Darren Aronofsky Is Adapting Samuel D. Hunter's "THE WHALE" For Film — Page 2

JBroadway said: "What part of this argument are you confused about? The age-old "acting is acting" excuseis a straw-man's argument thathas been addressed time and time again, year after year, thread after thread. Rebuttalshave already been written in this thread, by me and others.

It's not "if you haven't lived it, you can't portray it." That's a blanket statement that no one is actually advocating for. Another straw-man. But there are SOMEmarginalized groups that simply cannot be played respectfully or authentically by people of other groups.

Now, I'll admit - I don't necessarily know if I'd say that obese people are one of these groups (I'm open to hear arguments either way). However, that's not the only thing that's at play here. There's also the issue of jobs for actors within those marginalized groups, which I discussed in detail in my last post (please see above).Every time I hear the "acting is acting" complaint, it'sfrom people who seem to conveniently ignore this pivotal side of the argument.

Also, I'd love to hear an example of how this mentality has actually harmed the arts in real life. And even if it hasharmed the arts, is that a more pressing issue than advocating for respectand job availability for marginalized people?

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You just keep throwing the same words around trying to make a point. No one was up in arms when a non-600lb man played the part at Playwrights. I saw the show and loved it. I don’t see the issue now. It’s acting.

Updated On: 1/13/21 at 10:50 AM

Funny that you say that, because on my end it seems like that’s what you’re doing. Obviously we’re not on the same page here. No snark: I would genuinely like to know what about my posts comes across as “throwing around words trying to make a point.” Because from my perspective, I feel like I made a pretty logical and thoroughly-explained point. Obvious something isn’t translating.

Things have changed since 2014, though I don’t think people are up in arms about this particular case, so much as we’re just looking for ways to be better, and arguing with those who say that there’s no way to cast a fat person in this role. The thing I’m more “up in arms” about personally is the use of the old “acting is acting” argument, for the reasons I explained in my last post (though again, it something wasn’t clear about it, I’d be happy to clarify)

@Kad - that’s an interesting point. I hadn’t thought of it from that angle.

I mean, Fraser isn't gay either, but the question of whether that sort of casting is appropriate or not comes up already approximately once a week anyway. Is it the same question? A different one? Who knows at this point.

I get representation! But as a gay man, I don’t need every gay role to be played by a gay man because then that puts us (actors) in a weird position of never being able to play outside of our own circumstances, which is boring.

I've seen.a few Falstaffs in my time who were really big and not padded and jeez, if they could position cameras in such a way that Philip Seymour Hoffman could play pint-size pepper pot Truman Capote, then I think they could pull this off without padding. If they wanted to,.

Maybe they could borrow "Come Look At The Freaks" from Side Show?

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Let's also acknowledge that this is one of a handful of topics that's a friggin minefield! Complicated issues are... as the kids used to say... complicated. I think it's worth talking about and not dismiss it as bickering. I too, thought of the Gilbert Grape mother. Was she nominated for an Oscar for that?

Look what a minefield of a professional life Gabourey Sidibe's career has been. Look at the crap Lizzo gets. I don't think it comes down to us as individuals having "a problem with" the casting of whatever identity/type we get to say "As a" before we throw in our two cents. I think the two cents are all worth it. I don't know if we'll ever arrive at "the answer" because I don't think there is just one.

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I just get afraid of straying from letting actors act.

Perhaps the screenplay has scenes involving Brendan Fraser where he is not yet a 600 pound man. Perhaps there are scenes that show growing into being a 600 pound man. I doubt this will take place in a living room as the play does. I am reserving my judgement until I see the film.

It’s (gonna be) A Hit!



https://variety.com/2022/awards/awards/the-whale-oscars-brendan-fraser-best-actor-sadie-sink-1235369024/

Really liked the play, that trailer does nothing for me