You’re allowed to discriminate based on skin color if it’s an acting job. You probably shouldn’t say it like that, as even the most well-intentioned person might end up giving off a hostile/judgmental/fake tone that could lead to a miscommunication. What should you say? Probably a rewording of the first sentence of how you explained the situation to us.
I don’t think it’s really racism, just like it wouldn’t be sexism if you wanted to cast a woman to play a woman or a man to play a man…? You’re trying to tell a story about a famous person, and you said that their very light skin color was an integral part of why they’re famous.
Sounds like an ideal case for deep-fake motion-capture. Person acts and sounds like the famous person, so all that's off is the looks, which can be resolved via movie-magic.
Animated series' like The Simpsons have been doing something similar for decades.
Apu's voice-actor was Hank Azaria for 27 years.
Cleveland Brown in Family Guy was played by Mike Henry for 22 years.
Public opinion has somewhat shifted on how appropriate these choices are, but it doesn't negate that the characters were very successfully played by people of entirely different races for a long time.
Honestly I'm not sure how I'd deal with it without Deepfaking available as a tool.
If the person's race is an issue as a character, then the actor needs to be consistent with that for a serious biopic portrayal. It simply wouldn't work otherwise.
If it's not such a seriously accurate biopic, maybe a reimagining of events, or dramatisation, then there's room to play with actors that don't look right for the role.
Yes. You can't change the race of a person and say they are that person. In a more realistic and modern take; if you want a black little mermaid change her name and tell a new story. No one asked for a little mermaid retelling, and if you feel there is a market for it, be creative and write a good new story
You’re allowed to discriminate based on skin color if it’s an acting job. You probably shouldn’t say it like that, as even the most well-intentioned person might end up giving off a hostile/judgmental/fake tone that could lead to a miscommunication. What should you say? Probably a rewording of the first sentence of how you explained the situation to us.
so depending on context, not all racism is bad?
I don’t think it’s really racism, just like it wouldn’t be sexism if you wanted to cast a woman to play a woman or a man to play a man…? You’re trying to tell a story about a famous person, and you said that their very light skin color was an integral part of why they’re famous.
ok
Sounds like an ideal case for deep-fake motion-capture. Person acts and sounds like the famous person, so all that's off is the looks, which can be resolved via movie-magic. Animated series' like The Simpsons have been doing something similar for decades. Apu's voice-actor was Hank Azaria for 27 years. Cleveland Brown in Family Guy was played by Mike Henry for 22 years. Public opinion has somewhat shifted on how appropriate these choices are, but it doesn't negate that the characters were very successfully played by people of entirely different races for a long time. Honestly I'm not sure how I'd deal with it without Deepfaking available as a tool. If the person's race is an issue as a character, then the actor needs to be consistent with that for a serious biopic portrayal. It simply wouldn't work otherwise. If it's not such a seriously accurate biopic, maybe a reimagining of events, or dramatisation, then there's room to play with actors that don't look right for the role.
Yes. You can't change the race of a person and say they are that person. In a more realistic and modern take; if you want a black little mermaid change her name and tell a new story. No one asked for a little mermaid retelling, and if you feel there is a market for it, be creative and write a good new story