Hi Bonnie,
I discovered your column recently and have read all of your articles. They’re incredibly informative, and I want to thank you and Showfax for having so much pertinent information in one place (for free)!
A little about me: I’m a New York-based actress, who after much contemplation has decided to make “the big move” to Los Angeles. I am currently nonunion with a few principal roles in student films to my credit. I know, I know — I’ve read the premature moves column. I want to do feature films and feel that there’s not enough work here (film and TV especially). I would also like a change of scenery as New York can be so trying after a while.
Anywhoo, I’ve noticed that there hasn’t been a column addressing the particular needs of actors of color. I read Frances Uku’s blog religiously and have gotten a great glimpse into this issue. My question to you is: Do you believe that actors of color (black actresses in particular) face any unique challenges out there? Is there anything beyond “preparation meeting opportunity” that we can do to be seen? I don’t know if it’s “Bitter Actor Syndrome” or what, but I’ve heard stories of being asked to play slaves time and again, of needing to look like Beyoncé to score a role, etc. I pretty much dismissed these things, because I firmly believe that you create you own reality. What are your thoughts?
Thanks again for being a treasure trove of information.
First, huge thanks for being an avid column reader and fellow Uku fan. Her blog is most definitely required reading for actors everywhere, of every ethnicity!
Now, I totally agree that we create our own reality, and if we want to see an industry filled only with opportunities to play slave roles or look like Beyoncé, we will absolutely see exactly that. But I also have seen enough breakdowns to know that there are, in fact, ample opportunities to perpetuate stereotypes or work because you’re super-hot-sexy. This pattern extends to others as well. You’ve got your Latina who is either a maid or a fiery Eva Longoria-looking vixen. There’s your Asian über-nerd or the next Jackie Chan. Plus-sized actors feel relegated to the comedic character roles. All actors would probably love to show more range than the industry seems to allow them to. And that’s something that goes with choosing Hollywood (vs. small theatre in minor markets). Here, it’s all about fitting into a narrowly-defined type molds until you’re a big enough name that you can show the industry more of what you can do.
That said, there are plenty of non-stereotypical roles out there for actors of every type. There are many times that we’ll write the breakdown one way and end up casting the role another. There are actors of color who will tell you about going in for roles that were “written white” and having their performance change everyone’s mind about how that role needed to be cast. Same goes for females getting male roles changed to female roles, just because they nailed it. Didn’t Whoopi Goldberg refuse the offer to play herself in Robert Altman’s cameo-filled The Player because she wanted to be considered for the role of the white, male detective? (And then, of course, she won that role and rocked it.)
The really good news for LA-based actors who fall into any number of diversity-incentive categories is that the networks and studios put up regular showcases featuring the top actors in Hollywood’s most underrepresented groups. These showcases are always amazingly well-attended and seriously fantastic. Of course, getting into them is also highly competitive. Some to check out, when you head west, include: ABC, CBS, and NBC. Also read my buddy Rob Kendt’s 2003 column about these diversity initiatives.
What I’d like to do at this point is open up your question to the other readers of my column. Folks, what sort of relevant experiences have you had that you’d like to share? Got any tips to suggest? Warnings? Anything? Let’s hear it! And I’ll post the responses in a future Your Turn.
Good luck with your move! Doing research before you get here is a great way to avoid making any Premature Moves. 😉
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/000740.html. Please support the many wonderful resources provided by the Breakdown Services family. This posting is the author’s personal archive.