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The following is a list of all entries from the AtLA Live Action Cast category.

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Re: AtLA’s Friky Diky Cast: Replacing Jesse McCartney?!?! And Suki Appears!

I just noticed something on the Wiki page for the Avatar film controversy:

“It was announced in February 2009 that Dev Patel has joined the cast of M. Night Shyamalan’s “The Last Airbender.” He replaced Jesse McCartney, for the role of Zuko, whose tour dates conflicted with a boot camp that is scheduled for the cast. The boot camp is where the actors are scheduled to train for martial arts before filming scheduled for March 2009.”

I looked it up and found this article. I am stunned, and beginning to feel slightly more optimistic. I know Dev Patel starred in Slumdog Millionare, but that is as far as my knowledge extends, especially since I haven’t seen it yet. I heard he did an excellent performance. However, I am thrilled that we won’t have Jesse McCartney acting as Zuko! YES. YES. YES. *punches fist into the air*

Additionally, it says that Jessica Andres will be acting as Suki. I have no idea what to think about this, since I have NO idea who she is. It says she acted in Gossip Girl, but… I never watched the show. Something in the name told me I’d probably have to deal with irritating stereotypes of girls, and what I have heard about it hasn’t made me feel better about. However, I found this image of her:

Somebody, PLEASE tell me more about her. I am dying to know, especially since Suki is such a lovely character… Leader of the Kyoshi Warriors! Wooo! ([Edit] Apparently she never had a speaking role there : /)

Also, note what it says in the article:

“Ringer, a 12-year-old from Texas, landed the part after demonstrating his martial arts skills in an Internet vid that he posted to a website Shyamalan set up for open virtual auditions.”

At last, my curiosity as to how Aang was cast is beginning to be satisfied! Now we just need to find the video, and find out what type of kid is he. So, internet, avatar fans, I think it is time to dust yourselves off and do some sleuthing on, well, everything in this article. o-o;

[Edit] More apparent evidence as to this casting change. And more. And a few more.

While I am glad that the cast is getting more diverse, I am dissapointed that this was because of scheduling problems, and not Paramount figuring out that they messed up with the cast. Additionally, people probably will start claiming “oh, ok, you have your asian actor, can you shut up now?” and try to take away the validity of our arguments. I think socchan says it very well when he/she commented at Aang Aint White (Saving The World With Postage) and his/her livejournal post:

“I’m similarly worried, actually. In addition to your “token Asian actor” issue, my concerns are that both Katara and Sokka have canonically darker skin than Zuko, and also that Zuko plays something of an anti-villain for a good part of the story. For basically the whole first season, while Zuko is a sympathetic character, he’s not really one of the “good guys”, and he doesn’t get to be until season three. Up until that point, the Gaang (as it stood) is still pretty much played by all white kids (assumptions made re: Noah Ringer). Suki, who admittedly has less of a problem with being portrayed as a hero, also has considerably less screen time.

I dunno; I’d call it a step towards the right direction, I guess?”

Eh. I’m feeling lukewarm about this, I guess. It is sort of awkward, since we don’t know the real motivations of Paramount. And if you think about it, the Fire Nation are the “evil guys” of the story. If you end up casting the “evil prince” as darker skinned, the rest of his nation is going to be dark skinned, right? But all the heroes are white, white, white! It makes you wonder about the message that is going to send.

However, people, keep at it! Keep writing letters, and think about going to the Protest at the Extras Casting in Philadelphia, if you can go.

An interview with Patel about being cast as Zuko

[Edit 2]

[Edit 3] Gah, now I saw a picture of a funny Dev Patel face, and I can totally visualize him as Sokka. : / The casting is just… lawlzy… Dios mio, que idiotas

[Edit 4] Upon seeing more photos of Patel, I DEMAND that somebody photoshops or draws him as Sokka now. I have no authority, but I am still demanding it! Somebody do the world an epic favour and link me to it, please!

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Re: AtLA’s Friky Diky Cast; Oh McCartney, You Make It So Easy…

To laugh at you… He had a phone interview, which I just found out about via the amazing glockgal. It just… wow, gives you so many opportunities to laugh. Seriously.

I’ll talk about some specific parts, then give you the full transcript (Found on glockgal’s post) : D

(Click for more)

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AtLA’s Friky Diky Cast: The Best Links Roundup (Under Work)

Since I seem to be getting pretty good at roundups, I decided to start making a few more selective ones. This one is dedicated to collecting the (IMHO) best ones protesting the situation, instead of the “EVERYTHING I CAN FIND” in my first roundup.  I’ll try to have it organized and in categories.

Glockgal (She is being so amazing regarding this issue that she deserves her own category)

Why it matters

Why Anime Characters “Don’t Look Asian”

Evidence that AtLA is based on Asian and Inuit Cultures

Other

Movements or Projects

Outside of the Fandom, but still valid and with insight

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AtLA’s Friky Diky Cast Media Coverage Roundup! (Under Work)

Since I seem to be getting pretty good at roundups, I decided to start making a few more selective ones. This one is dedicated to collecting all the links that show Media coverage of our issue, and I will try to put it in chronological order. If you find one link missing, please tell me so I can update this!

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Re: ATLA’s Friky Diky Cast; Rathbone Doesn’t Get It

Which honestly, doesn’t surprise me.

I leave the internet for about 18 days and miss out on the lovely (dripping sarcasm PLEASE be noted here, I don’t ever want to be quoted on saying this guy is lovely) Jackson Rathbone’s comment regarding the whole casting fracas which involves him. Is it too much to hope that one of the actors are genuinely concerned, although obviously conflicted because they really want the part too and get paid? Maybe that would be better?

Due in theaters in summer 2010, “Airbender” has already begun to face a bit of controversy over the casting of white actors like Rathbone, Ringer and McCartney to play Asian characters — a concern the actor was quick to dismiss. “I think it’s one of those things where I pull my hair up, shave the sides, and I definitely need a tan,” he said of the transformation he’ll go through to look more like Sokka. “It’s one of those things where, hopefully, the audience will suspend disbelief a little bit.”

No. Rathbone, it is NOT the same if you are acting in it and make yourself look darker and change your hairstyle. See, the thing is, ALL the actors are WHITE. The WHOLE Avatar Universe is ASIAN, INUIT, or MESOAMERICAN (Check: the Sun Warriors! Predominantly Asian, though). This is happening in concordance with a pattern in movies, where CULTURAL APPROPIATION is pretty much the default. It is a disgusting continuation of viewing the default heroes as white, up to the point that the heroes in a fictional universe where NO ONE IS WHITE are going to be recast as white.

Do you know what the fans want? They want Avatar Universe faithfully followed. Do you know why this show is so big? Great storytelling, plots, characters, development, among some things. But ALSO, for providing a hero that isn’t white. No wait, for providing many heroes that aren’t white. It is an issue, when in this world, in the media, there are very few roles for those who aren’t white, for PoCs to identify. I mean… just… look, this says it better than I can:

During our early Christmas dinner this weekend, the oldest of the nephews, who is 13, brought up the subject of the incredibly white child actors that had been picked for the film version. The three of them were confused and disappointed but unable to articulate exactly why. Then the youngest, all of 7 years old, asked me whether this meant that he couldn’t be Aang when he played Avatar with his friends from now on.

Tell me, Rathbone, if you read that? How do you feel? Are you happy you are participating in the exclusion of many kids, who actually had a hero like them, somebody not the fucking white default? In making them feel that somehow, that they aren’t good enough?

Rathbone, do yourself a favour, and actually read what is going on. Actually read the worries, the dissapointments, the dreams, the problems, of the fans who had something amazing… taken away from them.

You’ve pretty damn already lost me and a lot of us. I highly doubt you will get anybody back. I have already made note of avoiding movies with somebody as insensitive and as clueless as you. Before I heard your opinion, I was pretty happy to avoid making any comments directly about you (except where related to Twilight, because admittedly, I find Twilight ridiculous) and concentrate on those who had chosen you to replace a uniquely diverse world and peoples with the white hero. It is not the same. But since you have on this comment… well… you’re taking part in the systematic exclusion of anybody different.

The positive side, is that he was asked the question. And it appeared on MTV. And that MTV noted that the cast was chosen to play “Asian characters”.

So people, keep making your voices heard! I’ll go back to keeping the roundup updated on what you guys say!

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Writing Gives You Power: AtLA’s Cast, And What You Can Do

In a continuation from my last two posts, I’m going create a more specific directory in the spirit of glockgal’s livejournal post about the same. This time, it’s not about the reactions or the issues at stake, but rather, focusing on what you can do to change the whitewashing of the cast.

First, you have to write. Yes. Write a letter (polite please) to as many people as you think can make a difference. To the Big People over there, to the Media People, to your felow-avatar-fan-that-isn’t-clued-in, or to that friend-who-you-think-would-write-too. Spread the word to the people who would support you in this venture, and prepare your pens, sharpen your quills, or stretch your fingers for some epic typing, because it’s time to work for that diverse cast that AtLA deserves.

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Re: AtLA’s Friky Diky Cast

To the guy who commented as “Michael” in my last post

Your attack on me is laughable. First of all, you assumed that I hate white people, and partly because I am not white; I am white. I am so white that when I wear skirts my friends comment on my whiteness. My family is white, a great number of my friends and my social circle is white, and I do not hate them or myself for being white. I do not need to not be white to see racism, nor to fight it. Besides, the colour of one’s skin should not matter or affect the logic of their argument: I simply am more privileged and so less likely to see racism in my everyday life, because I benefit from it and am not affected by it. (You might want to study the dynamics of privilege, since you seem to be soaking in it). Second of all, attacking me instead of the issues and the logic I raise is a logical fallacy known as ad hominem.

(Additionally, I was only using Harry Potter as an example of possible ways of choosing a cast based on talent, in a BIG movie. It really has little relevance compared to the whole weight of the post, but that this is the only thing that sticks in your mind shows how little you understood what I wrote).

Third, yes, I am critiquing a movie and their choice for a cast, because it shows racist undertones and considerations. I have not seen the movie, or most of the actors. Please note that I specifically mentioned that I would refrain from commenting on the acting ability of those cast for Katara and Aang (and even for Sokka) because I don’t know enough from them, apart from their ethnicity (and not even that for Aang).

When you say I am “completely in the dark”, that I “don’t know what the movie is about, have no idea about the storylines, or scripts, or what has been added or subtracted”, I want to laugh. I have seen all the Avatar episodes, do know the storyline, and so have a pretty damn reasonable idea of what the movie will contain (finding Aang, freeing him, Zuko finds him, the chases, Aang has to master waterbending, the comet!!!, are the basic elements), and I am not in the dark. True, I don’t know what specific changes have been made to the script, but I do know the casting, and it is the casting I am critiquing – not the script.

And here I would argue that I do have a reason to hate the cast. And it is here when you completely miss the point of the post. Let me quote rawles, as s(he) probably phrases this better:


“Taking a show where the cultures and the world that the characters all hail from are clear, blatant, confirmed analogues and amalgams of a diverse variety of various Asian cultures, where the characters have Asian names, where their magical martial arts styles that are the expressions of their very souls are Asian martial arts, where every single written word is actually IN CHINESE and then casting white people to play the main characters is offensive.”

Let me point the clueless to this wonderful post by vagabond_sal, because again s(he) says the same thing, and a bit more, better than I can.

I have the right to express my disappointment and provide constructive critique in the hopes of making Paramount Pictures and Avatar the live action movie a more inclusive movie that doesn’t discriminate against race – because racism is wrong, and should be stopped in all of its forms – but rather, welcomes diversity and makes positive of it. I have the right to expect that people of colour are fairly represented in the media, although it is currently not. And since it isn’t, I sure as hell am going to demand for it.

BTW: Batman and Heath Ledger is not an appropriate comparison, because it was a white character being played by a white actor. Please, avoid false comparisons – another logical fallacy. Instead of actually analyzing the logic and the arguments, you are trolling my blog and my person. Who was it that was talking about invulnerable internet tower and hurling insults?

“In the end, one loses an open mind, when they open their mouth.”

PS: Why did people get upset over Heath Ledger as the Joker again? I don’t remember that angst. And please, let it somebody other than Michael that informs me about this.