It’s been a while, but I am back to at it…thinking, speaking, writing, talking and being.
So much has taken place since my last blog…YES, ALOT!
Before I share anything specific, I want to talk about the subject matter issue. I write this with no hate in my heart or for anyone. I am multicultural, well educated, exposed, well traveled and have a multiracial family and friend stock. Again, these are my opinions and my thoughts.
So…although I have been acting for quite some years, I have also been in Corporate America for some years and my discipline is in Diversity and Affirmative Action/EEO. These are areas that I have built my corporate career off of. I am thankful for the experiences as they have added quite a bit of flavor to my repertoire as an actor. Over the last few years, I have struggled with the issue I am about to speak about.
A little over a month ago, some emotions were heightened and folks were up in arms when a casting office shared a breakdown for a film about a famous rap group that is currently in production. Needless to say, the breakdown was not only politically incorrect, but sexist, racist, classist and a bit discriminatory.
Here is something like how they went: (Not the full actual breakdown, words have been stricken)
“A group GIRLS: The hottest of the hottest. Models. MUST have real hair – no extensions, very classy looking, great bodies. You can be black, white, asian, hispanic, mid eastern, or mixed race too. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: xxxx subject line should read: A group GIRLS
B group GIRLS: These are fine girls, long natural hair, nice bodies. Small waists and nice hips. You should be light-skinned. Beyoncé is a prototype here. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: xxxx subject line should read: B group GIRLS
C Group GIRLS: African-American, medium to light skin with a weave. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: xxxx subject line should read: C group GIRLS
D Group GIRLS: African-American. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin. Character types. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: xxxxx subject line should read: D group GIRLS”
Now, I cannot prove the validity of this breakdown, because I have seen other breakdowns for this film and they in no way were as explicit or broken down as the aforementioned. However, I do understand the roles were for “Extras” and were being handled by an “Extras Casting” office. That office has since “apologized” and retracted the breakdown, so maybe it actually was true that it was posted, but were later taken down. Again, its alleged that these breakdowns were posted and actresses were “encouraged” to submit. Either way, the language is wrong, ignorant and disturbing. It would not fly in Corporate America or with a federal contractor, so why is ok for Creative America?
Let’s be clear, I have seen some VERY shady, very racist, very crude, rude and ignorant breakdowns over the years and I think in my early years, I might have even gone out to audition for a few…not knowing any better. Thank God for experience and time. These kinds of breakdowns, however are not new. These kinds of descriptions are not usually as blatant as the aforementioned, but they do exist, everyday. Of course, there are some subtle changes and we might even see an EEO policy or two on a breakdown especially if it’s coming out of a major network or studio. Great step in the right direction, but I am not sure who is noticing. Now of course, we see many “any ethnicity” or “please submit all ethnicities unless otherwise stated” on breakdowns…the problem with that, sometimes, there are other breakdowns that do not “state” any specific ethnicity at all….code for “White/Caucasian”. It can be confusing to someone who isn’t familiar with how breakdowns work. Is anything changing? Well, it depends on what lens or scope you’re looking at it through.
This issue of race/color and the attributes that go along with those races and colors are not new…anywhere actually. We live in a society that links and ties people with generalizations and groups and stereotypes. Not all of us feed into, believe or fulfill those tags, but that does not mean that it does not exist. Granted, there are many actors of color who have been awarded heavily and praised for their work and who continue to be pillars of change and catalysts that bring information to Hollywood. Every now and again, hope shines through that change is being made and rays of light poke through the layer of “inconsistent and not so real reality”. Please, do not get me wrong, barriers and molds have been broken. Strides have been made. Changes are upon us. Thankful that there is something to aspire to, but at the hands of what kind of role? We are still working on glass ceilings, but we still have a way to go there too. Who is winning? The other issue, (for another blog and another day) are the number of breakdowns for women vs. men? Gracious! Male dominated much? It’s kind of staggering! Again, I ask…who is winning and what if there was a standard or regulation to adhere to?
As an actor and as someone who actually knows the laws that regulate EEO and Affirmative Action, its amazing to me what “Hollywood” or shall I say “The tv/film industry” gets away with! Now, please KNOW or familiarize yourself with the dictionary definition of Affirmative Action and EEO- Equal Employment Opportunity. Then I suggest you read further. Granted, you have some shows/films who have depicted the President as Black (even when we did not have a man of color in the White House); Shows that did not make every Middle Eastern person a terrorist or someone claiming jihad or war on America; Not all Black Women were prostitutes, strippers, weave wearing-ghetto single mammas or welfare crack hoes; not all Black men were Gangsters, Killers, or Bouncers who spoke Ebonics or were corrupt cops; All Black folks were not slaves or somehow fighting the remnants of slavery ie: civil rights; Not all Asians were sheltered, isolated people who were perfect in Math and Science and could only play the “techie” roles; All Latinos were NOT the SAME COLOR and only came from Mexico/Cuba/Colombia and they all weren’t a part of a Cartel, kingpin or gang and they all did not live in the Barrio or shanty towns; All the gay guys were not obnoxious flames and were perfect in how they dressed or were only best friends with the “it” girl because they helped her “dress better” or the obvious Lesbian or Transgender needing to make a statement; Not all White women looked like Beauty Queens or were the only ones who could be the funny girl, girl next door or classified as “All American” who do yoga, eat healthy and is a perfect size 4; Not all White guys were the saviors, overseers, knight in shining armor, guy who saves the planet/girl/town/movie, etc….you get my drift, but the majority of the shows/films, (gulp) did depict these groups this way. Is Hollywood out of touch with reality? The reality of the people who actually watch shows and movies? Are the writers getting away with just depicting what they see in their worlds and are the producers and casting offices so stuck to the script that the freedom to actually give the job to the BEST actor qualified for the role (within reason of the material) not a possibility? Is it the sign of the times though? What if Hollywood had requirements?
Our world also consists of Veterans, many of which are disabled and not just physically, but emotionally. Many of our society consists of people with illnesses, many of which are debilitating and they are forever tied to the pharmaceutical industry for reasons I won’t get into on this blog. I wont get into statistics about different groups, as it will no longer be a blog, but an essay or report, but I will say that if Affirmative Action standards had to be set to roles and jobs in Hollywood, would we have a different kind of diversity happening? Diversity of thought? Diversity of experience? Diversity of roles? What if there were no generalizations, micro-inequities, stereotypes, biases, blatant discrimination and cultural inaccuracies? Would we be bored then? What if there was a standard set on how people were to be depicted not withstanding storylines, script material, etc? Do we blame anyone? Do we look at our awareness? Do we educate each other? Do we create programs that help sensitize and educate? Do we hold studio execs, writers, casting, etc accountable? Do we create and pray someone will give that very experienced, very diverse film maker or writer a shot in the dark to bring something new to the tv or film world?
What if Hollywood had to adhere to Affirmative Action?
Tags: acting, actors, actress, affirmative Action, biases, breakdowns, casting, casting directors, eeo, equal employment opportunity, film, generalizations, hollywood, racism, sexism, stereotypes, studio executives, tv, women, writers
Tanda Kerín 