Thursday, July 30, 2009

PoP Quiz

What do these have in common?






___taketwo__




Something you have seen come up again and again in the comments about PoP is that they cast Jake as Dastan and not a Persian actor. This could be a real challenge for the film and Bruck. But its not like PoP is the only recent movie that cast white actors in roles that were originally created as Asian characters. . Leonardo DiCaprio and Joseph Gordon-Levitt are starring in a live-action version of the Japanese anime "Akira." Keanu Reeves will be Spike Spiegel in the live-action adaptation of "Cowboy Bebop." And the one that has a lot of people really talking M Night Shyamalan’s The Last Airbender, which spawned a website the called the Racebending.

Tough question : Do you think this trend is driven more by money than it is by race?

15 comments:

Empire, UK said...

PoP article scans

Special K said...

Cool thanks! Empire, UK

World Party said...

Interesting post - especially since a lot of these films are contain influences of a culture, but are not totally about that culture, or are another culture's embracing of and homage to Western culture and influences. Who owns it? It might be different if they were not fantasy epics, and were based on an actual historical figure or event. A tough call. :)

destiny said...

I think the trend is driven by the fact that everyone in HW seems to be afraid of doing an original big tent movie, but they are also running out of sources for material. And we all know they want those tent pole movies to be as generic as possible, so they are going to play it safe and not cast Asian or Middle Eastern actors in the lead. What I don't get is why people keep singling out PoP when lots of other movies do it.

destiny said...

I'm guessing all those posters were created by the same artist.

World Party said...

If there is a trend, it most definitely is driven by money and not race, IMO.

Cowboy Bebop sounds really creative. :)

Special K said...

Talked to several people about the whole recasting thing, and friend who is South Asian and trying to get into the business said while its not fair, its more the about the money than the race. Although they are not really happy that M. Night Shyamalan is doing it as a someone who is of South Asian heritage.

I'll be back later to give the answer to the quiz part. I am off to a wake for a friend's husband and then it's a change a scenery for a couple days, house/dog/bird sitting.

destiny said...

Sorry about your friend's husband Special.

m said...

It's money, plain and simple. It's hard to get funding unless you can convince the lendor the film will be a sure thing. Disney is spending what, about $200 mil on POP, at least. They tried to go with a name they think they can trust to pull an audience. Not sure if they made the right call on this one. We will find out in May. POP may get a big showing the first week it is out but they need repeat viewings for a big budget like this one.

Special K said...

Destiny was in the right direction with her guess. It might not be the same artist but came from the group.

BLT&Associates

It interesting to see the similar style to convey similar messages.

m said...

A couple of Toothy mentions by Ted today.

Dear Ted:
Stop pussyfooting around. Do Shafterella Shoshstein and Toothy Tile know each other well?
– Patricia

Dear No Pussyfooting Here:
Well, since they've worked on a movie together, I would hope they know each other well. Unless they're more like Seymour Slim-Bum and Darlene Deviant and totally hate each other, but no, that can't be right. In fact, I'm sure of it.

Dear Ted:
I believe that I have finally figured out a B.V.! Toothy Tile is Vin Diesel, as the one clue that you provided was that he has a child. Please tell us!
—Your faithful lesbian reader

Dear InVincible:
No chance! And Toothy is slightly ashamed that you would compare him to such an obnoxious muscleman. Actually, that's a lie.

The latter a reference to Jake's beefed up body I think.

destiny said...

If Ted being sarcastic when he says they don't hate each other??? And why is he basically repeating himself with that first question.

prairiegirl said...

Good morning!Boy, it is in the 50's this morning. This weather is unbelievable. Who would ever think ...nah, I'm not going to say it because we're right on the cusp of August and I know what August in Kansas can mean, lol. But nonetheless, it has been unbelievable this week. I hope you eastcoasters are going to get this front that we've had all week.

Who knows with Ted. He does seem to have a new chew toy right now, though, in lumping Shaftarella & TT together.

I reckon these past few days, Reeke PR has been in the conference room trying to figure out how to work with this Philadelphia scenario. I reckon they've had to put on the "WWBD" thinking cap. WWBD as in "What Would Brangelina Do"?
It's like trying to come up with rag picture material while filming for 6 months in Garden City, KS. Course, not at all to compare the city of Brotherly Love with Kansas. Kansas has a long way to go with regards to being a metro city. But hey!

Why does no one film in Kansas? What's wrong with Kansas, I ask? We have newspaper photographers. We have bigtime, snarky papers like "The Pitch". I bet Kansas could put up a little prairie paparazzi with the best of them, lol.

Happy Austin Friday! I've got to go check the cat litter box and put these 2 little monsters downstairs in their room for the day.

prairiegirl said...

Oh yeah, I know. Lenexa Mile. Which I still haven't seen.

pittsburgh said...

"Love and other drugs" shootings will be starting in Pittsburgh late summer/early fall.

Pittsburgh Gazette