Movies like Alien where the role is written with no gender or ethnicity guidelines are unfortunately the exception, not the rule.The latest episode of HBO’s The Last of Us, “Kin,”introduced viewers to an important new location for the series: the survivor settlement at Jackson, Wyoming. I’m just saying, it’s something to consider, especially considering how important good representation is (and perhaps especially visual representation, where you can see someone on screen and see yourselves in that person). And I’m not saying it’s right to have to take this into account when casting - in a perfect world, Hollywood would work much better for everyone, regardless of ethnicity or gender or whatever. maybe that’s the point? You can’t name minority actors because they’re just not permitted the same opportunities. if you can’t fancast anyone who would “fit” the role. And if you can’t name any Jewish or Indian or Japanese or Trans actors off the top of your head. It’s ridiculous, but it’s our current reality.Īnd the idea that the role should go to the most talented actor/actress has merit - but to pretend like that talent can’t be found within that specific minority group is ridiculous. If cisgender actors are cast in trans roles, it becomes that much harder for trans actors to get any work at all - simply because they often just won’t be considered for anything else other than trans roles. So if you have a Jewish or an Indian or a Japanese role, and you cast generally - the pool of jobs that Jewish and Indian and Japanese actors in Hollywood would seriously be considered for diminishes. Those roles almost always go to the white leading man/woman.

Hollywood (generally speaking) doesn’t consider minority actors for the general “doesn’t have a set ethnicity” role. Cast whoever - but statistically, it’ll likely go to someone Caucasian.īut if you have a role that is specifically for a character that is explicitly a minority of some kind - by casting without taking that minority into account the pool of jobs that minority actors will be considered for becomes considerably smaller. By which I mean - if you have a role that can be filled by anyone and it was written with no particular ethnicity or whatever in mind.

I think it’s less about authenticity and staying true to the original character (though I do think at least a base effort should be made) - but for me, it’s more about the job opportunity that is created by casting “accurately”.

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