Not permitted to explore certain roles? What's stopping them?
Two things. One, is Hollywood doesn't like putting Black actors in lead roles without a White co-star. There is a belief the international market isn't all that hyped over Black leads unless their name is "Will Smith."
Two, is there doesn't seem to be much interest from Black audiences for Black actors playing gay roles. Look down the list and there aren't a lot of parts played by top Black actors where they aren't playing it "straight" in every sense of the word.
Tyler Perry can dress up in drag and it has made him a millionaire, but a same-sex kiss by Madea? Uh-uh. That ain't happenin'.
cornflake said:
That there aren't a lot of gay, black roles.
There aren't a lot of roles for strong female characters of any colour or sexual persuasion.
There aren't a lot of roles for deaf people, especially men.
There aren't a lot of roles for gay Jews.
There aren't a lot of roles for women of a certain age.
There aren't a lot of roles for transvestites.
There aren't a lot of roles for women of a certain size.
I could go on, obviously, to the point of absurdity.
Yes, you could, so let's not do that. Let's stay on point here and while it comes as no surprise that race, age, physical attractiveness, gender, body image and more factor heavily into who gets to be in front of a camera and who doesn't, there are still certain roles set aside for Blacks.
The angry Black guy. The hip Black guy. The sassy Black woman. The comedy relief. The best friend of the lead actor/actress. The one Black kid in the woods with all the other White kid who gets butchered by the mad killer. The Magic Negro. The muscular body beautiful. The tough kid from the wrong side of the tracks who needs a loving White family to turn his/her life around. The sexy Black chick who's the girlfriend of the White actor. The authority figure. The sexy Black dude who's the boyfriend of the White actress. Morgan Freeman as the sidekick/wise old dude/President of the United States/God.
It's a pretty narrow field to choose from.
I don't see, first, why that'd mean Latifah is doing something someone would call bullshit on for taking a role that's not matched to her personal sexual orientation any more than anyone else doing the same thing (taking roles that don't match their personal feelings).
I don't see, second, what it is that'd be a solution. You're not apparently suggesting more random gay roles go to black actors that were theoretically written with white ones in mind (replacing Eric McCormack with a black actor), but making films about gay black historical figures.
cornflake said:
Just btw, are all of those people self-proclaimed gay individuals? That's quite the lengthy list.
Yes, most are and isn't it though.
cornflake said:
As to the Malcolm X thing, of course that'd raise blood pressure. As it would if a white producer announced he or she was making a movie based on the book claiming Abraham Lincoln, or <insert historical figure of note> was gay. No one is making these films because it's ridiculous to make films based on thin allegations about who long-dead people were theoretically sexually involved with or attracted to. It's not only ridiculous, but a moot point.
Nothing is "a moot point" where there's a dollar to be made from it and Hollywood is first, last and always about making money.
cornflake said:
I'm pretty sure Washington, Berry, etc., would be up for an Oscar for playing a gay role - same as Sean Penn, Tom Hanks, Jake Gyllenhal (I think there are more 'a's in there someplace), Heath Ledger, PSH, etc., etc.
They might be so,
IF they ever played a gay role. Look at the filmography of a Washington, Freeman or a Berry for that "gay role" and you won't find it. Even in
The Shawshank Redemption it's Tim Robbins who is unsuccessful in fighting off the "sisters" in prison, not Freeman (though it might be suggested that by the end Andy and Red are heterosexual life partners).
Far more common is when a young Will Smith objected to a same-sex kiss in
Six Degrees of Separation. What followed has become an
urban legend:
Will Smith refused to actually kiss Anthony Michael Hall just before their kissing scene so a camera trick was used showing only the back of their heads. In an interview, Smith stated that Denzel Washington advised him not to kiss a man on-screen for it would harm his career. Smith stated that he regretted not going through with it saying "It was very immature on my part."
This story has been passed down and around as proof of Smith’s timidity and Washington’s “homophobia.” However, speaking to USA Today, the former Fresh Prince said about his decision not to do the same-sex kiss, “I’ve seen the film. It shows. I’ve cheapened myself as an actor…I’ve spoken to Denzel Washington and he said
if you’re going to take a role, do what the role calls for.”
So Denzel is off the hook for supposedly advising Will, "don't be kissing no man." However, Denzel has his own line he rarely crosses: romancing his White female co-stars. Just ask Julia Roberts or
Kelly Lynch about that.
I said, “Denzel, what is it? Why don’t you believe that the man you’re playing couldn’t be attracted to me?” I mean, it wasn’t a cheesy love story. It was actually really well-written and moving. And he said, “You know what, Kelly? I hate to say it, but, you know, white men bring women to movies, and they don’t want to watch a black man with their woman.” I was like, “What? No. Really?” He said, “No, I’m sorry, but that’s truly what it is. That’s what the audience is.” I’m like, “But how about The Bodyguard? That was a huge hit movie.” “Well, that’s different. That’s a white man. It’s different.” I said, “So that’s your main motivating factor on this?” He said, “Yes.” So the love story wasn’t a love story anymore. So I said, “Okay.”
It's a different standard for Black actors. Some limits are generated by the industry. Others by their own reluctance.
