Are Actors of Color in Film Fairly Represented?

Today I recieved an email on my myspace page from an actress I did two shows with. She was upset that Angelina Jolie was cast in the movie "A Mighty Heart" where she plays the part of Mariane Pearl. The movie is about her account of the terrifying and unforgettable story of her husband, Wall Street Journal reporter Danny Pearl's life and death. Angelina Jolie wears "brown face" in the movie because Mariane Pearl is of color. The actress was upset about an actress of color being overlooked for the role. Angelina Jolie got the role because of her status as a superstar and that is it. Shes not a bad actress either. Her puting on "brown face" is purely theatrical and shouldn't be equated with the "black face minstrel shows". I don't think that is what she was trying to say but rather she was bothered by the fact that an actress of color didn't get the part. I believe very strongly that producers can cast a film and/or theatre production anyway they want to. Why do we as actors of color feel we are owed an equal oppurtunity to be represented in film, television and theatre? We aren't owed anything! They have a right to cast a show or film anyway they want to. They have a right to cater to their subscribers and ratings. It is after all a business and not little league where everybody "gets a turn". Why don't we produce our own projects? Why not produce our own film and theatre projects that shed a more accurate light on how we percieve ourselves? Actors of color are at a steep disavantage when it comes to getting cast, period. Not to mention getting offered meaningful roles! That is a fact that isn't going away. So why not get off our back sides and take an entrapunureal approach to our acting careers? We need to stop all the complaining and whining. After a while it just sounds like noise! It's kind of like the tree that falls in the forrest, does it make a sound? Of course it does but nobody cares! What is the point of partaking in a oppresion derby but not doing anything to get out of it? That is why I am so focused on starting my own theatre company. I am tired of being offered roles of slaves and servants and thugs. I'm puting my money where my mouth is. I am close to raising $50,000 to start my theatre company and producing shows and playing roles that I want to play that are meaningful! So when my tree falls in the forest it will make a big impact and people will care!

Theatre Alliance of Philadelphia Anual Audtions: June 2007

I had my theatre alliance audtion today. There were represenatives from 60 theatre companies there. Alot of Philly actors think it's a waste of time because they don't get call backs. I always did except for in 2005. While I was waiting for my audition time slot I walked upstairs to watch the audtions of the other actors. The auditions were being held at the Walnut Street Theatre on the main stage. So I could watch the audtions from the lobby moniters. They were painful! I always tell actors the best auditon acting class you can take is to watch other actors audition! You will see all the things that you do and it will make your skin crawl. The way the audition process is set up it is very difficult to gage talent. The actor is out of their element. There isn't another actor to act off of. There isn't an audience. If your a singing actor there isn't an orchestra. Only an a piano player who more than likely will play your song wrong and in the wrong key. There isn't lighting or costumes. You get the point. So I always tell actors to get to the point of your audition piece. Pick monologues where you charecter has alot at stake! Where their are emotional peaks and valleys. And please keep it short!! If a director I'm auditioning for ask for a two minute monologue I keep my monologue to one minute. If it's a singing audition and the director ask me to sing 32 bars I sing 16 bars. This is so important. I'll explain why. The actor is at such a disavantage at the audition the more time you spend "acting" the more likely you are to have dishonest and manufactured moments in your audition. Pick monologues where the charecter clearly wants something really defined. Where there are high and low emotional peaks. This will show your versatility. Keep your monologue well under time. Keep your auditors wanting more. If you picked the right show to audition for you will more than likely be called back. The same thing applies for songs. Songs are monologues with music. Treat it that way. I had to get that out. That's what I was thinking watching the audtions today. This one actress picked a monolugue where her first line was "I don't have any ambition." Talk about boring! Put yourself in the auditors seat watching bad audition after audtion and then an actress walks in and her first line is "I don't have any ambitions." You'd be looking for the nearest rusty nail to clean your colon out with! So many actors would sing these boring songs with out any peaks and valleys. Boring! Snore!! You want to pick a song that is charecter driven where the charecter has alot at stake. Much like a monologue. So important. I'm not claiming to be an audition guru. I'm not. I've done all of those things and worse! My first TAGP audtion in '98 I did a monologue and song I made up! It sucked! However, I always seem to let my talent shine through. I got ten call backs from that audtion! Alot of actors look at directors like the enemy. Big mistake! Again put yourself in their seat. You have to cast a show or a season. You set aside a whole day to sit in a dark theatre to watch debutant actors audition badly and hope to find the talent to cast your show! Trust me they are your biggest fans and they are really rooting for you! Back in 2002 when I was about to go on tour with SAIL Productions with The Top of the Mountain I went to New York and helped SAIL with audition process as an moniter. My God it was horrible! The actors weren't untalented just bad auditioners! I saw so many things that I did in these actors performances. It was painful and I have been audtioning alot better since then. So today I did a monolgue from the "Amen Corner." The charecter I played was named David. He is in an intense argument with his mother about leaving home and pursuing music. I've been doing this monolugue for ten years and it went well. I then sung " Younger Than Springtime" from South Pacific. I like this song because I edited the music down to 16 bars and I sing the high G note at the end of the song. Short, simple and to the point. My whole audition was under two minutes and I really felt in the moment and like I comanded the stage! My talent was beaming! I can say that objectivley. I've had so many horrible audtions I know when I hit mark. I'll let you when I get my first call back. Stay tuned...