London Still: Things that are Free: A List

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Aretha's Girl

(from left to right) Jennifer Hudson, Aretha & Audra McDonald.

Before they finalize the casting, I'd like to just put my thoughts out there about the prospective casting of the actress to play Aretha Franklin in her biopic.

First of all, I LOVE a well done biopic. They have introduced to me to important people that I may or may not have known anything about. Often times they have prompted to me discover the person for myself, outside of their screen portrayal. So this a genre that I generally love.

Casting is paramount. It can elevate a weak script to heights impossible for it to achieve if lessor actors where in the picture.

It is surprisingly rare that we get such a prolonged and meandering look into the casting of a biopic.  The first thing I heard about the casting of this project is that Aretha Franklin told Wendy Williams on her talk show that Halle Berry was going to play her. I don't think there's much I can say about this casting choice that wouldn't automatically jumping to someone head. I'll simply say this: she's already acted in a biopic before, Introducing Dorothy Dandridge, which was a perfect match for her on multiple levels. I don't think that's a road she needs to - or wants to - walk down twice.

The next women on their list are: Jennifer Hudson and Audra McDonald.

Both are respected actresses and singers, although they cut their teeth very differently.

Since information about them is readily available, I'll cut right to the chase and lay out the pros and cons of each, as I see them:

JENNIFER HUDSON

Pros:

It took me a while to really warm up to her quite frankly. I didn't start watching American Idol until the season after hers and when she had her break out role in Dreamgirls, I didn't think the performance was as spectacular as the hype surrounding it. She won an Oscar for it so perhaps I was just plain wrong.

Seeing her in other things has helped her greatly in my eyes. She was sweet and sympathetic in the Sex and the City film - in direct contrast to Effie White, her character in Dreamgirls. So she has some range.

I've also quite  liked a bit of her solo music: Spotlight, If This Isn't Love, Giving Myself, Where You At?, No One Gon Love You, Angel . She's released 2 albums and even won a Grammy for her first. She has a R&B voice that hearkens back to the truly great voices of the Classic Soul era and, therefore, definitely has the voice to pull off Aretha.

I have no doubt that her Aretha will be competent. I don't think she would fail, which is good, I guess. Still, Jennifer has not been seen in a role (in the States, at least) of any kind of challenge since her debut. {Perhaps Winnie will change that...}

Cons:

Competence aside, I just don't believe in her ability to transform in to a different person. I have seen her as fictional characters so far, and what I have seen of Winnie doesn't convince me that's she capable of it. Her Aretha, I feel will be 'Jennifer Hudson as Aretha Franklin' instead of 'Aretha Franklin' - if that makes any sense.

Also, she is a high profile celebrity. Especially since the weight loss. High profile actors have to be even better at their craft to disappear in a role because they are already well known qualities and the audience is more often than not looking for them in the film. Its a hurdle, I feel, only exceptional actors have overcome.

AUDRA MCDONALD

Pros:

I must admit, I'm a little bias when it comes to Audra. I, quite frankly, idolize her. Its not particularly healthy, but its true. Still, I know I'm capable of separating this from my judgement... I think...

Audra is a hurricane on stage. Matter of fact, it is on stage in The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess that Aretha Franklin saw Audra and was impressed enough to put her on the shortlist to play her. I was privileged enough to see her perform in this show - it was my first time seeing her on stage live - and I can't blame Aretha. Matter of fact, I praise her! Audra has been like a best kept secret in the entertainment industry. She has now nabbed a record 5 Tony Awards - the 3rd and only African-American performer to do this. Her latest for Porgy & Bess.

She has played a variety of roles on stage successfully, so,  I'm convinced of her ability to transform into a different person.

Her film work has mainly been on television: she was nominated for 2 Primetime Emmys for Wit and A Raisin in the Sun and was a main cast member of Private Practice for its first 4 years. I watched Private Practice for her and I must admit, I was underwhelmed. Not with her though, she did the most with what she was given - she just wasn't used properly/fully.

She's definitely got a voice. A degree from Julliard says that much, as does 4 solo albums and 2 Grammy awards.

Cons:

I've yet to see a consistent performance by her on film that has captured all what makes her great on stage. I've caught glimpses here and there - an episode of this, a clip of that. Something is missing though. Maybe its just her comfort level, an inability to truly be vulnerable in front of the camera. As I said, I've glimpsed that magic but... it has not been consistently there.

Also, as Aretha  pointed out in a recent interview, the part of her voice that Audra has sang with for most of her career is more operatic and Broadway in its nature. She has to prove that she can sing soul music and having to sound like Aretha Franklin is no small order. Aretha has a phenomenal voice that singers have been and still are trying to emulate.

I'm honestly not sure if she call pull that off. No on is infallible. But we'll see.

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I must say, in wrapping up, that I don't think any of these three choices look like Aretha Franklin, but neither do I think that is really important. So may actors have played real life characters in films even though they resemble them only slightly. Sydney Poitier as Nelson Mandela comes to mind. I was still convinced by his portrayal though.

I hope they choose Audra. I think she's a better actress and that is more important to me. But Aretha is a singer, and I'm sure she and everyone else wants to feel like they are actually seeing and experiencing Aretha Franklin in full when they watch the film. That means the right voice has got to be there!

I hope that Audra can pull off the voice and they are convinced that she is the right actress. I've kinda put my expectation eggs in Jennifer's basket but I hope I am pleasantly surprised.

 Whoever they choose for the film, I believe the actress will have a real chance to shine and get attention. Audra's profile could be drastically increased with such exposure. It would definitely be the first film to truly challenge her. And as for Jennifer, she's been sort of a one hit wonder when it comes to acting. Excelling in this film would demonstrate that Dreamgirls wasn't just a fluke.

I hope they make the right choice. Whoever it is.

 

My fave Aretha song.

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P.S. Actresses on taking the role:

Thoughts...

Q orianka Kilcher Arrested at White house in Support of Peruvian Indigenous Rights from qorianka kilcher on Vimeo.

I can't help but be proud of Q'orianka, even though I know very little about her and the only thing that connects us is that we are both young people with Native American ancestry. It take courage to protest in a business like hers. It can turn off a lot of people and prevent job opportunities.

It brings tears to my eyes, what is going on. It makes me want a camera all that more. There is so much truth to be uncovered not only in more impoverished countries all over the world, but also here in my own country. Bermuda is apparently the third riches country in the world, and yet there are so many unhappy people here, including myself. So many people feeling misplaced in their own country. One day, I will explore these injustices, however, for now I offer you my quote for the month:

"Failure will never overtake thee if thy determination to succeed is strong enough"
-Og Mandino

I've written this quote on my arm to two days straight(Actually, thats a cool thing to take a picture of, expect that within the week ;D)and I read it to encourage me to get out of this rut that I'm in. I'll give it a month, so til January, to tell you if its helping me in anyway. I seriously hope it does.

Rosario Dawson is not Greek: Does casting need to be Ethnically Accurate?

I was about to read an article about Rosario Dawson's involvement in the film "Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief" when I read comment written at the bottom of the page. It triggered so many thoughts in my mind, I had to write a response to it.

Comment: "How is a Latina actress the *perfect* choice to play a GREEK goddess? This is unrealistic and an insult to Greek heritage. Google "Persephone". The classic images of her did not look like Rosario Dawson. I am outraged at the thought of non-blacks playing blacks, non Native Americans playing Native Americans, etc. It's just not right. And now at a non Greek hijacking the classic tale of the great Persephone. Unbelievable. I'll be teaching my children that she is NOT representative of Persephone. Respect other race's cultures! This is not a celebration of Greek and Roman culture, it is a hijacking and disrespect of it!"~commonsense

From: Rosario Dawson: It was wild to play a goddess in Percy Jackson & The Olympians

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This comment raises a very good point, one that's been asked by many different people under many different circumstances. If you want other arguments, click on the link and read some of the other comments - there was one also written in objection to this particular comment that inspired me to write this.

Now, I'm black mostly, with definite Caribbean influence in my blood from my mother's side and Native American from my father's side, so I am at least aware of the frustration that that this person feels, if you don't believe that I've felt the same way. And I have. Especially when it concerns Native Americans, a community that I feel a spiritual connection to. (I just watched an independent film called 'REEL INJUN: On the trail of the Hollywood Indian' by Neil Diamond at the Bermuda Film Festival. If you can get to a showing, watch it. It's a good film; gave my Theory of Knowledge class a lot to talk about).

Despite these feelings and an equaled desire for those in charge of producing films and television to just 'get it right', I'm not sure that such a strict adherence to that principle is either right or practical.

The main point raised by the other comment was a stress on the performance of the actor over the ethnic accuracy.

Ethnic accuracy...

Ask yourself, can that ever be achieved? We've come a long way from having whites play Native Americans, true.

However, take the Twilight Saga, for example. There is a very prominent Native American community, and they cast Native actors to play them. Taylor Lautner, a breakout start of the of series has French, German, Dutch as well as Native ancestry. But his Native ancestry is not Quiluete, the tribe featured in the film, but Ottawa and Pottawatomie. Does that render him inappropriate casting because his ancestors were not from the right tribe? What about all the other nationalities? Is he inappropriate casting because of that?

No, I don't believe it renders him in inappropriate casting, however, he's not completely appropriate either. He's not a picture perfect representation of the way the character is described in the book. Jacob is supposed to be tall, constantly growing with a volatile personality (at least after New Moon). Taylor isn't the tallest of actors. Yes, he gained 3o pounds of muscle of New Moon, and we all commend him for that, but I watched New Moon and I wasn't totally impressed with acting.

I love Taylor and will, no doubt, follow him throughout his career. However, having read the books previously, I don't believe he communicated the dramatic change in Jacob's personality effectively. There could have been a bigger bridge between the two parts of Jacob's personality; they felt two much like the same person.

What I'm trying to suggest is that, perhaps, when trying to achieve ethnic accuracy there are other points to consider as well. Points that may very well be more - or equally as - important as that accuracy.

Also consider, the fact that casting in the Theatre has be very color blind in ways that film isn't normally.

Color blind castings of Shakespeare's plays run 24/7. Their audiences don't mind. But then again, the material is so old, that it benefits from new interpretations and the diversity in the casting. Brings a freshness and energy to material that has been performed a great many times.

Which brings me back to Percy Jackson, a piece of fiction based on Greek Mythology. Stories so old, that perhaps they'll benefit from the reinterpretation. How truthfully are the the Myths represented in the the film anyway? I haven't seen it, nor do I know much about the story, however, I must say that I'll probably go watch it now that I know Rosario is in it. (I'm a HUGE fan of hers)

Choices like casting in a film or on television of in the theatre are never clean cut and there are loads of reasons that directors choose actors.

Perhaps, all we should really ask is for actors to be cast as it relates to what they'd bring to the character. There are storys that deserve - need - ethnic accuracy, however, some don't. Perhaps that's the question that should be asked first.

Does this story line need or deserve ethnic accuracy?