Thanks, everyone, for your feedback on last week’s Issues of Race column. Please continue to share your thoughts! Meanwhile, here’s just a bit of what’s come my way this week.
First email:
On the subject of issues and problems faced by minorities, I felt like putting in my two cents. Race and ethnicity are, of course, big factors. Being a Hispanic male actor, it is something that I think about (but being in the Miami market, it is less of a problem). Something in your last column, “Issues of Race,” caught my eye. The issue of sexual orientation is a very interesting and complex topic. Race, ethnicity, size (fat, skinny, etc.), and other elements of appearance (scar on face, big lips, round face, narrow nose, etc.) are physical traits that are difficult to hide. It is the first thing people notice, especially when being considered for a role.
Sexual orientation is not like those other attributes, because it is not something that can be typically seen (in a physical sense). Yes an can actor wear stereotypically gay or lesbian articles, and even go as far as dress in drag, but honestly its all about personality and attitude. Some gay actors are more “obvious” than others (for lack of a better word). Neil Patrick Harris is not the stereotypical “queen” and can easily be cast as a womanizing player, yet he is still gay. On the other hand, Harvey Fierstein has found success in playing the token “queen.” I hate to say it, but an actor who can “hide it” or who is naturally less “obvious” will probably have a broader range of castability.
I am gay, but it has not limited my castability. I am about to graduate from a BFA Acting program. When I entered the program, I feared my sexual orientation would hinder me. It hasn’t. I’ve been cast in several plays. They’ve been mostly dark/sinister character roles (a murderer/rapist, a pimp, and even a Nazi) or comic supporting roles (a quirky scholar, a quick-witted bailiff, and an arrogant “Classic” actor). Only once have I been cast in a gay role (a drag queen), and it was because I really wanted it and fiercely pursued it.
I had always thought that I was destined to play the gay roles, but one of my acting teachers quickly got me out of that mindset. She went around asking my classmates what kinds of roles they could see me in and what celebrities I remind them of. I got a variety of responses, and no one mentioned the word “gay” or named a gay celebrity. She pointed out that fact and made me realize that casting directors would mostly likely not see me as such. I’ve been cast in a several student films and shorts, and only once did I play a gay role. I’ve played a prisoner, custodian, and even a college guy trying to get his girlfriend to have sex with him. She was right. So my point in this long message is this: Sexual orientation becomes a limitation if you allow it. You can either “hide it” or embrace it. If you embrace it, find your niche and roll with it. For me, I just naturally don’t come across as gay. My problem was my own insecurity. Gay actors should really examine themselves, and see where they are.
Second email:
I would like to add another dimension to the conversation centered on ethnicity and minorities: actors with disabilities. I am an actor with cerebral palsy. My resumé includes training, numerous nonunion theatre credits, some commercial voiceover, an industrial, student films, an equity theatre tour, and a Master’s degree. I have training, I have experience, I have talent. Yet getting into the room for a “professional” production/film/TV show/commercial audition as an actor with my condition is next to impossible.
What is even more amazing to me is the number of times a role calls for a person with a disability and that role goes to an able-bodied actor who then portrays the condition called for in the script. I have heard the comment that actors with disabilities possessing the training and acting skills needed for these roles can’t be found. I’m willing to bet the same reasoning was used some years ago (and is possibly still used in some cases) to limit the hiring of ethnic actors.
As was mentioned in your column, when a role doesn’t specify Caucasian, why assume it is only meant for Caucasian actors? And just as most any character in many situations could be any ethnicity, any character in many situations could happen to have a disability.
I would ask your readers to play an interesting game. The next time you see a character portrayed with a disability, look up that actor on IMDb and see if they are disabled. There are good actors who happen to be disabled. We want to work. Give us a shot. If you can’t find us, you’re not looking hard enough.
And today’s third email, from the actor who emailed the original question back in July:
I read your column today. Thanks so much for trying to get “answers” to my questions. I really appreciate it. The responses from working actors give me a lot to think about and consider. I’ve read the column a few times now, and it’s hard to sum up what I should take away from it. Unsurprisingly, the issue of race in Hollywood is as complicated and multifaceted as it is elsewhere.
Thanks again for sticking with this topic. I leave for sunny California at the end of the week and am looking forward to putting what I’ve learned to good use.
Working on this piece was absolutely my pleasure! I hope the information was useful to every single reader! I found it very interesting to note that the actors who work the MOST seem to see “no problem” and the ones who work less see “some problems.” I guess it’s like ALL actors feel, when they’re not getting as much work as they’d like to get: that something isn’t working. And, really, it could be so many things!
I wish you loads of luck with your move! I remember my big move to LA (back when I was an actress). There is nothing like that first glimpse of the HOLLYWOOD sign you get as a local. It takes your breath away to know you’re here and really doing it! So, here’s to a very successful journey! Thanks for writing (and reading, of course).
Bonnie Gillespie is living her dreams by helping others figure out how to live theirs. Wanna work with Bon? Start here. Thanks!
Originally published by Actors Access at http://more.showfax.com/columns/avoice/archives/000761.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.