Initially intended as blog for my photos, it has morphed into a commentary on the film, theatre and television industry. You may also catch a glimpse of my personal photos. Maybe.
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.
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
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?
