Alex Cross

[Lencho01]

How about Michael Peña?

 

[Pink Ranger]

Sometimes it's not about whether the man of colour is the lead role, or how famous the actor is, it's just a matter of whether he is portrayed as being a worthy peer of the a white male character, i.e. whether he is capable of the same level of moral depth and judgment, whether he has a comparable personal life, whether he is as socially developed, etc.

 

[Dr. Evil]

There are a lot more Black actors on TV than there are in movies due to TV being a bit more stable.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

How about Michael Peña?

Peña is no rising star. He's one of best Latino actors today. Michael has been in Crash, Million Dollar Baby, Babel, Shooter, The Lincoln Lawyer, Gangster Squad (2013), and End of Watch. He's also been all over TV (7th Heaven, Roswell, Felicity, ER, NYPD Blue, The Shield, etc). While his name isn't star-studded, his face is quite recognizable.

 

[Lencho01]

I was just naming him as a recognizable non-White or Black actor. Can't really think of anyone else who's been around for years.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

In recent times, me neither. There hasn't been many Latino actors who are what Pena is, and what Garcia and Ramirez are becoming.

It's worse for Asians though. They get our scraps, and we don't even get leading roles.

 

[PWN3R]

Peña is no rising star. He's one of best Latino actors today. Michael has been in Crash, Million Dollar Baby, Babel, Shooter, The Lincoln Lawyer, Gangster Squad (2013), and End of Watch. He's also been all over TV (7th Heaven, Roswell, Felicity, ER, NYPD Blue, The Shield, etc). While his name isn't star-studded, his face is quite recognizable.

How are you going to drop the man's credits like that and not include his greatest work to date: Observe and Report. "I'm a mother ****ing outlaw."

 

[Pink Ranger]

It's worse for Asians though. They get our scraps, and we don't even get leading roles.

To be honest, I used to feel that way (Asian male myself), but within the past few years it's gotten exponentially better for Asian men, particularly on American TV, to the point where there are probably more strong Asian-American male characters on TV than there are Asian-American women.

Once you concede the ground that there won't be an Asian male lead in anything, ever, produced for American audiences, what is left is encouraging. Supporting characters like Cho on The Mentalist, Glen on the Walking Dead and Mike on Glee are not the stars of the show, but are shown to be socially normal and otherwise on par with their white male leads, which is a huge step from where we were even 5 years ago.

 

[Octoberist]

As an Asian American it has gotten better though but fr Asians, it kinda lagged way way behind the Latins/Hispanic and Blacks. I think it's the fact that two ethnic groups are very passionate and vocal when it comes roles and stereotypes in Hollywood forcing the studio's hand...and Asians tend to be a little passive.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

How are you going to drop the man's credits like that and not include his greatest work to date: Observe and Report. "I'm a mother ****ing outlaw."

My bad, my blunder.

That man deserved an oscar.

 

[Pink Ranger]

As an Asian American it has gotten better though but fr Asians, it kinda lagged way way behind the Latins/Hispanic and Blacks. I think it's the fact that two ethnic groups are very passionate and vocal when it comes roles and stereotypes in Hollywood forcing the studio's hand...and Asians tend to be a little passive.

There is some sense to what you're saying, but the flip side is that we come from a community that emphasizes personal and professional achievement, and we've managed to become quite successful in the United States without having to become amusements for white people to get there.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

To be honest, I used to feel that way (Asian male myself), but within the past few years it's gotten exponentially better for Asian men, particularly on American TV, to the point where there are probably more strong Asian-American male characters on TV than there are Asian-American women.

Once you concede the ground that there won't be an Asian male lead in anything, ever, produced for American audiences, what is left is encouraging. Supporting characters like Cho on The Mentalist, Glen on the Walking Dead and Mike on Glee are not the stars of the show, but are shown to be socially normal and otherwise on par with their white male leads, which is a huge step from where we were even 5 years ago.

Oh absolutely. Asians in Hollywood today have it substantially better than Asian actors a decade ago. I wont dispute that but I believe the situation can improve much more for Asian actors. Think about it, for me, it's arduous to try to think of 10 Asian actors and actresses under the age of 30 who have the potential to be long-term stars, and I dislike that immensely.

 

[Pink Ranger]

Oh absolutely. Asians in Hollywood today have it substantially better than Asian actors a decade ago. I wont dispute that but I believe the situation can improve much more for Asian actors. Think about it, for me, it's arduous to try to think of 10 Asian actors and actresses under the age of 30 who have the potential to be long-term stars, and I dislike that immensely.

Yeah, but I'd easily trade 10 actors and actresses for 1 business leader.

 

[terry78]

Back in the 70's there was the whole Bruce Lee craze where no one dared question how manly he was but on the flip side the typecasting started from that to boot.

 

[I SEE SPIDEY]

As a person of color I'd love to see more actors of color get a shot but Perry ain't it. I've seen his dramatic acting and he just doesn't have it, he is blandie mc blanderstan. He even looks bland in the T.V spots. Maybe the cheap looking film will make some cash this weekend but I don't see it changing the perception of him as a clown in a dress who makes bad movies.

I'll give Perry this though, he is one of the few giving black actors steady work and I like that eventhough I think that his movies are crap and insulting to black people.

P.S.

I'd like to see "Chronicle's" Michael B. Jordan get some more love, he is hot and has a good screen presence. Why can't studio waste two 200mil blockbusters pimping him like they did the bland ass Taylor K.? Give the man some more work hollywood!!

 

[DoomsdayApex]

Yeah, but I'd easily trade 10 actors and actresses for 1 business leader.

I'm sure they're out there. Minorities in fields like medicine, science, business, and journalism are starting to overtake the majority.

 

[terry78]

Nobody wants to be the black dude, no matter how "cool" we are.

 

[DoomsdayApex]

You know who should have been Alex Cross? Neil deGrasse Tyson.

That guy would kill you and enlighten you at the same time.

 

[Pink Ranger]

I'm sure they're out there. Minorities in fields like medicine, science, business, and journalism are starting to overtake the majority.

No doubt that's the case. In the United States, the top earning ethnic group is Indian-Americans, then Chinese-Americans, THEN white people. There's something profound about that.

I think it's a strength in our community that the entertainment sector isn't seen as the most viable ticket to success.

 

[Octoberist]

Nobody wants to be the black dude, no matter how "cool" we are.

Things will change.

It depends on the film really. I think studios need to make the smart and organic decisions on some casting. I can spot the token (ethnic person) a mile away. No need to pander in this day and age because we're too conscious of it.

It's funny how liberal Hollywood is..expect when it comes to race. It's been a long winding road with that one. I know they can throw data at me, on how middle America or whatever, may not like it but it's a changing world.

 

[Octoberist]

You know who should have been Alex Cross? Neil deGrasse Tyson.

That guy would kill you and enlighten you at the same time.

That guy is awesome.

 

[Octoberist]

No doubt that's the case. In the United States, the top earning ethnic group is Indian-Americans, then Chinese-Americans, THEN white people. There's something profound about that.

I think it's a strength in our community that the entertainment sector isn't seen as the most viable ticket to success.

It's because entertainment and the arts is taboo to Asians. Most Asian parents want their first generation kids to get into something solid like business, law, or medicine. Where the $$$ is at, not the starving actor or artist route.

That's just how it is generally speaking. I know first hand.

 

[terry78]

It's because entertainment and the arts is taboo to Asians. Most Asian parents want their first generation kids to get into something solid like business, law, or medicine. Where the $$$ is at, not the starving actor or artist route.

That's just how it is generally speaking. I know first hand.

Won't be no drawing in this house until you get that doctorate, huh?

 

[Pink Ranger]

It's because entertainment and the arts is taboo to Asians. Most Asian parents want their first generation kids to get into something solid like business, law, or medicine. Where the $$$ is at, not the starving actor or artist route.

That's just how it is generally speaking. I know first hand.

Maybe I'm getting old, but I don't see a ton of wrong with that. How many people want to go into acting or music and end up waiting tables and "workshopping" for the rest of their lives?

When you're Asian, especially if you're male, all you've got is your sweat and brains. Nobody, and I mean nobody, is going to cut you a break. Not conservatives, and especially not liberals.

Won't be no drawing in this house until you get that doctorate, huh?

Lol, good thing Jim Lee never listened to his parents.

But seriously though, drawing is actually one of the few fine arts that will get you some slack from Asian parents. Maybe its partly because it's a traditional part of many Asian cultures, and that there are many jobs that can arise from that. There's certainly no shortage of Asian architects, graphic artists, web designers, comic book artists, animators and art directors out there.

 

[Lencho01]

Had a review for an exam a two weeks ago and one the people running it is Asian. I assumed he was the one to put this at the end of the practice exam...