White is the new black, yellow, brown, and all the other hues, really » It’s 2015, and still whitewash casting in movies exists Elliot Chan Opinions Editor ~ We, S opinions@theotherpress.ca thnicity in the film industry has always been a problem. In an attempt to reach the broadest American market, the film industry often omits the idea of diversity and simply casts well-known (white) actors. Think of an actor, any actor—odds are, that person is white. The Jake Gyllenhaals, the Johnny Depps, and the Christian Bales dominate the industry. It’s not a bad thing. They are phenomenal artists and they deserve to work. However, when they are taking the role of some Middle Eastern, Asian, or Aboriginal actor, then there is a clear problem. I would also understand if these actors were stretching their acting chops. But they aren't. They are just wearing a costume. Soa movie that depicts Egyptian gods now has American actors with spray tans. And it’s all because the studios fear people of ethnicity with power, even when it is in the fantastical realm of film. This problem is rotting : the core of entertainment. It : eliminates whatever artistic value : the film actually has, discredits : all the hard work thousands of : people do, and makes it a power : move that keeps the minority : outside the gates of legitimacy. : There are so many struggling : : ethnic actors working their : : asses off for minor roles. They ? are as skilled in the craft as any : Academy Award nominated : actors. All they need is a break. : Change cannot happen from the : outside. Criticisms about casting: : choices have almost zero effect on : : the overall decision of the film. : In Aziz Ansari’s Master of : None, he perfectly illustrates : the fight ethnic actors have : with the industry, and how : : powerless they feel. Inan episode : : entitled Indians on TV, Ansari’s : character, Dev, combats the : decision to take on a role that : would further his career, while : also furthering the stereotypes : that hold other Indian actors : back. It’s a conversation about : race, but more prominently, it’s : a conversation about money : and success. If he doesn't : do it, someone else will. So it goes in the film : industry. Someone else will : always sink low enough for the : scraps, and they'll call it luck. : It doesn’t matter what race : the actors are, the studios will : follow through with their plans. : It’s not the actors that need to : change. It’s the overall way of : thinking. But the movement : needs to happen internally. : White actors need to stop : accepting roles that are clearly 3 q 3 oO vo > ° pa v G Hb Cy “4 > ~ ° G a a ao o s 9° “” : not designed for them. And : ethnic actors need to stop being : swayed by the power of money. : They need to band together : and condemn stereotypes with : the same discrimination the : industry has shown for them. Unwrap some free time this holiday » Don't spend the break fulfilling obligations Elliot Chan Opinions Editor ~ We, S opinions@theotherpress.ca he holidays are a perfect time to get all your loved ones together and share in the merriment that is the end ofa year. However, getting a group of people together—at an optimal as simple as creating a Facebook event. While it makes sense to break apart your schedule and share it with those you love, you must also remember that the holidays are a time for yourself. You too need a break. If you are a proactive person, youll know that free time fills up pretty quickly. You might even try to slot a couple events into one day just so you can fill your holiday socializing obligations. But this is also the perfect time for you to forget about people and get ahead on all the stuff you didn’t have time for during the hurly burly of the year. It’s easy to lose track of time. Getting lunch witha couple friends can easily turn into a full-day affair. Not that the time was wasted, but the book you were meaning to read, the : project you were planning to : work on, and all the activities : you finally had time for will be : pushed back. We often mistake : motion with progress. The act : of doing something, anything, : feels like accomplishment : enough. The fact that we got out : of the bed today was a victory. : However, our time is valuable, time for everybody—is not always : : should be treated as such. even during the holidays, and Now, I understand that the : last thing anybody wants to do : during the holiday is live by a : schedule, but if you want some : structure in your life, building a : schedule does it—it keeps you : accountable. Nobody else has : to know about this schedule : but you. Still, it must be treated : sacredly. It matters. On the : schedule, map out all the stuff : you want to accomplish by the : end of your break. You can be : as ambitious or lax as you want, : but the key is to have goals. It : can beas simple as finishing a : book, jogging an extra mile, or : even something more ambitious : like learning a new language. : Then plot these activities into : the calendar and treat those : days as if they are work. The fear is that you'll fall eT ra : into indolence and lose all the : momentum you had during the : year, Of course you are allowed : tosleep in, and those days are : as important as the party nights : or the productive days. Keeping : the ball rolling is awesome, but : remember that not every day : needs to be productive. You : set days for focusing on certain : tasks; you should also set days for : rest. It’s like a workout calendar. : Rest days are the days you leave : completely empty. These are the : days when you find stillness in : your life. These are the days you : can stay in your pajamas, read : a book, watch a movie, or have Image via thinkstock : lunch with one or two friends. : These are the days where you are : forbidden from going around : running errands. These are the : treats of the holidays, and you : can be as selfish as you want.