:
1. It has been my experience, during the casting of two films, auditioning well over 100 actors, that only 4-5 blacks, 1 Asian, and 1 Hispanic auditioned. I used them all except the one that turned me down. And,
2. I don't know why this is, so I won't generalize. Maybe it's one or all of the reasons above, or maybe they just don't like me. Or maybe "they" don't watch TV, or read newspapers or frequent these sites.

But I'm proud to say that I've cast Apollo twice in my movies and look forward to working with him again. He's getting tired of the casting couch, but he knows this is how I do business and he knew the job was dangerous when he took it.

**Nubiangeek** · 05-10-2006, 02:20 PM

Clearly this is a sore spot for you. I am sorry if it is. I am not talking about minorities that do not audition. I am simply saying that if theaters (i'm not talking about all of them) would either cast the minorities that audition or do shows that include them, they would not have to go looking for them if they want to do a show that has a large number of them. The same would apply if you want males to come and audition. You would not do a season of shows with mostly females in them, and then turn right around and do 1776. Again, I am sorry that you feel like I am attacking you personally. Until you responded, I didn't even know you existed.

**Skerdog** · 05-10-2006, 02:27 PM

Originally Posted by Nubiangeek

Until you responded, I didn't even know you existed.

Am I the only one who's getting a bad feeling about this? [smiley=laugh.gif]

GaryWood · 05-10-2006, 02:43 PM

Not so much a sore spot, but being in this position....which YOUR words clearly put me in, whether you know who I am or not....means that if I make a movie with an all white cast, then I clearly don't want "blacks" "around" until I remake Car Wash or The Wiz.

Completely unfair and is an opnion not based in reality. I ask you, as a black man--I'm assuming--how many ethnics have YOU personally seen at any one audition? I'd wager less than 20% at any audition.

So why is this?

It's easy to say, "Well, it's because "we've" been to auditions before and not got cast so "we" don't want to waste our time."

B*S! If you feel that way and just give up....then give up. More parts for the white folks with NO competition.

But what infuriates more is the ASSUMPTION that any black, or Hispanic, or Asian actor that does not get cast, it's because he was black, Hispanic or Asian.

Maybe that actor just outright sucked. But....as this debate continues, I'm beginning to find that all....and I mean ALL gay, black, Hispanic, and Asians actors are just amazing! They are the best of the best and we, The Man, are keepin' 'em down.

Just as you didn't know I "exist", I can't cast you if you don't show up for audition. And, yes, maybe this IS a sore subject and probably is for any producer of any play or film with any predominently white cast.

I would encourage you to look up the last debate on this subject. There were some good points on both sides. But my advise, if you really feel "discriminated" against is:

1. Write your own part.
2. Produce your own play.
3. Produce your own film.
4. Open your own theater.
5. Take acting lessons and be so damned good that no one can deny how good you are.
6. Work, work, work....
7. Don't complain, do something about it.
8. Instead of complaining about a producer that is up to 2 am working on his project while working 40 hours a week, who's least worry is making sure that everyone has enough time on the playing field and no one's feelings are hurt, or he's considered a bigot....begin staying up to 2 am and taking the small steps that it takes to CHANGE THE WORLD, make your OWN playing field and make your OWN rules.

Again, I come back to your words:

"Isn't it interesting that whenever they need someone of a certain ethnicity, they do whatever they can to find such a person, but do not cast people of these ethnicities in their other shows? Something to ponder: if directors would start casting ethnic actors in shows that do not call for certain ethnicities, they might have people when they really need them."

And...

"I did not say that anyone was being prejudiced. I don't care if someone casts minorities or not. The problem that i have is when they come looking for us when they need us, but don't want us any other time."

These words seem inflammatory to me. I don't think I'm misinterpreting them. I think you are claiming that producers and directors are INTENTIONALLY not casting people "of color" in "normal" shows. I think this is untrue. That fact that YOU may have auditioned and did not get cast only tells me that:

A. You weren't right for a part.
B. Others were better, OR
C. You just weren't good enough.

I've said it before, when I hear complaints such as this, the first thing I think is "sour grapes". Is this racism or just another actor that thinks he/she is better than they are?

And, please, understand....I UNDERSTOOD what you said the first, second and THIRD time you explained it. I got it. (Another pet peeve of mine is when you disagree with someone and they respond with, "No, you don't understand..." and they explain it again because I MUST NOT understand because if I DID understand what you are saying there is NO WAY in the world I could disagree with you. So they explain it AGAIN.) I'm tellin' you, I got it. I really did. You're saying that if directors would cast more ethnics, they would have more ethnics when "they needed them." I'm just saying you ARE WRONG. If ethnics show up.....they might get cast. I say they MIGHT! No insurance. No insurance for ANY OF US, regardless of our color....or in my case, genital size.

I'm telling you Christopher Gregory, I coulda' been in "Blood Lake" but that water was COLD! (checking the ol' calendar.....yep.....It's May. Wow. Time flies when you're makin' sh*t up.)

Ok...I'll leave it alone now.