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GEORGE TAKEI SPEAKS OUT AGAINST WHITE WASHING IN MODERN FILMS/ETC
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Feldschlacht IV
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CloseAkira was supposed to be a faithful adaption, but I'm sure some of you heard about them replacing pretty much the entire Japanese presence in the manga with white actors and setting.
http://perezhilton.com/2011-04-19-george-takei-does-not-want-akira-movie-to-be-whitewashed
I think this is kinda an important subject in today's media. Today's world has gotten so politically correct, nowdays its 'better' to assume everyone is a bland tan or a 'clear' race/ethnicity rather than the one they are and acknowledging race is well, part of identity.
The race you are and the color of your skin is part of who you are. It's part of what makes you who you are. It's nothing to be ashamed of or something one should try to downplay or hide. So if someone is going to try to make a work of art where characterization is important, i.e. movies, why should such a big factor in a persons identity be changed willy nilly for no real reason? Akira is a great example of this; the plot is focused on the fact that the setting and its people are Japanese, but the film adaption just sort of tosses it away.
It just seems...pointless. It's a shame that Asian Americans have yet to recive the recognition I, and many other film fans and people in the industry think they deserve.
Wow! We're so glad that he's taking such a serious stand!
In the film industry, it's become pretty much common practice for big-screen adaptations of popular Asian graphic novels and video games to be what's known as "whitewashed," which means the studios casting white actors in roles that are meant for other ethnicities!
The most recent example of this rumored to be the long-awaited film version of the Japanese graphic novel Akira, but thankfully, Star Trek actor George Takei has taken a stand against the practice, and has publicly asked Warner Brothers execs to re-consider before any official decisions are made!
Here are some HIGHlights from the interview on the matter:
Were you surprised to find out Warner Bros. is courting white leading men for roles in the adaptation of Akira?
George Takei: It's not a surprise because that's been a Hollywood tradition. For example, when I was very young, I read Pearl Buck's epic novel of China, The Good Earth. And that film, all of the principal major roles were cast with Caucasians. As a matter of fact, Luise Rainer, who played the wife, won an Oscar for that. Paul Muni was her husband. It's an old Hollywood tradition that we've always been battling, not just Hollywood but Broadway too, if you remember Miss Saigon and the furor over that. So, no, I really wasn't surprised, but the audience has changed now, and I'm surprised Warner Bros. is not keeping up with the audience. The manga and anime phenomenon is mostly white in this country. It originated in Japan, and, of course, it has a huge Asian fan following. But it's the multi-ethnic Americans who are fans of Akira and manga. The idea of buying the rights to do that and in fact change it seems rather pointless. If they're going to do that, why don't they do something original, because what they do is offend Asians, number 1; number 2, they offend the fans. The same thing happened with M. Night Shyamalan. He cast his project with non-Asians and it's an Asian story, and the film flopped. I should think that they would learn from that, but I guess big studios go by rote, and the tradition in Hollywood has always been to buy a project, change it completely and flop with it. I think it's pointless, so I thought I would save Warner Bros. a bit of failure by warning them of what will most likely happen if they continue in that vein.
It seems this is particularly still a problem for Asian and Asian-American actors. Do you see something like this happening with a role written for a black actor?
Oh, absolutely not. African-Americans have made enormous advances. There are a whole host of bankable stars who are African-American. Can you name one bankable Asian-American star? No. There isn't. You have Denzel Washington, Samuel Jackson. A whole host of them. One can't name a single Asian-American whose name you can take to the bank and get a project financed. We are making headways. I'm not a pessimist. We have made tremendous headways from the time I started in this business in 1957. Asian faces are part of the ensemble in many TV shows playing not roles that are specifically Asian, but playing doctors and detectives. Advances have been made, but we have still not caught up with the African-American achievements.
Why do you think there seems to be a reluctance to cast Asian-American actors in leading roles?
I don't think it's a reluctance, they just don't know better. They have the experience of Shyamalan's project, and I would think any savvy production company would learn from that. So I'm really baffled by the lack of learning from experience. Hollywood doesn't like failures, and there's a string of failures in the past. With this effort, I'm trying to warn them of what is likely to happen with this Akira project.
What would you ideally like to see happen with the Akira adaptation?
Well, ideally, they should do it properly and get Asian-American actors cast in those roles. In the adaptation they would of course be speaking in English and understandable to a popular American audience. That's the whole point. They bought a project that is popular and enormously loved by its fans, and if they want the fan following to support the film, that's the way you do it.
And all we have to say that is BRAVO! Well-said, sir!
We can't commend him enough for speaking up! It seems so FOOLISH that they would cast a story that's so fundamentally Asian with white actors - ESPECIALLY when it's been proven to bring about box office and critical failure, as well as displease the fans!
How can they expect to stay true to the integrity of the story?!
Hopefully Warner Bros. will see George's very valid and logical points, and they'll reconsider how they want to cast it!
Our fingers are crossed!
http://perezhilton.com/2011-04-19-george-takei-does-not-want-akira-movie-to-be-whitewashed
I think this is kinda an important subject in today's media. Today's world has gotten so politically correct, nowdays its 'better' to assume everyone is a bland tan or a 'clear' race/ethnicity rather than the one they are and acknowledging race is well, part of identity.
The race you are and the color of your skin is part of who you are. It's part of what makes you who you are. It's nothing to be ashamed of or something one should try to downplay or hide. So if someone is going to try to make a work of art where characterization is important, i.e. movies, why should such a big factor in a persons identity be changed willy nilly for no real reason? Akira is a great example of this; the plot is focused on the fact that the setting and its people are Japanese, but the film adaption just sort of tosses it away.
It just seems...pointless. It's a shame that Asian Americans have yet to recive the recognition I, and many other film fans and people in the industry think they deserve.
Dragonball: Evolution
Oh god...
But I totally agree with what you've said Feld, and George.
White actors always come off really lame(imo) when trying to portray a role that should clearly be for an Asian actor.
^Dragonball Evolution being a good example.
Oh god...
But I totally agree with what you've said Feld, and George.
White actors always come off really lame(imo) when trying to portray a role that should clearly be for an Asian actor.
^Dragonball Evolution being a good example.
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
I think they should use whoever can act the role best. That's clearly not what they're doing, but it's clearly not what George Takei thinks they should do either. If Sean Connery can play a Russian submarine captain, then I don't see why Morgan Freeman can't play Colonel Shikishima.
author=InfectionFiles
Dragonball: EvolutionOh god...
But I totally agree with what you've said Feld, and George.
White actors always come off really lame(imo) when trying to portray a role that should clearly be for an Asian actor.
^Dragonball Evolution being a good example.
It was okay, as long as they have many Asians in it, and not overdo the white cast. But the movie was still kind of crappy anyway.
Death Note is a example of great casting.
author=LockeZ
I think they should use whoever can act the role best. That's clearly not what they're doing, but it's clearly not what George Takei thinks they should do either. If Sean Connery can play a Russian submarine captain, then I don't see why Morgan Freeman can't play Colonel Shikishima.
It entirely depends on the importance of race/culture/ethnicity in said work. If it doesn't and never mattered what ethnicity a character is or where its setting takes place, that's one thing, but, Akira is notable because a lot of the themes and setting depended on the fact that it had Japanese characters in a setting that was Japan. It wouldn't be Akira otherwise.
Imagine if they had Clint Eastwood play Kunta Kente in Roots. Wouldn't work.
Radnen
1806
I read a book about multiculturalism in America. I don't look at it as "whitewashing" roles. I means it's just Americans being cast for an American audience. They hust "happen" to be of White skin. :/ When they say no to Asians, are you sure they are saying it too Asians or to them as Americans? Having read a lot on ethnicities, its easy for one to make assumptions.
I'll pause here and say that there has been a trend to set white skinned actors as roles in movies; but come on, look at their ethnicities, they are some of the most minor. Russians, Germans, Italian stars while look "white" are indeed far less in numbers than Asian counterparts.
Part of the Master Narrative in America is too look past this binary system of "whiteness" and "blackness" and look at each race as a union of a whole.
Sure its strange for "white" looking men (Europeans rather), rather than Asiatic people, but in reality this is America its being made in and America is a bloodline of multiple cultures. Remember that most other countries are quite homogeneous, which sometimes puts America at odds with other countries.
Manga in Japan is homogeneously Asian, but in America many people regardless of race like it too.
I'll pause here and say that there has been a trend to set white skinned actors as roles in movies; but come on, look at their ethnicities, they are some of the most minor. Russians, Germans, Italian stars while look "white" are indeed far less in numbers than Asian counterparts.
Part of the Master Narrative in America is too look past this binary system of "whiteness" and "blackness" and look at each race as a union of a whole.
Sure its strange for "white" looking men (Europeans rather), rather than Asiatic people, but in reality this is America its being made in and America is a bloodline of multiple cultures. Remember that most other countries are quite homogeneous, which sometimes puts America at odds with other countries.
Manga in Japan is homogeneously Asian, but in America many people regardless of race like it too.
That seems awfully simpleminded. I'm a big boy now; I can handle other WILD AND WACKY UNAMERICAN cultures being told in my stories.
It's extremely patronizing to assume that Americans want their media to be completely filtered down like that. I mean really?
It's extremely patronizing to assume that Americans want their media to be completely filtered down like that. I mean really?
LockeZ
I'd really like to get rid of LockeZ. His play style is way too unpredictable. He's always like this too. If he ran a country, he'd just kill and imprison people at random until crime stopped.
5958
According to IMDB, Dragonball Evolution cast an Asian for just about every character in the movie who could possibly be construed as Asian in the anime. Which was Roshi, Yamcha, Mai, Chi-Chi, and Grandpa Gohan. (Krillin wasn't in the movie? Really?) Bulma didn't have dark hair, and Goku was a space alien, so it makes sense that they would open those roles to actors of any race. And none of the Dragonball characters were of any specific race in the anime/manga anyway, were they? It was based on Chinese mythology, but the setting was mostly in a desert country from what I remember. If anything you'd think that would make them middle eastern, or possibly texan.
I agree that the need for Asian roles in Akira is much stronger than in Dragonball or Avatar, because of the extremely clear real-world setting combined with the fact that it's one of the only animes I know of where every character has dark hair and passably Asian features. (I'm not trying to make a point about hair color in anime, I'm just saying it's notable and therefore might be worth keeping true to)
I agree that the need for Asian roles in Akira is much stronger than in Dragonball or Avatar, because of the extremely clear real-world setting combined with the fact that it's one of the only animes I know of where every character has dark hair and passably Asian features. (I'm not trying to make a point about hair color in anime, I'm just saying it's notable and therefore might be worth keeping true to)
Jericho
52
author=Radnen
Manga in Japan is homogeneously Asian, but in America many people regardless of race like it too.
this, much like the rest of your post, is wrong. but this is especially wrong.
do you know why the actors in akira should be asian. i will give you a hint. it has nothing to do with political correctness or w/e bs white middle class males would like to churn out.
it is because the movie is set in a cyberpunk, xenophobic japan. the setting is kind of a big deal.
Radnen
1806
author=Jericho
it is because the movie is set in a cyberpunk, xenophobic japan. the setting is kind of a big deal.
Then we would rather have a Japanese director film it.
author=Jerichoauthor=Radnenthis, much like the rest of your post, is wrong. but this is especially wrong.
Manga in Japan is homogeneously Asian, but in America many people regardless of race like it too.
No; I'm sorry, but read a good book next time. (Or back up your claim) I know I haven't but Takaki's work is a great start.
author=Feldschlacht IVdingdingdingding pretty much, but this isn't even the biggest problem: the problem is remaking Akira for a Western audience and / or remaking Akira at all. everything about this film that is a satire of japanese culture and its nuances, the political and societal ramifications of the post-war period and the political and corporate machinations of a japan that was a relatively recently established economic power at the time of writing becomes irrelevant in a 21st century hollywood summer blockbuster context and will be neutered and replaced with THE WILD ONE MEETS X-MEN is michael bay signed on to direct this yet this is his great opportunity to direct a film where the entire final act is one massive explosion
It entirely depends on the importance of race/culture/ethnicity in said work. If it doesn't and never mattered what ethnicity a character is or where its setting takes place, that's one thing, but, Akira is notable because a lot of the themes and setting depended on the fact that it had Japanese characters in a setting that was Japan. It wouldn't be Akira otherwise.
i'm not going to write any more because i don't feel like juggling deconstructing akira's themes and explaining why they won't work / bile about where hollywood has been headed but suffice to say whichever hollywood exec "green-lighted" this should be fired out of a cannon
for those with poor reading comprehension skills: george takei is totally right but it's also just the tip of the iceberg
author=Feldschlacht IVauthor=LockeZIt entirely depends on the importance of race/culture/ethnicity in said work. If it doesn't and never mattered what ethnicity a character is or where its setting takes place, that's one thing, but, Akira is notable because a lot of the themes and setting depended on the fact that it had Japanese characters in a setting that was Japan. It wouldn't be Akira otherwise.
I think they should use whoever can act the role best. That's clearly not what they're doing, but it's clearly not what George Takei thinks they should do either. If Sean Connery can play a Russian submarine captain, then I don't see why Morgan Freeman can't play Colonel Shikishima.
Imagine if they had Clint Eastwood play Kunta Kente in Roots. Wouldn't work.
at that point it would almost become a comedy.
Kindredz
7
George is absolutely correct.
Did you even bother to read the article before posting?
author=Natook
I think being politically correct is the most fucktarded (I know retarded is politically incorrect!) thing there has ever been. I don't understand why it is such a big deal what color or ethnicity people are. There won't be a day when people stop recognizing other people as different colors, but seriously... it's a color. I thought people being picky about a color was done when you were pre-school.
I'm down with the idea that people will want to remember their heritage or where they're from, but I think it should go both ways in who's offending who. If I offend someone's cultural heritage unintentionally, I think they should understand that I DON'T understand and shouldn't get so worked up over it. We spend so much time saying how we want equality, but at the same time we are going in the opposite direction by drawing more and more lines between everyone. It's so messed up. There is no such thing as an ideal person we should try to be, we're all just who we are.
Did you even bother to read the article before posting?
I agree. They should get Samuel L. Jackson to play Tetsuo and Kaneda (would make one hell of a shouting match)
Natook
1000
author=Kindredz
George is absolutely correct.
author=Natook
I think being politically correct is the most fucktarded (I know retarded is politically incorrect!) thing there has ever been. I don't understand why it is such a big deal what color or ethnicity people are. There won't be a day when people stop recognizing other people as different colors, but seriously... it's a color. I thought people being picky about a color was done when you were pre-school.
I'm down with the idea that people will want to remember their heritage or where they're from, but I think it should go both ways in who's offending who. If I offend someone's cultural heritage unintentionally, I think they should understand that I DON'T understand and shouldn't get so worked up over it. We spend so much time saying how we want equality, but at the same time we are going in the opposite direction by drawing more and more lines between everyone. It's so messed up. There is no such thing as an ideal person we should try to be, we're all just who we are.
Did you even bother to read the article before posting?
Yeaaah but I kinda veered off to something that has been bugging me in my sociology class...
S. F. LaValle
1069
Akira has a message and Hollywood has needs.
It's obvious to see why it's a bad idea artistically. I haven't watched Akira (shameful, inorite?) but I know enough to see why the Japanese setting and culture are paramount (or more simply, the entire point) to the plot (and I'll assume what Geodude said was right).
George Takei identified Hollywood's problem: no bankable Asian stars. The only Japanese actor that can be considered A-list in America is Ken Watanabe, but as Takei said, his name won't sell a project. Open the door to other Asians/Asian-Americans and you still won't get any that can; Lucy Liu would get a second-look, but she is only bankable in an ensemble film where the diversity as needed (in Kill Bill because they needed at least one major Asian player, and Charlie's Angels because a) 'three white girls' is boring, and b) martial arts).
There isn't a whole lot Hollywood can do if they go into this looking to make money, which is both the wrong reason to adapt it as well as the only reason to adapt it. We just have to sit by and wait.
I'd also like to add that while not having an Asian cast was definitely not cool, that was the least of The Last Airbender's problems, and probably didn't contribute nearly as much to its being a flop as Shymalan's other issues (he failed miserably trying to tell the story), although it's worth pointing out that Avatar was conceived out of love of Asian cultures and martial arts, and was largely successful due to that fact. Also ironic, George Takei now works for Nickelodeon.
What we all want as well as our cultural tolerances do not matter at all. It would be a great opportunity for Asian actors, but too risky for Hollywood.
It's obvious to see why it's a bad idea artistically. I haven't watched Akira (shameful, inorite?) but I know enough to see why the Japanese setting and culture are paramount (or more simply, the entire point) to the plot (and I'll assume what Geodude said was right).
George Takei identified Hollywood's problem: no bankable Asian stars. The only Japanese actor that can be considered A-list in America is Ken Watanabe, but as Takei said, his name won't sell a project. Open the door to other Asians/Asian-Americans and you still won't get any that can; Lucy Liu would get a second-look, but she is only bankable in an ensemble film where the diversity as needed (in Kill Bill because they needed at least one major Asian player, and Charlie's Angels because a) 'three white girls' is boring, and b) martial arts).
There isn't a whole lot Hollywood can do if they go into this looking to make money, which is both the wrong reason to adapt it as well as the only reason to adapt it. We just have to sit by and wait.
I'd also like to add that while not having an Asian cast was definitely not cool, that was the least of The Last Airbender's problems, and probably didn't contribute nearly as much to its being a flop as Shymalan's other issues (he failed miserably trying to tell the story), although it's worth pointing out that Avatar was conceived out of love of Asian cultures and martial arts, and was largely successful due to that fact. Also ironic, George Takei now works for Nickelodeon.
What we all want as well as our cultural tolerances do not matter at all. It would be a great opportunity for Asian actors, but too risky for Hollywood.
