The IN THE HEIGHTS Film Adaptation Thread — Page 41

HeyMrMusic said: "Ha! Listen, I agree about the representation and colorism. I’m Southeast Asian and saw all of the complaints about the predominantly East Asianvoice cast of Raya. I am one to agree with all the people saying they should have done better while also celebrating and amplifying the representation that did happen. And with that said, the people creating absolutely need to do better and learn from this. But I still lovedthe moviesfor what they are."

This was basically how I felt too. I have a lot more in common with Jon Chu than anyone else involved in the film (or any of the characters). (Chu and I are about the same age, and both Chinese Americans from the Bay Area.) And I really enjoyed the movie — it's possible to do that, celebrate what was accomplished, AND acknowledge missteps along the way!

Also, it's well past time for people to retire using "woke" in a derisive manner.

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Bill Maher commented onthe whole controversy last night on his show. If you have a chance look up the clip. I totally totally agree with him. I saw the film for the third time last night in a movie theater. Restrictions are gone. Theater was packed. I am hoping the film gets a box office bump. It very well deserves it.

I was looking to see how the films box office was during the week but doesn't appear they reported any daily grosses. Not sure if a good sign that they didn't report any.

https://www.boxofficemojo.com

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Thanks jo

Figures were posted after I posted. :)

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I’m sad about this movie underperforming. The movie musical that’s not a franchise or a remake that’s made by BIPOC writers and director about an underrepresented community… This is why we need to show up for movies like this: studios will say there’s no interest and think twice before greenlighting movies starring people like this or made by filmmakers like this. BIPOC artists usually have one shot to make their mark while white people get so many passes for making flops.

Anyway, watch the movie based on the musical no one has heard of starring a white man, the other movie based on the musical no one knows with Hallmark songs and starring a white man, and a remake of a movie musical about Latinx people made by and written by white men all do well in the theatres.

...I just want to politely point out...that the lack of representation on the screen was NO WHERE NEAR the lack of any kind of representations behind the scenes of this movie....and that is where the REAL problem lies...sure they want us to believe that this is a progressive movie that celebrates diversity based on the way they are promoting Lin and John Chu...but that's where it all ends. If you think the cast was white washed...I would challenge folks to look at ALL of the creative department heads of this movie. Not. One. Of. Them. Was Dominican. What's up with that...

JasonC3 said: "If you had the chance to create your ideal behind the scenes staffing for this movie,

What are your selection criteria?
What is the representation mix?"

It's not a criteria its common sense if you say you want to be a progressive film that represents diversity. There's no "representation mix" formula..it's what August Wilson said about black people that applies to this too; "let (our) people tell (our) story."

As a person of color myself who is both African American and Afro Latino I was annoyed by the representation on the screen but then very hurt by the lack of representation behind the scenes. I would have started with director of Latino descent even pushed for a Dominican. Jon Chu is talented no doubt...but Warner Brothers gave him a shot to tell an adapted story about his people and culture with Crazy Rich Asians which is great...I wish Warner Brothers would have given that same opportunity to a Latino director to tell their story about their people on the screen. But fine...if they felt Jon was the director to go with, it is what it is...But then I would have least tried to put SOMEONE of Dominican descent on the creative team with Jon. This movie about a Latin neighborhood...Cinematographer white, choreographer white, production designer, costume designers, casting directors etc, were all white white white. Hell, even the Key Grip and Gaffer were white men. So sure it's cool that Lin, Jon and Quiara are getting their shine...but when the rest of the producers(the one's making all the real decisions) and the creative department head/crew members are deliberately and intentionally white...then to me this has been a failure.

ctorres23 said: "Nocredits said: "As a person of color myself who is both African American and Afro Latino I was annoyed by the representation on the screen but then very hurt by the lack of representation behind the scenes."

Well, I have great news for you. No studio executive is going to touch a big-budget Latino-centric story with a 10-foot-pole for years and years after this colossal failure. So as long as you can make it through this difficult period of annoyance, you should be safe for a while.

Not true at all. A " big budget latino centric story" could come out of left field at any time in the next few years and be a hit. Prognosticating as you are based on the failure of ITH is silly.

You have to wonder why this didn’t generate a lot of interest. You have a world-famous creator, a director of a movie that was a worldwide success, colorful and energetic ads… colorism and representation aside, how did this not excite people? (Besides one obvious answer, but is that the answer?)

ctorres23 said: "KFC1991 said: "Not true at all. A " big budget latino centric story" could come out of left field at any time in the next few years and be a hit. Prognosticating as you are based on the failure of ITH is silly."

Come out of left-field? If it has a big budget, it would need to be greenlit by a studio. After this disaster, what studio exec would stick their neck out for a genre that, last time out, made no money and also became a lightning rod for controversy? That would be an idiotic risk to take.

I'm not saying some indie, small-budget Latino film couldn't somehow catch fire, but you're not going to see a summer tentpole anytime soon."

This is wild what you are saying a very small minded of you which is the real problem in this industry. ONE movie does bad and it's the end of the world. Blaming a movie's failure based on the race of a cast and whom it's about is ridiculous. I can name countless movies that bombed at the box office staring white people about white people...hasn't stopped Hollywood from making big movies with white people about white people. Also this weekend coming up alone will have a move with one of the most diverse cast in history make a crap ton of money. So lets not play the game that movies that stars latinos don't make money because they are about latinos.



Your other points about the negative press around it is fair.

Nocredits said: "So lets not play the game that movies that stars latinos don't make money because they are about latinos."

To be clear, I didn't say movies that star Latinos won't make money. I said Hollywood will think twice before making big-budget Latino-centric movies, by which I mean movies that center around the Latino experience.

I'm sure Hollywood will be more than happy to make generic movies with generic characters where they can slot in actors of any ethnicity, Latino included, but In the Heights was reasonably unique in that the story itself was focused on non-white culture, not just that the actors were diverse.

Nocredits said: "Also this weekend coming up alone will have a move with one of the most diverse cast in history make a crap ton of money."

It might be diverse, but does it have Afro-Latinos?

Updated On: 6/20/21 at 01:55 PM

Nocredits said: "...I just want to politely point out...that the lack of representation on the screen was NO WHERE NEAR the lack of any kind of representations behind the scenes of this movie....and that is where the REAL problem lies...sure they want us to believe that this is a progressive movie that celebrates diversitybased onthe way they are promoting Lin and John Chu...but that's where it all ends. If you think the cast was white washed...I would challenge folks to look at ALL of the creative department heads of this movie. Not. One. Of. Them. Was Dominican. What's up with that..."

If you dig a bit deeper you’d find that yes, the lead choreographer Christopher Scott is white and a hip hop dancer. He’s choreographed for Chu before (“The LXD: The Legion of Extraordinary Dancers,” and the some of the STEP UP films).

BUT he hired associate choreographers who are a mix of ethnicities. Co-choreographer Eddie Torres, Jr. was responsible for the Latin dances, with his assistant Princess Serrano. Ebony Williams did the Afro, Contemporary, and ballet sequences. Then there’s Puerto Rican popper Emilio Dosal who brought additional hip hop elements to the film. Lastly, to work with the principal cast on their movement was Dana Wilson.

It took this gifted, diverse team of dance-makers to give this musical film its dance pulse. I applaud them for the massive task of flawlessly interweaving all of their distinct styles and giving the movement such an organic feel. For me, their unique contributions resulted in a thrilling and celebratory film.

With the Republican Party resolved to end democracy- the unrelenting attacks on this movie seem tiresome and nit-picky.

Updated On: 6/20/21 at 07:42 PM