NO KILL I ([info]glockgal) wrote,
@ 2009-01-06 16:58:00
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Entry tags:avatar, avatar: the last airbender, the last airbender

HNY 2009
AVATAR UPDATE
- Entertainment Weekly has posted an article in their latest issue (Jan 9th issue with Johnny Depp on the cover) about the uproar regarding That Last Airbender white-washed casting!

This is so fantastic! I wish we had a way to contact Nicole Sperling professionally (ie, not via Facebook), if only to thank her for reporting on this issue. So very awesome.

- LETTER WRITERS! If you've been getting your letters returned, [info]aang_aint_white is looking into finding a Paramount Pictures address that'll work. In the meantime, the following address to the Kennedy/Marshall Production company has been confirmed as valid:

Kathleen Kennedy and Frank Marshall
Kennedy/Marshall Company
619 Arizona Avenue, Fl. 2
Santa Monica, California 90401
USA


Send your mail to that address. Make your voice heard!

- I watched Tropic Thunder over the holidays, and aside from the incredible idiocy that's RDJ's character in blackface, I was also besotted by Brandon Soo Hoo, who played the precocious little leader of the guerilla group.

Besotted, to rhyme with WHY ISN'T THIS KID CAST AS AANG. HE'S SO PERFECT IT MAKES ME CRY. AND OH LOOK, HE'S AMERICAN. JUST LIKE BRYKE. AND THE TV SHOW. AND HOLLYWOOD. HOW ABOUT THAT?!?!?!?

So back to RDJ in Tropic Thunder. If a person can laugh at how pointedly stupid his character is*, but then still not understand why people are offended by
a) the idea of an Asiatic and Inuit world populated entirely by white characters
b) the assumption that "white" is the default of animated characters who don't have exaggerated ethnic features

Then...I dunno.

*essentially, RDJ's character is a white guy cast to play a black guy in a fictional movie. So he has plastic surgery to 'look' black, and makes painfully awkward attempts to 'act' and 'sound' black. Yes, it's blatant blackface. Alpo Chino, an actual black actor in a lesser role, calls him on it in a variety of fantastic ways. For most of the movie, RDJ's character just doesn't get it. He just DOESN'T GET IT, and neither does Hollywood -real or fictional.

-ETA: [info]quinconcinnity sent me a link to a Water Tribe baby!! Okay, this doesn't really have much to do with the movie casting, but. SO. CUTE.

----------------------------------
KEEP WRITING LETTERS:
[info]aang_aint_white!

KEEP CONTACTING THE MEDIA:
Email addresses here!

KEEP INFORMED:
Link roundup here!

And most importantly: KEEP TELLING YOUR FRIENDS!
----------------------------------

PS - I made myself some ATLA icons. HEE.

Screencap credits to piandao.org and iroh.org.

I like to share, if anyone wants one. \o/

(55 comments) - (Post a new comment)


[info]cathybites
2009-01-07 01:05 am UTC (link)
I bet RDJ would totally be on board with the letter-writing. (I really need to watch that movie again.)

and, dude. DUDE. I actually thought of that kid when you brought all this up and all the blah blah about no good Asian actors.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 01:23 am UTC (link)
I SHOULD WRITE HIM AND ASK!! XD XD

I know, right?! I saw him come prancing out looking all fierce and adorable and I was like "ZOMG. AANG. IN THE FLESH. WHY DOES HOLLYWOOD NOT SEE THIS WTF DSFHDLKFJKJHJDFHKFJH"

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]lucky_starr17, 2009-02-06 10:59 pm UTC (Expand)

[info]brigid31
2009-01-07 01:05 am UTC (link)
In the behind the scenes mockumentary they made there is a part where the director character says "We discussed it (referring to the blackface) and we decided it definitely wasn't racist." I feel like this is the whole conversation about race in Hollywood. A bunch of white guys deciding something isn't racist.

I saw that Avatar article and did a little happy dance. I'm so glad this is getting more press.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 01:24 am UTC (link)
A bunch of white guys deciding something isn't racist.

I think I love you. A lot a lot.

I'm so glad too!! I totally did a happy dance too, ahahah. I so need to keep my eye out for that issue, so I can actually look at the real thing and beam all over.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]yeloson
2009-01-07 02:32 am UTC (link)
I feel like this is the whole conversation about race in Hollywood. A bunch of white guys deciding something isn't racist.

Yep. See Last Samurai: "A White Guy Goes to Japan to teach them not to be racist or sexist!"

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]rotae
2009-01-07 01:06 am UTC (link)
Is it wrong that I went, "HELLS YEAH WOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" and then went, "WAIT, WHUT?! Evil Prince Zuko?!?!?! WTF IS THIS SHIT?!" LOLOLOL XDDDDDD

I'm such a loser. Srsly.

Peace,
Rotae

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 01:25 am UTC (link)
Aahahaahah I think your icon says it all! XD

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]rotae, 2009-01-07 01:28 am UTC (Expand)

[info]dahemo
2009-01-07 01:57 am UTC (link)
Dude, me too. I was so excited about the article and then "Hey wait! Zuko isn't evil, wtf?!"

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]jaded_moon
2009-01-07 01:19 am UTC (link)
This may be a dumb question, but where did you find the waterbending picture? Were there more?

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 01:27 am UTC (link)
No not dumb at all! All of the screencaps I got from:
http://piandao.org
and
http://iroh.org

The waterbending pic was specifically from this lovely panshot:
http://piandao.org/panshots/ep9pans.html

So much pretteh. *loves*

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]rotae, 2009-01-07 01:29 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]jaded_moon, 2009-01-07 04:35 am UTC (Expand)

[info]zinaya_y2kewel
2009-01-07 01:34 am UTC (link)
I'm glad to see the letter writing is still going on. And you are so right about Brandon Soo Hoo! He would be perfect.

As for Tropic Thunder, I didn't have an issue with it. Having a white actor run around completely oblivious with a black man calling him on his shit was the point really. Same old Hollywood. I <3 Alpa Chino.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 01:39 am UTC (link)
He would be perfect.

Wouldn't he though! He can act, he's the perfect age, he knows martial arts. What's not to love??!

I can understand why some people would have a problem with Tropic Thunder, but I didn't really either. Mostly because of Alpo Chino's presence and his constant, pointedly accurate abuse of Lazarus, eheheh. Plus, I'm a sucker for 'film within a film' sort of post modern satire, which TT was trying for.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]zinaya_y2kewel, 2009-01-07 01:45 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]glockgal, 2009-01-07 01:57 am UTC (Expand)

[info]jaded_moon
2009-01-07 04:36 am UTC (link)
This is a little off topic, but props for the Republic of Tea icon! That stuff is deliciousness.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]zinaya_y2kewel, 2009-01-07 04:54 am UTC (Expand)

[info]melisus
2009-01-07 01:38 am UTC (link)
Because apparently people don't understand parody and think that because RDJ did it in Tropic Thunder then whitewashing is okay! (Nevermind that the whole point of the character was to show how wrong it was.)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 01:40 am UTC (link)
OH JEEZ IT'S SO TRUE!! I didn't even consider that PoV but oh man. Ohhhh man, I'll bet you are so right on this. RDJ made blackface cool again!! LOL.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]melisus, 2009-01-07 01:41 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]zinaya_y2kewel, 2009-01-07 01:46 am UTC (Expand)

[info]quinconcinnity
2009-01-07 01:56 am UTC (link)
0.0 He's adorable, and a black belt! (why is his age listed as '8 to 13' though? Can't they just update the profile every now and then?)
We really need Paramount's address..so that we can tell them that 'casting isn't complete' isn't an answer. They can populate the rest of the show with Asian actors and it will only make the whiteness of the main cast stand out more.
The only main characters left are Toph and Azula and they're going to need an Azula who actually looks like she's Zuko's sister...

Omg look! A water tribe baby! *squee*

(Reply to this) (Thread)(Expand)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 02:00 am UTC (link)
AHAHAAH I guess they mean he can play anywhere from 8 to 13? Can't limit the kid! Except, of course, Hollywood can limit him to periphery roles as Asian stereotypes. Hooray!

They can populate the rest of the show with Asian actors and it will only make the whiteness of the main cast stand out more.

FOFL I KNOW RIGHT. I just don't even get how it would work, man.

OMG WATER TRIBE BABY. BLUE EYES OF ADORABLENESS KSHDFLJSKFJDF. Is it wrong that I read one of those articles as "Is Your Baby Getting Enough Iroh?" NEVER! ALL BABIES NEED IROH!! DAWWWWW.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]quinconcinnity, 2009-01-07 02:42 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]mangagirl, 2009-01-07 02:04 am UTC (Expand)

[info]itsbeenvery
2009-01-07 01:59 am UTC (link)
WELL DONE GLOCK AND FELLOW LETTER WRITERS! I know it's not necessarily a bone, but the part about Paramount saying casting isn't complete could be good? Either way, we have to keep up the same level (or more) of contact about this.

Then...I dunno.

A lot of people just can't understand something if it isn't about them.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 02:07 am UTC (link)
It's true - the best way that they can follow through on this 'incomplete casting' is to recast the four main kids. (obligatory disclaimer to the general public to say no, I don't HATE THESE POOR YOUNG ACTORS JUST CUZ THEY'RE WHITE ZOMG, I just want to give young PoC actors a chance to be in a movie that's tailor-made for them)

A lot of people just can't understand something if it isn't about them.

AHAHAAHAHahahhah ha ha....ha. Y'know, that's not even funny, it's so true.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]dahemo
2009-01-07 02:01 am UTC (link)
Um, that kid is so perfect I kind of can't get over it. Like, holy shit, that is Aang.

Oh how I wish this casting will be changed!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-07 02:08 am UTC (link)
Um, that kid is so perfect I kind of can't get over it.

Seriously. SERIOUSLY. I just keep going back to this resume to stare and pretend and imagine. I'm starting to feel kinda creepy. O.o

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]callmesandy
2009-01-07 02:17 am UTC (link)
I saw that this morning at the gym and was like, yay! So awesome that EW was forced to cover it!

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-08 12:23 am UTC (link)
It's kinda trippy the more I think about it. Something I'm advocating for in fandom has made it into public news? CRAZY. YET COOL. XD XD

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]vejiicakes
2009-01-07 02:41 am UTC (link)
Oh awesome! I was just looking over the saved Avatar links from over the winter break, planning another post on the matter and wondering if any news was coming up on that front.

OH BRANDON!! That's the kid that played the poppy field overlord.. thing, right? 8D I was just watching TropThunder for like the billionth time last week and, in between thinking of how perfectly appropriate Alpa's bit about, "Maybe I just knew I had to represent--they had one good part for a black man, and they gave it to [a white guy]!" was to why many of us are so angry about Avatar's announced casting, I was eyeing little Soo Hoo and thinking, "Okay, really, tell me they only went with this kid because he was like the ONLY Asian-American kid in all of Hollywood. Totally the only reason. It's clearly not because he's got awesome comic timing and a talented martial artist to boot, or anything..."

Whoo, run-on sentence.

* Having said that, I was annoyed too by how Alpa's character, and probably by extension the intent toward the audience, saw nothing objectionable about his flagrant stereotyping of Lazarus' Australian-ness. Unless he knew it was just as wrong as what Laz was doing, and that his use of Australian stereotypes was purely retaliatory, but I was rather unsure on that point. ..well "just as wrong" up to the most obvious point.

Beyond that, I love the WORK that went into TropThunder: Even though the narrative of the movie was so CLEARLY not in favor of Lazarus' blackface, Stiller still made a point of running the movie through the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and African-American journalists first! And that was for a potentially offensive scenario that was purely in the context of the film's narrative!

Of course, as was seen with Actor's Equity, which regulated the portrayal of nonwhite characters onstage to prevent things like blackface from happening, still had no problems with allowing yellowface. "ORIENTALS" = STILL FAIR GAME :(

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-08 12:30 am UTC (link)
I do think that where the movie feel short (or succeeded? Depending on how you look at it, I guess) is really where their stance was on national and racial stereotypes. Was it all pure, harmless satire? Were they making statements that were more post modern (ie breaking the fourth wall, play within a play etc) than people thing? Was the blackface just to get cheap laughs or was it another one of many Hollywood injokes? Ultimately, many people have indeed decided that regardless of the intention, the race/national jokes just feel short. In many cases, I'm inclined to agree. Tropic Thunder is definitely no Anchorman or Zoolander, but it certainly wasn't as bad as it could have been. :D

Innit interesting, how blackface and yellowface were pretty regular in the vaudeville-and-upwards eras of stage and Hollywood in America? But one has passed through Actor's Equity regulations; the other is still "What's the big deal?"

If anything comes out of this Avatar debacle, it's pride in knowing that I've found a voice for Asian representation in the entertainment industry, man. It's opened up a lot of things, I've learned sooo much and feels good.

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]vejiicakes, 2009-01-08 02:28 am UTC (Expand)

[info]tallycola
2009-01-07 04:06 am UTC (link)
Brandon Soo Hoo is so awesome! I definitely thought "Holy shit it's Aang!" when I first saw that movie. But now that I actually *can see that there is a suitable Asian actor in Hollywood for this role in that they could just call up his agent and make the arrangements*, it makes the whole thing even sadder.

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-08 12:32 am UTC (link)
Dude, I started at his agent contacts for such a long time, trying to think of how best to compose a letter along the lines of "Please try to convince the execs in Paramount that Brandon is as Asian as The Last Airbender kthx!"

Blaarrrg.

(Reply to this) (Parent)

[info]tbranch
2009-01-07 04:16 am UTC (link)
Epic FAIL is imminent.

Its going to be a YEAR of Fail, not only with Avatar but Dragonball: Evolution AND Street Fighter: Legend of Chun-Li. And I'm pretty sure the same argument is being made from those fans as well.

SEE!?




It always seems that a trend starts, there's always that one person that screws it all up for everyone else.

THIS YEAR WE'VE GOT AT LEAST TWO!

And the sad thing is that poor Michael Clarke Duncan is the ONLY one that is the closest person to be properly cast!

Its Super Mario Bros. and Double Dragon all over again.

Thats it, screw it, everyone outta the pool.

(Reply to this) (Thread)(Expand)

[info]caterfree10
2009-01-07 04:56 am UTC (link)
*sigh* Sadly, nothing can be done about the DBZ movie now except for a boycott. Though that shouldn't be too hard considering the fail that is the trailers. >< OH MY GOD, THE CANON RAPE!!!!!! *cries* At least Trunks isn't in it. At least Trunks isn't in it. He's safe at this time. He's safe at this time...

The other just needs as strong a letter writing campaign as ours. I wish I were a bigger fan of the series because I'd start it if I knew more about it.

(Reply to this) (Parent)
(no subject) - [info]notrafficlights, 2009-01-07 09:04 am UTC (Expand)
(no subject) - [info]glockgal, 2009-01-08 12:34 am UTC (Expand)

[info]caterfree10
2009-01-07 04:42 am UTC (link)
OH MY JESUS, WRY DIDN'T THE FUCKERS AT PARAMOUNT GO THIS FAR?! SRSLY, WE DO HAVE TALENTED ASIAN AMERICANS!! Hollywood needs to the the collective sticks out of their asses, my God.

Also, YAY ENTERTAINMENT WEEKLY! 8D Hopefully more people will take notice because of this!

And, DAAAAWWW~! WATER TRIBE BABY~! 8DDDD The kid's new unofficial nickname is now Water Tribe Baby! =D

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-08 12:38 am UTC (link)
Dude, I have had a person telling me that no, there's nothing wrong with all-white casts residing in an Asian world (eating Asian food, dressing Asian, appropriating Asian culture, the works). That's apparently what they want. Yes.

I have now found that demographic that Paramount is convinced composes 90% of the movie-going populace.

It....kinda scares me. Hold me!

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]caterfree10, 2009-01-08 03:35 am UTC (Expand)

[info]dacro
2009-01-07 06:40 am UTC (link)
DOOD!
I still have your christmas card.
(and where were you last weekend? Do you hate me? You never called me back! I smell, that's it, right? I knew it!)

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-08 12:38 am UTC (link)
WHAAA YOU CALLED!? I was pretty much dead to the world for all of the holidays, and OMG I MISSED SUSHI. *IS A GREAT FAT FAILDOG*

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]dacro, 2009-01-08 03:07 am UTC (Expand)

[info]notrafficlights
2009-01-07 09:02 am UTC (link)
Unnnggghhh you keep making me want to just watch the series over and over again.

But I can't. Still in the middle of Farscape oh god the Aeryn/John angst I MUST HAVE RESOLUTION AND BATTLE-BABY-BIRTH BEFORE I TAKE ON ANOTHER CANON

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-08 12:39 am UTC (link)
AHAHAHA don't worry bebe! ATLA will always be here for you!! Farscape is new and shiny. XD

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
(no subject) - [info]notrafficlights, 2009-01-08 08:26 am UTC (Expand)

[info]jedifreac
2009-01-07 09:09 am UTC (link)
I wish we had a way to contact Nicole Sperling professionally (ie, not via Facebook), if only to thank her for reporting on this issue. So very awesome.

Well...you know that Entertainment Weekly lets its readers respond to ANY story in the last few issues via Letters to the Editor right?

http://www.ew.com/ew/aboutus/edit_staff/0,,,00.html (scroll down to letters department.)

Dear EW, thank you for writing about the Avatar casting controversy....

(Reply to this) (Thread)

[info]glockgal
2009-01-08 12:41 am UTC (link)
Oh sweetness! I knew someone with better web surfing skillz could find this information!!

I've already passed my thank yous to Nicole Sperling via a person who worked alongside her *mad loves to mah flist* but I think if many people send emails to the ew Editorial email, it would be, like. Really awesome.

I SHALL ENCOURAGE THIS. YUS. *MWAH*

(Reply to this) (Parent)(Thread)(Expand)
more info - [info]jedifreac, 2009-01-09 09:02 am UTC (Expand)

(55 comments) - (Post a new comment)

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