| |
The
State of African-Americans in Hollywood |
This
article was not an easy one to write. I know for a fact it will
create disapproval amongst the very people who’s eyes I
believe need to be opened. This article is not to change anyone’s
thought process, nor is to proselytize to anyone. It is too simply
state my observations of the industry that I loved and am trying
to hold onto in my heart. This is an article that is based on
my observations in Hollywood and in in my travels. This is an
article that I had to write for me, in hopes to gain an understanding
of what I need to do to help my mission in life and with things
I feel, I believe, must be changed. I write like I do everything
in my life, with a firm belief in it, but it is my opinion and
not for anyone to attach to or even to attack.
While
overseas I encountered many people who had warped perceptions
of what it was to be African-American in the United States. Many
of the people, upon meeting me, immediately felt the need to change
their dialogue to one that was close to their understanding of
ebonics, ( though this has happened numerous times here in Los
Angeles and throughout the U.S amongst different races, specifically
Caucasians who are non-assimilated to the “TRUE” African-American
culture) a good number of youngsters imitating hip hop fashion,
rattled out “What’s up my Nigger?!” “How
you be rolling dog!”.
They were simply mimicking what they saw mainly on music videos
and the few films that made it to their cable boxes. Unfortunately,
the source that gave them the images to copy, in my mind, were
and are not the most honest depictions of African-American life.
These people had no interaction on a daily basis with African-American’s
thus were believing the available sources of information which
for them provide a window into the African-American culture.
Now
to discuss the global effect of these film and music types we
need to investigate why
1) African-American’s here in the United States allow for
certain mediums to negatively depict us.
2) African-American’s work on projects that negatively perpetuate
the African-American experience.
3) These projects get funded and internationally distributed far
more so than any project that showcases the African-American culture
as positive and progressive.
4) There is not balance within the depiction of the African -American
throughout the many mediums of entertainment, but for sake of
this article, specifically, music and film/tv.
Before I go further, I want something to be made clear…
I have never been one to see myself as a race or part of a religion.
I have always believed that way of thinking to be a limiting factor
in ones spiritual existence. Most people who identify with their
body usually involve themselves with people who bare similarity’s
to them simply by body purposes. Thus most races stick to their
own and have similar experiences in life, just like most religious
people usually find friendship and involvement with those that
are limited to their same view and objectivity towards their god
and that religions ideals.
Children on the other hand, until they are jaded which inevitably
happens, live the opposite way of this. They associate with others
simply by the gravitational pull of their spirit, not anything
body id’d at all. Living my life as a spirit is always difficult
in this non color blind country, therefore this opinion is not
necessarily spirit based, it is more coming from the body identification
thought process that I am forced to be aware of while consciously
being reminded of my race as a African-American man in America.
I say all that to say, in my life, I am viewed, African-American,
first and foremost, unfortunately I am a race first in this country,
not a spirit.. which is why I am writing this article. Within
myself, I am not broken down to a race nor is anyone around me,
we are more simple and complex than physical identification. We
are similar and separate all for different reasons than race and
religion, and all the other things that bare no true relevance
for actual purpose of living… I believe that we all will
benefit more so within our spiritual walk in life if we live outside
of the box, outside the realm of limitation, and labels.
Now, back to my original thoughts, about African American depictions
domestically and internationally.
Being one for fairness and balance, I was a major advocate in
the early 90’s for Hip Hop, to have a mainstream voice and
audience. Though it was thought to be crude and crass, it was
no more crude, if in fact less vulgar, than the blood drinking
antics of Marilyn Manson, who received video airplay, to freely
express his artistic side.
I wanted the hip hop artists to have a public recognized forum
so that they could speak to the world so eloquently about the
truths to being, young, African-American, and struggling to survive.
I believed that hip hop was full of honesty and attitude. It brought
a feeling of association and comfort that someone was able to
put to words and music what so many African-American’s live
and feel in the U.S. I believed that hip hop would mature from
Onyx’s “ One gun Two gun Three Gun Four, your’s
mine it’s all about crime! Onxy!!” I visualized herds
of African-American rappers maturing and forcing hip hop to get
airwave time, and using the open ears of the world to educate,
and speak against oppression, as did Marvin Gaye, Bob Marley,
Curtis Mayfield, and that list goes on and on.
I was an advocate for street stories because they conveyed to
the world what was really happening in the inner city’s.
They told the truth about the C.I.A’s involvement in the
underhanded dealings of drugs into the African-American community.
The music made people see how Reagan affected the hood, by taking
away after school programs, recreational centers, and stripped
our educational outlets of necessary funds for mental enrichment.
It showed the world that welfare was to aid in the failure of
African-American existence, and it’s affect on the African-American
nuclear family. I saw this music as being a way to spread the
word of truth and victory! I saw the music as a major tool to
show the irregularity of lifestyle here in the United States.
I envisioned a radical movement being created that would’ve,
should’ve, could’ve, created a African-American UNION,
a, CONFIDENT, COHESIVE, PROUD, African-American UNION, in neighborhoods
across the country! A union NOT geared to “disputes”
or “Blaming” others in the country about injustice,
but a union geared to publicly inform others about it, to provoke
expeditious change. A union that would rise above the crimes that
we commit amongst each other. A union that demanded respect from
within and from outside of it. A union that would be so strong
that it had the power to help other races of people.
Now in 2004, I can watch countless hours of hip hop music videos.
I can turn on the t.v and see every race of person, carbon copying
what a rap personality is wearing, saying and doing. I can pull
up to a traffic light to see a young kid of any race, reciting
verbatim Tupac lyrics.. I can see rappers gracing the covers of
Rolling Stones, Vibe magazine, Source. I can see rappers being
interviewed on 60 minutes as moguls, so I guess I got what I asked
for right?
WRONG!
14 years later from my initial dream, the content of music hasn’t
progressed, in fact its regressed. Songs like Ghetto bastard,
Treach’s honest retelling of maturation without a father,
has been replaced by songs detailing one night stands, bartered
relationships, where women get Ice and guys get ass.
14 years later the music video has the same lame formula and the
artist are still dancing and cooning in front of the camera, holding
all their material possessions, as if it were more important than
themselves.
14 years later, African-American women, once glamorized as strong
mothers, leaders, survivors, creators of kings and queens, are
now glorified simply for their booty and their voluptuous figures.
Are made out to look like money lustful whores, which also has
occurred by their own doing as well, by choosing to be involved
in projects that depict them this way.
14 years later the word nigger has replaced the word dude or brother,
in daily conversation.
14 years later no one has taken the torch and really used their
mainstream appeal to speak out against what plagues our community.
14 years later, artists who are inspirational, and trying to educate,
get pushed to the side by people who are marketed as illiterate,
drug selling, gun toting, pimps.
14 years later, “dressed up” means, sneakers, sweatpants,
and throwbacks, with a chain dangling down to the waist.
14 years later rappers claim to be soldiers of the streets, and
clearly have forgotten the definition of a soldier. They forgot
the history of Martin Luther King who had soldiers who pounded
the pavement, Malcolm X who had soldiers who stood in unison,
and the un relenting strength of The African-American Panthers,
all soldiers. NOT because of their revolutionary stance, but because
they HAD a stance, a belief that motivated and inspired progressive
change..
14 years later, 3 decades of hard work, seems to have been forgotten
and a culture flat-lining.
Just focusing on music, (I will break down film and tv shortly)
, music is the easiest art form to acquire globally thanks to
the internet. Therefore the best way for anyone overseas to get
a glimpse into the African-American lifestyle and experience is
through this medium. So just think, when you listen to your favorite
rapper spitting out nursery rhyme lyrics such as “ I might
as well be a doctor with the amount of bitches asses I smack”
someone in Bolivia, Sudan, Ireland, Amsterdam, etc… is listening
and believing this to be not just music and fun, but African-American
music, and more than just that.. but he she is believing that
this in essence is BEING African-American.
This type of music sells because this is what has the huge marketing
campaign behind it. Marketing is what makes artists successful
and it actually conveys how sad American society has become. In
hip hop, Marketing campaigns are based on bullet wounds and pimping.
What about talent.. true talent? What about content? These have
become the last necessary elements required to become famous in
this day and age. I want to have on record that I love hip hop,
it s hard not to get hooked on something as rhythmic. Everything
on earth is based on vibration and frequency, the beats of hip
hop and most of the times the rhyming style of artists tap into
people’s, individual rhythm and frequency.
Can you imagine if something as contagious and catchy as hip hop
with its beats and vibration had lyrical content that was actually
progressive minded…
Let’s talk about that? Why don’t the artists who rap
about progression, social awareness, and simple good natured content,
sensual or social in nature, get mainstream airtime? Don’t
mention to me sales as a reason, or lack thereof, because once
again, people are like cattle, and by strategic marketing anything
can be sold as beneficial or creative or artistic, the herd will
move and jump on a bandwagon, as long as you stare it in that
direction.
It’s why we. the herd, spend countless hours and days eating
foods and condiments, utilizing products that are killing us from
inside our bodies, and purchasing goods and services, that we
simply don‘t need. We fall victim and believe the advertising
that is placed behind these products and therefore the herd mentality
buys into it and in turn we drain ourselves of a balanced existence.
Sales has nothing to do with it and the true answer has a lot
to do with societies biggest failure today and also a certain
group’s biggest success. Body identification over spirit
recognition. The media has been one of the most instrumental tools,
but surely not the only one, in keeping the herd ignorant of the
true battle between heaven and hell, which in fact exists on earth
at this very moment inside (spirit) and outside (body) of you,
me, and all of us.
I use “faction” to describe the group that is completely
aware of controlling the herd, so that I don’t have to get
too much off the theme of this essay. The faction needs us as
human beings to be body conscious and aware. Meaning we need to
believe that our purpose is to please and satisfy the body. That
we are living externally not internally, and having experiences
simply for the body and not the spirit that lies within all of
us.
The faction likes the idea that rappers talk so much about “bling
bling“, because listeners, as has been happening, believe
that material things will gratify them, and in the sense of the
body (ego) purposes it will for some time, which they know, hence
why they create, manufacture and reproduce all these “bling
bling” items. So that they can be sold, to satisfy the most
non important element to our existence, for their own profit.
The faction needs lustful people having physical relations for
lust sake and not spirit sake, so that diseases can be spread
insuring the need for pharmaceutical companies existence, which
if you are at least halfway aware, drug companies, the F.D.A,
back all the studies, that purport what is good and bad for us,
then disseminate that information through, of course, the media,
as factual, which they are all controlled by the faction.
The faction needs the herd to believe that we are different because
of such illusionary things as race and religion, because the true
majority, being the herd, far outnumbers the faction, therefore
by creating division the majority becomes controlled. Our pledge
of allegiance clearly states that “United we Stand divided
we fall”. With out going to deep into that as that is another
conversation on its own, my point is to say, any form of mainstream
media that keeps people body id’d will in fact be what is
promoted heavily to the world.
Many, not all Hip hop artists are being paid well to keep people
body id’d. One can say that hip hop artists are corporate
slaves, bitches of the faction.. they’re instrumental tools
being used to keep the spirit from, rising within us. This may
sound extreme but just watch any music video and see the faction
at work. Watch where we are being taught to place our values.
The importance, the barometer to judge our joy is usually based
on material things.. This is a United States problem, that is
now a world problem... once again, this too deserves a separate
conversation.
For African-Americans to be so intoxicated by material wealth
without the true remembrance of our internal spirit that made
us withstand centuries of persecution, is an unbalance. The balance
comes when we learn the ins and outs of the economic structure
in society and then utilize our capitol not for body ego purposes
but for rebuilding our communities so that we individually and
jointly along with our financial investments can have longevity,
not just in African -American acquisition but in all arena’s
of investing domestically and internationally. We as African -Americans
need to stop thinking about the immediate gratification, which
the faction has done so well of promoting through our major music
source, and start thinking about longevity.
Back
to the eyes and ears that listen to us globally. If there was
balance the depiction of African-Americans the affluent African-American
who own businesses outside of the entertainment industry would
be applauded, just as much as the artists on M.T.V cribs…
T.V and film would showcase the nuclear family that does in fact
still exist within the African-American community. Music that
glorified and glamorized being a strong educated African-American
person would also get magazine coverage, radio airplay, and international
distribution.
For the most part it is the beats and the hook of this popular
mainstream commercialized music that is the reason for its airplay,
not the nursery rhyme styling or lyrical content that’s
causing it. Therefore when the beat is hot, and you slap on lyrical
content that is positively progressive imagine the educational
tool hip hop becomes. It’s bad enough, most African-American’s
aren’t taught of our amazing accomplishments in this country,
imagine then the disillusionment of other races in this country
and other societies throughout the world. Imagine if we used the
hot beats with enriching content to harmoniously spread truth
and empowerment. Not just for us as African-Americans, but everyone,
living on this planet.
Ghetto’s have all races and types of people living in it,
that’s why hip hop has become so powerful, there are more
poor in the world than there are rich. Therefore the poor, regardless
of race, (which is why the faction wants us to be so focused on
race, because it creates a superficial divider), are the real
Majority in the country, the world. The music has reached the
poor and has had the power to inspire the poor to rise above the
routine of complacency. Which is another reason why it so important
that the faction help’s to support and force artists in
many instances to write and produce the non mental and spirit
stimulating crap.. The music has gotten to mainstream and has
become too powerful.. if music of empowerment happened on a mainstream
front, imagine, there may not be division anymore amongst the
true majority( the herd) , the true majority would stand up, and
ah em, possibly rise against the faction that supports suppression
of truth. The true majority can actually change the way society
is run. The true majority can become the real voice of the people.
So now comes the question then why are African-American artists
using their skill to support the faction? Why is this bad content
even created? Why do we listen to it, support it? Why do we allow
other entities to grab us by our balls and tell us what kind of
material to create? Why do actors take stereotypical roles in
films that perpetuate the race in the same way music has become
devoid of its purpose and passion. Why have we as people in the
media, allowed these simple realities to be over looked just for
material gain? The answer is not really complex nor is it simple.
Lack of self pride, lack of education, lack of the knowledge of
where we come from, (which is intentional by the faction especially
in poor neighborhoods. Once again the poor, the true majority,
can’t be too educated or they can rise up against the true
minority,) and the good ole lure of money. It’s easy to
create pawns out of people who are poor. Many artists publicly
admit, their loathe for schooling, the fact that they dropped
out after 9th grade, how the streets raised them, someone like
this is a wonderful candidate to promote negativity.. why should
he/she care about what they spread? They don’t and won’t
realize that they can tell the world their experiences in an honest
way instead of glorifying it.. that they can allow the world to
taste street life and become aware of it so that maybe we can
help the people who are still living it.. Everyone is out to get
there’s and forget about who they step on or impact in the
process.
To continue this I will now dissect what I see happening in my
medium, as an actor, within tv and film. Television and film is
the other great medium used to not only entertain viewers but
it is also a great way to spread information be it true or falsified.
For a very long time African-American’s and Latino’s
have suffered to stereotypes of gang bangers, pimps, rapists,
burglars, at the hands of producers, but recently changes definitely
have occurred within casting and roles have opened up slightly
offering a better array of character types for African-American
and Latino’s.
After tv programming such as the “Jeffersons” , “The
Cosby Show“,” A different World” one would’ve
thought that programming for television shows that are African-American
casted would’ve progressed in nature and content. This too
has not happened with the ferociousness that it could’ve,
should’ve would’ve.
At some point, comedic shows became extremely simple minded in
nature and completely reliant on physical gags for laugh sake,
drama’s that are African-American casted fell victim to
“being too African-American” meaning every episode
of the show had something to do with an African-American issue,
instead of allowing the show just to be a regular drama telling
stories that so happened to have African-American actors in the
roles. One of the problem’s that Hollywood has, is that
they feel once all African-American people are casted in a show,
the dialogue and the story points must all be related to African-American
issues… Of course this type of show will not attract a mainstream
audience, that would be is as if “Seinfeld”, the television
show had all Jewish characters and every episode, was based on
the Palestine and Israel conflict.
When shows are Caucasian casted the focus is on regular story
points. I believe that this was the reason for the failure of
C.B.S’s “City Of Angels” , every episode, was
about an issue that had some one screaming “It’s because
I’m African-American” or “this is a hospital
in an African-American neighborhood, we can’t ask for much”
everything was just African-American, African-American African-American..
that was the storyline every episode, not the stories in the hospital
from the staff and the patients.
Unfortunately, I believe shows that are African-American casted
especially if the show is drama, still needs to mature, a lot.
We need to be able to look beyond race and just tell stories.
Like I said everything is balance and when you have your characters
settled into the show, then you can introduce an issue, a point,
an episode here and there, focusing on a “African-American”
issue. There are smarter ways to discuss things socially on an
all African-American casted show without scaring people off from
thinking they are being attacked or won’t understand.
How interesting though, that hip hop is something that people
don’t shy away from, and it is definitely thought of as
“African-American” , “African-American”
stories and “African-American” experiences. Could
this be the reason why many producers and studio’s who lack
the true desire to benefit the various cultures in the country
and world, use hip hop artists in films now like an epidemic,
in hopes to bring over the same audiences that have made hip hop
the number one selling music? Of course..
Let’s discuss this, why are there so many rappers working
and taking the roles from actors? Well I won’t say taking
the roles from actors, because honestly, the roles that the rappers
are taking are far and few between the kinds of roles that real
actors would want anyway. For the average rapper (and I say average
because some have come on the screen to illuminate and showcase
great ability) taking on a role that would require an actual performance,
more so than just line reading, but to actually dissect a character,
and create physicality’s and a life story behind that role,
takes a skill, takes natural and trained talent.. The art of acting
is not a simple one, though unfortunately the medium seems to
be more and more laughable because of who is billed as an actor,
due to reality tv,( another great dumbing down and body id’d
tool by the faction) and the numerous crossover artists that make
it on screen. That’s why thousands of people come to LA
to make it and thousands leave everyday.. Acting is not easy,
it is an art form that must be finely crafted and recrafted consistently.
It is the reason why Paris Hilton or Britney spears was not in
the lead role of “Monster” or why either one of them
didn’t co-star in “American Beauty”. So then
why are Rappers hired for roles in African-American casted films,
as well as in Caucasian casted films? Mainly because the roles,
and stories for African-Americans are still quite simple and never
complex in nature.. intentionally so.
The trained professional, which, don’t get it confused,
trained professional does not mean consistently employed, actor
has to go through many painstaking efforts just to make it “big”
. Just to get in good with a circle of directors who will trust
their talent and marketability, can take years. It takes time
and much dedication. This is part of our job description and is
expected by the trained actor, thus this aspect is not something
to pose as an impediment. What is disturbing is the growing level
of difficulty to even get into the circle to display the talent
in front of the directors and producers of “HOLLYWOOD BUDGETED”
projects.
There are many reasons for this. One of those reasons is the lack
of interest distribution companies and producers have in finding
and marketing new, African-American talent. Another is the recycling
of all ready working actors in feature films being developed and
the hiring of established talent in other areas of the entertainment
industry, specifically the music industry to take on roles within
films.
This is presently evident in the African-American casted feature
film. These points all work hand in hand and I will discuss them
in greater detail simultaneously.
Every year a new group of young hot Caucasian stars are found
and created. Hired to work on television shows, independent and
budgeted films. This is of course because of the plethora of opportunities
for Caucasians within television and film projects yearly.
Caucasian actors don’t have to compete against the young
pop stars that have had million dollar international success.
Brittney Murphey and Naomi Watts will never ever be in competition
against Brittney Spears and Christina Agulliera for the same role?
So why then are rappers on the same short list to cast as African-American
actors? I’ll get to that.
In Caucasian casted feature films, especially of modest budget
the competition amongst up & comers and all ready established
talent isn’t as great as it is within the African-American
community , because working Caucasian actresses and actors will
rarely subject themselves to working on these projects because
of the dollar rate and their status within the industry that they
are trying to maintain. A lot of times because there are so many
Caucasian casted feature films in development the desire for the
“all ready working actor” to jump into every and any
project is null and void, it’s not necessary, they can can
afford to wait and be choosey.
In Caucasian casted feature films there are usually bigger budgets,
numerous roles, defined storylines, and much more money for marketing.
All of these elements help the so called “ No Name”
talent in a big or small budget feature film shine through and
get the recognition from other directors and producers he/she
deserves, which is what the business of is about. To be seen,
one must work, on quality projects.
Stage and Film trained professional up & comers within the
African-American communities have a very difficult time getting,
even bit roles, in feature films because of the paucity of African
American roles in feature films and television programs. Also,
if one is picky with how they are trying to mold their career
many of the open roles that are offered, would not be intriguing
to the intelligent African-American actor because they will be
stifling to ones growth, as well as continue the negative cycle
of depicting the African-American race.
Now of course, some depictions that may be considered harmful
to the African-American race, are in fact true, such as gang bangers,
for instance, and though this is reality for many within the African-American
community this type of person and experience certainly does not
make up for the majority within the African-American community.
Due to unbalanced representation, especially globally, this though
may not seem to be the case. I can’t declare that with Caucasian
casted tv/film projects that there are not representations that
one may consider “White trash”, that would be purporting
what is obviously true, but once again the major difference here
is, the variety of roles and projects that are created and distributed
offering drastically different contrasting characters and storylines
compared to the Jerry Springer-esque programming that may distributed
simultaneously.
With this in mind, African-American working actors who have name
recognition and were leads in previous feature films, because
of their desire for work and lack of it , will then take a much
much smaller role that should go to an up and comer who needs,
the couple of lines, and simple co-starring credit for there resume.
Which could in turn help to further their career. Producers bank
on this and use this opportunity to pay African-American actors
who are all ready established with audience approval and recognition
much less than their worth. The established actor loses because
though he/she may look at it as, receiving a paycheck, usually
for work they are not proud of, a lot of times there financial
value and business stock stays minimal because they are in films,
that are below their value,and that undermines their previous
work.
This is a major reason why the up and coming African-American
talent has fewer opportunities to acquire work because they are
on the same short list with African-American actors that have
name recognition, and also crossover artists for the few roles
that become available.
The established African-American actor is very rarely taken seriously
because one month he /she may be the lead character in a wide
release film then the following month co- starring in a lower
end, comedy alongside a rapper, then next month a walk on featured
guest on a primetime television comedy on UPN or WB, then after
that featured in a music video, then after that forced to do work
that belittles them, their ability, as well as the community.
This is how the cycle happens. This is how you create pawns once
again, you create a need, a paucity of opportunity, a desire for
material things, a hyper-active ego and now you have a “Faction
Soldier”
The producers and distributor gain because they get established
talent for low cost and get there project green lighted and in
turn do not have to cough up more money for better screenplays
and greater marketing. Let’s delve into this a little bit
more.
Why would an actor do this?
We are in fact stock, and as in any business, stock, must keep
it’s value to be profitable. African-American actors are
in the rutt of needing work.. there just are not enough opportunities
out there, excuse me , there are great scripts, but they are not
being distributed, as readily as film’s like, “How
High” , “3 Strikes”, and “Phat Beach”.
A big problem that I see, In America, but for purposes of this
article, specifically African-American’s, in this case,
don’t realize how to create a cushion of security, through
patience and investing. We have gotten comfortable with the American
societies, invisible edict of “Live to Work” “To
Purchase” “To Live Above Our Means” “To
Be In Debt“, “To Have To Work“, “To Be
A Slave to your Material Possessions”.
I attribute this not only to the stem which is lack of education
and body (ego) gratification, but also to the bling bling aspect
that has been solicited in these low quality films that are distributed
along with the soundtracks and music videos that promote it as
well.
Within the blue collar and affluent working class, or the entertainment
based industries, or in any business type, one can count on a
financial drought, and when the drought hits, this over purchasing
lifestyle leaves nothing but debt, interest charges, and a desire
to hold onto the material things, as if they are “God”,
which in fact for most people their big screen televisions, Hummer’s,
and other extravagant items are. Of course this is when Mr. producer
will come out of the woodworks and say, hey, Mr. and Mrs. established
African American actor, I am looking to produce two films, one
called “Black & Sassy” and the other “ Who
ate up all my Chitins” and need you to do it for a minimal
amount of money that is well below your name value.”
Now with the loads of crap on the airwaves, I think it’s
quite obvious what the answer has been to those producers, yes..
yes to negatively perpetuating the race, yes to keeping bad films
grinding out of the Hollywood machine, yes to reducing their stock,
and yes to spreading fallacies about the talent pool within the
African-American community.
I touched on this earlier and felt the need to digress, but another
way that African-American’s are represented poorly in film
and Television, is by creating low-quality, simple-minded stories,
which offer up a plethora of roles for cross-over artists, usually
from the hip hop world. Now this is very harmful to not only actors
but also to the legitimacy and depth of our films and the community.
I am not hating on any person who makes money off of the faction,
but once again, when that money is made to disseminate harmful
images of a community, that money is no different that blood money.
If these artists really wanted to act, I would not mind it at
all.
It would be great if they chose to use their name recognition,
got trained first and foremost within the craft, hired writers
or sought after scripts that were of true quality, hired actors
to surround them, produced the project and then sought distribution.
But instead they are given poor themed films and without either
knowing better or genuine care involve them self in projects that
are detrimental on a domestic and global front.
Do not be fooled, it is not that the musician is beating out the
trained actor at the audition. The producers have all ready created
a short list of who will be hired so though there is an audition
the musicians all ready have been tied into the project as characters,
not to mention the soundtrack deals and contracts that have all
ready been signed.
The musicians are usually requested in the feature films because
of many reasons. One of those reasons is, a lot of the African-American
feature films are not given great budgets. Because of this, great
defined stories which also means great defined roles are not usually
present within the screenplay that make it to screen. Which means
that the roles are usually offered to people who are all ready
established in one area of the industry namely music, to boost
or supposedly boost it’s value and marketability amongst
viewers. Hollywood is still not in the business of budgeting and
marketing great quality stories that contain African-American
and Latino cast members on a consistent basis. To fill a film
with rappers, can almost guarantee a very simple-minded script,
with crippling dialogue. These are the type of projects that I
don’t support domestically.
Though, while I was overseas I managed to watch an African-American
casted film, that contained such “great” dialogue
as, “Bitch, why you be coming round here.. I told you I
ain’t paying you no money” “Fuck you nigger!
If I’m raisin’ this kid by myself then you ain’t
never gonna see him” “Good! as long as I don’t
gotta see your bitch ass” .
Without naming names to the film, this was in fact the dialogue
and as I sat in my hotel room at three am, with no other African-Americans
around me in the entire country, I acknowledged why people followed
me around the store cautiously, (which happens here in the states
as well) or why I was talked too at times in this manner, because
it was construed to be my way of life, because off my race. The
other films that I managed to see that were African-American casted
were all of the same genre. These films are made cheaply here
in the states and sold even cheaper overseas. So for pennies we
the African-American community can be reduced to the worst images
possible.
It is very easy to fall victim to the bandwagon that has been
created by directors who have capitulated to all ready sell -
out producers ( Which when you’re out for the money that
is a pre-requisite anyway) to place musicians in their films.
We as audience members are supposed to believe that rappers beat
out the trained actor for the role, that is ludicrous and we know
it. Directors have on many occasions used the excuse of wanting
to have a person play the role who was close to it. I love when
they say that.. I am being sarcastic if you can’t tell because
you then sir or madam director know nothing about the skill of
actors and in turn should not be directing.
Actors can play all ranges of characters. Angela Basset’s
personal history, never consisted of being a singer growing up
on the road, performing and involved in an abusive relationship,
but she performed the signature role of “Tina Turner”
in “what’s Love Got to Do with it” as if she
were re-incarnated as the sensational legend. Denzel Washington
in no way lived the experiences of Malcolm X, nor could anyone
say he as a personality, bore a resemblance to the character,
but he attached himself to the heart and soul of the legacy of
Malcolm X, to remind us of such an instrumental figurehead to
the world. As far as I know, Cuban does not run in the veins of
Al Pacino, but he seemed to be that , as well as a very convincing
vicious drug dealer in Scarface.
Actors are trained to be chameleons, we can take a character and
add layers onto ourselves to depict that persons life and experiences
in a very real fashion. Of course directors know this to be true,
that’s why Jim Carrey, in all his comedic recogntion, portrayed
Andy Kaufman, in “Man On the Moon” or beautiful Charlize
Theron, portrayed a drastically different role from herself in
“Monster“, or Ed Harris performing in “Pollack”
as the artist Pollack...
So why then, is a rapper, hired for the lead role in a film to
portray someone from the streets, instead of an actor? It’s
simply for the sake of using the artist, but more than that, to
keep the film simple and stereotypes real.. How many gangsters/bad
guys have we seen Joe Pesci, Dinero, Pacino, Fishburne, in “Hoodlum”
, “Snipes” in Sugar Hill, play in films and dramatically
increase the characters depth by their performance and character
study. The problem is producers are not trying to have well written
scripts get produced, gangsters in an African-American casted
film, our simple minded killers, with no layers, with no depth,
nothing close to the images portrayed when dissecting Caucasian
casted gangster esque films.
I directly relate this to the poor show-out of audience viewership
of African-American casted feature films. I also relate this to
the lack of respect Hollywood and Mainstream America has for the
African-American casted feature film as well as television program.
If our directors are not standing up for the actors within the
available talent pool, showing almost a distrust for the ability
of the actors, how then can we get different races to come in
and willingly watch our films? What would make someone think that
they couldn’t just turn on B.E.T and watch a music video
and see the same story over and over during a 15 hour block of
videos?
It seems to me that we as African-American artists have been made
to be so hungry for work, not even good work, just any kind of
work, that we’ll take anything, which goes right back to
the street hustler kid who is offered a record deal and told what
he/she must rhyme about.. if people are kept hungry they will
do anything for some food.
This is the problem within the African-American community, (for
sake of this article I will narrow it down to the artist community
but not limit it to just us) , .. and unfortunately too many of
us capitulate and involve ourselves in projects that do not benefit
us, no more so than it will society, and also our race. We as
a people owe it to ourselves to say no to films that do not change
for the better the way the world looks at us collectively as a
race.. and to some this may not be any more important than what
to wear to work, or what to eat, but when a race is viewed upon
negatively in unison around the globe, it’s very hard for
those peoples to progress forward in areas that really matter...
It is the reason why African-Americans have no hold over any of
the natural resources in Africa, why it is still hard for us to
open businesses here domestically, why it is hard for us to attract
consumers to our businesses, and why it is difficult for us to
get anything with quality into the mainstream.. it has simply
become something that can’t be accepted.. It is no more
different than when the Cosby Show came out, people claimed that,
it was an untrue depiction of the African-American experience,
a doctor and a lawyer in a brownstone in New York, ah come on!
is what people said. I say to those people, then and now, it is
more real than you know , and unfortunately because of our misdoings
it is not known enough!
Art is Art, and everyone has the right to create how they feel.
Everyone has the right to want the world to know their talent,
but until the African-American community has true balance in the
entertainment medium , domestically and globally, the African-Americans
who have the “Mic”, need to keep in mind that the
ears of the world are listening and the eyes of the world are
watching. We, need to really start showing civilization how wonderful,
talented, creative, loving, spiritual, and educated we within
this African-American community, really are.
Son of the Universe
Daughter of the universe
the world is listening
the masses are hungry,
what we feed them will be what
they will believe…
EDITORIAL:
Michael Cory Davis
