@ Calvin
Blacks and Anglos get it on regularly on Brit Tv because that's the kinky 'reality' of an island made up many nations. We're like that :-)
There was a male Sikh (proudly wearing a tight turban) on a UK game show 'Deal or No Deal'... I kinda like the way (as a society) that he was the smartest/coolest/sikh (and a great role model for any say 'minority'). We do that over here... we like to show-off our cool 'minorities'. His parents were very proud. I was proud too... thinking... get-a-loud of our (BRIT) COOLNESS.
Ideally, a screenplay should only include that information which is necessary to tell the story. If the race of a character is irrelevant (within the story), I'd say leave it out. No reason to clutter the script with extra description that's probably going to be ignored, anyway.
Unless, of course, you're a few pages short of your target page length. Then, by all means, stand on principle and include it. :-)
tv is different than "filmmakers". one might think tv's main purpose is to entertain, but truthfully it exists so advertisers can sell soap and cars and pizza and beer. so tv should branch out more and embrace the wider audience. we don't all live in north platt, nebraska.
calvin -- you shouldn't be so "amazed".
and this season we have a black woman having an affair with the president... and she ain't no ho! lol!
unfortunately, if the writers don't specify a race then the casting agents usually cast white b/c that's what they've always done and b/c they just do as their told.
Filmmakers should do whatever they want to.
Freedom of expression.
When I watch British TV it always amazes me how many Blacks are romantically involved with Anglos. You almost never see that on American programs.
Since "minorities" now make up close to 50% of the USA population and growing should movies and TV reflect this truth? Sure they should. And the savvy executives who can effect this "crossover" are doing very well. Think "Think like a Man" and the "Fast and Furious" franchise.
I haven't seen "Girls" as it's not for me, but I am awaiting Eva Longoria"s "Devious Maids" about 4 Latina maids working in Beverly Hills. If they keep the writing "real", should be a hoot.
And I did NOT forget Wesley Snipes, though I try to. :-)
Oh, forgot Danny Glover (just got a flash of him from The Royal Tenenbaums).
Maybe Will Smith, Denzel Washington, Morgan Freeman, Samuel L Jackson, Idris Elba, and Jamie Foxx should step aside and let other black actors take on more starring roles. But not Martin Lawrence. PLEASE, not Martin Lawrence. :-)
"Should there be more of a push to feature minorities in lead roles, or does this get in the way of truthful storytelling?"
I think this question is not worded correctly. Anyhow, if the lead role requires someone of a specific race / ethnic origin, then if possible an actor with that same ethnic origin should be chosen, or someone able to pull it off believably. If the lead role does not require any specific ethnic origin, then it shouldn't matter who is chosen. The best person should be chosen, regardless of race. If the cast and directors do a good job, truthful storytelling will be served.
Something that used to happen in Hollywood movies was to simply use a brunette Caucasian making up a silly accent whenever the role was supposed to be a minority. Now that's not serving storytelling at all.
i haven't read the article, but i'm sure they were talking about US (not Brit) tv.
here if you're german american then you're not a minority even if you have a german accent.
and "the bill cosby show" was a definitely classified as a "minority" show, but we use the word "minority". it's a black (cast) show and sometimes people assume "urban" means black too.
i still haven't read the article but "truth in storytelling"??? -- "the west wing" had the worst truth. even when there's a republican president there's more than one token black guy in the white house administration.
tv still caters to middle america. when "seinfeld" was a hit they actually poked fun a few times at not having black friends with george and elaine. then "friends" was hit hard b/c they never even ran into a minority on the show and they were in NYC. and most recently the new show on HBO "girls" (i haven't seen it) is getting some flack b/c they're also in a NYC -- a borough with even more minorities and black faces than manhattan.
and where are the latinos?!!!! it's like they only allow 2 per season... if you can find them.
Being from England… I feel U.S. journalists use the word ‘minority’ to tippy-toe around the issue of having ‘dark skin’ and not necessarily an actual issue of minority. By ‘dark skin’ I mean anyone not having ‘light skin’.
There are ‘light skinned’ A-list minorities everywhere in TV and film.
Real Norwegian ‘A Listers’ were a recent minority in Hollywood; they were in the remake of John Carpenter’s ‘The Thing’. So are they classed as a minority?
I’m sure if you delve deep enough you’ll find Kirsten Dunst has an American and German passport. Does being multicultural (part German) make one a minority?
If futurist Gene Rodenberry was able to be at the helm of any modern production then I’m sure all casts would look as utopian as the ‘Star Trek’ bridge.
But note this… in an all ‘light skinned’ cast… if you dig deep enough into the heritage of each on set you’ll find true minorities.
I’m sure ‘The Bill Cosby Show’ was never classified as a minority show.
Food for thought
Whitewashing on the Small Screen
Should there be more of a push to feature minorities in lead roles, or does this get in the way of truthful storytelling?
http://www.nytimes.com/roomfordebate/2012/04/25/minorities-in-movies-and-television/?nl=todaysheadlines&emc=thab1_20120426
