This is just getting out of hand, to try appease the gathering angry geeks who feel frakkin' slighted yet once again by a "colorblind" casting of live action version of an popular animated property. The producers decieded to try to make us feel better by setting up an casting for extras and background folks for the film. But, guess what folks, WRONG! And here's why. The insensitive production wanted to "color up the movie by looking for extra's of ethnic background and encouraged actors to come in their "best ethnic clothing".
"Deedee Rickets, the casting director for the film, said she is looking to cast men and women ages 18 to 65 and children ages six to 15. Casting officials are seeking candidates with military or martial arts experience, athletes, gymnasts and people of various races and cultures.
"We want you to dress in traditional cultural ethnic attire," she said. "If you're Korean, wear a kimono. If you're from Belgium, wear lederhosen."
Another way to stand out is to demonstrate skills such as basket weaving, hair braiding, making clay pots, puppeteering, knitting, looming - "any artisan craft," Rickets said.
She said the set and cast will reflect the alternate world of the film, and not the streets of Philadelphia."
You are kidding me. Not only too little too late, but insult added to injury. Just as we have dealt with issue of the star casting of the movie's casting. more salt is poured into to our collective geek wounds. Read the full article here.
Next up, in a more recent release, Dragonball Evolution, a live action release from 20th Century Fox. Not a great film but closer to what geeks would want in a live action version, but not on the target. The movie has a great character actor of the same desent of the culture of the film, Chow Yun Fat, as well as other asian actors. It has a mix of actors that would not make me happy, but not make me want to protest it's release like Avatar.
Don't get me wrong, I understand the movies need to make money, but casting name actors, but Hollywood seems to forget that there are brilliant actors of color out there to put in these film to give them believibilty. I refuse to believe that the producers and casting directors cannot find decent actors of color to put in the starring roles. It smacks of stupidity or racism, or maybe a little of both.
Finally if you think that just my friends and I are the only one who feel the way that we do, I found a witty young man on YouTube, who found a witty way to show the world how he feels about the same subjects I have been talking about for months. Take a look at his viral video and tell me do you think Im crazy. Preach it my Asian Brother!
