Zoe Saldana to star in Nina Simone Biopic

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by bootsy

Wow no. That's not even close man. Get a clue.

Dude, how not? Seriously.

A white person changing their race = blackface.
A white person tanning = darkening their complexion.

This is a black actress, portraying a black character. The only difference is, the character she's playing has a darker complexion. How is it any different? There should be no controversy around this at all.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by Hellraiserfan

Nina is being a stupid b***, as well as other people crapping on Zoe Saldana. If anyone is to blame it's the director and or producers for making the decision to darken her skin. I don't Saldana should be given s*** for wanting to take this role.

Well I'm sorry to inform you that Nina Simone is dead.

Reading through comments, it doesn't look like Zoe is being seen as the cause. The directors and producers are for sure to blame, as well as her co starts, for not saying anything (that we know of). Given the complete scarcity of black roles, I don't really blame Zoe for taking it, I am just disappointed in the way it was portrayed. Unfortunately, I'm sure the writer/director and supporting cast will come out of this just fine, but it wont be as easy for Zoe.

Originally Posted by jacobsever

But that's just the thing. This isn't preventing any black actors from getting work. Zoe Saldana IS black!

She is light skinned enough to be cast, but not black enough to play Nina apparently. See colorism:

http://www.nytimes.com/2012/09/13/mo...y-no.html?_r=5

[dallywhitty]

Whinge Whinge Whinge: The New Album by Blu-ray.com.

[Snicket]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

Dude, how not? Seriously.

A white person changing their race = blackface.
A white person tanning = darkening their complexion.

This is a black actress, portraying a black character. The only difference is, the character she's playing has a darker complexion. How is it any different? There should be no controversy around this at all.

Being black, and how black Simone was, was a really important part of her story and who she was. It was integral to her role as a social symbol during the civil rights movement. Casting a lighter skinned actress to portray her, was not in keeping with honoring who she was and what she accomplished. Adding darkening makeup, is doing her story even less of a disservice.

Looking at two black people with the attitude of "They are both black, good enough" is dismissive.

Having said that, it was bad enough that Zoe was cast in the first place (I don't blame her though) but adding the makeup and prosthetic is adding insult to injury.

[CZAR]

Originally Posted by jacobsever

But that's just the thing. This isn't preventing any black actors from getting work. Zoe Saldana IS black!

Dude I used that example because you brought it up about how it used to be which was a good point. Im just saying white girls tanning for fun on their own watch and money is nuthin compared to this man. Got Em!!

Originally Posted by Snicket

Well I'm sorry to inform you that Nina Simone is dead.

I didnt bother to even tell him because I felt sorry for the dude for calling a dead woman a ***** for sumthin she couldnt have done. Just a shame. Got Em!!

[Hellraiserfan]

Originally Posted by Snicket

Well I'm sorry to inform you that Nina Simone is dead.

My mistake. I saw her name and didn't realize it was her "estate" making the comment.

[KOQ24]

Bad casting.
Saldana has never proven she could be a leading actress.
Letting a light-skinned Black woman play a dark-skinned black woman (in Black face) is the cherry on top.

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by Hellraiserfan

My mistake. I saw her name and didn't realize it was her "estate" making the comment.

It's complicated for those unaware by the fact that Simone's daughter, Lisa Celeste Stroud, goes by "Simone" as a stage name.

I think the controversy surrounding the casting is completely legit, but also that some are being unnecessarily vicious toward Saldana.

[Chedwiggen]

So does it upset you all when they have white actors wear make-up to lighten their skin when they play an Albino character?

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by Chedwiggen

So does it upset you all when they have white actors wear make-up to lighten their skin when they play an Albino character?

"Albino" isn't a race, so...

[stvn1974]

Colorism. Sweet jeebus I have heard it all now. Are we going to have to go to Home Depot to get paint swabs to see whether an actor is dark or light skinned enough to play roles now?

[Chedwiggen]

Originally Posted by Thomas Guycott

"Albino" isn't a race, so...

So what? It's an actor changing the color of their skin to look more accurate to the character they're portraying. Those roles could have went to real Albinos but didn't, have you been upset by it?

[jacobsever]

Originally Posted by KOQ24

Saldana has never proven she could be a leading actress.

Wrong. Re:

[Thomas Guycott]

Originally Posted by Chedwiggen

So what? It's an actor changing the color of their skin to look more accurate to the character they're portraying. Those roles could have went to real Albinos but didn't, have you been upset by it?

Because there's no comparable cultural issues surrounding degrees of "whiteness" like there is with "blackness." To pretend otherwise is ignorance or idiocy.

[MifuneFan]

I have a dream that one day Zoe Saldana's portrayal will not be judged by the color of her skin, but by content of her character.

[FilmKoala]

This thread makes me feel like certain people don't realize what "blackface" really was. I'm also really confused that certain people can get angry at a black woman being cast to portray a darker black woman. Are we really being that petty?

[Jonno2009]

people get their panties in a bunch over pretty much ANYTHING nowadays.

Maybe they should of used a time machine and cast a young Bruce Willis in Looper instead of using prosthetics on Joseph Gordon Levitt...

[Pounder]

Originally Posted by FilmKoala

This thread makes me feel like certain people don't realize what "blackface" really was. I'm also really confused that certain people can get angry at a black woman being cast to portray a darker black woman. Are we really being that petty?

I think the issue was/is that Zoe identifies herself as Hispanic and not black from what I've been reading. Some people don't like that she identifies as black only when its beneficial to her.

[FilmKoala]

Originally Posted by Pounder

I think the issue was/is that Zoe identifies herself as Hispanic and not black from what I've been reading. Some people don't like that she identifies as black only when its beneficial to her.

Well then, that makes some more sense. I can slightly understand that, but even then I find it silly.

[SillySauce]

Originally Posted by thomas guycott

because there's no comparable cultural issues surrounding degrees of "whiteness" like there is with "blackness." to pretend otherwise is ignorance or idiocy.

^^^^ sjw