A thread for discussing representation and diversity in all kinds of media. This covers creators and casting decisions as well as characters and in-universe discussions.
Historical works and decisions are in-scope as well, not just recent news.
Please put any spoilers behind tags and clearly state which work(s) they apply to.
This week, producer Ross Putnam started a Twitter account called "femscriptintros
", where he puts up examples of how women are introduced in the screenplays he's read. And nearly all of sound like terrible porn or are too concerned with emphasizing said lady is beautiful despite whatever traits she may have. Here's a Take Two podcast made today where he talks about it.
(Edited April 19 2024 to add mod pinned post)
Edited by Mrph1 on Apr 19th 2024 at 11:45:51 AM
That's why I feel kind of bad about the fact that I'm likely going to see the upcoming film adaptation of Murder on the Orient Express in which Depp appears. Although granted, in that movie, his character is brutally murdered, presumably very early on.
And on the topic of Depp, his personal issues turn me off from further Fantastic Beasts movies, as does the inexplicable way in which he's playing his character (well, it's a very typically Deppish presentation but a really WTF characterization choice)..
I thought Depp had hope when I saw Black Mass which is a welcome change for him, but when the abuse allegations came out, he fell permanently.
"All you Fascists bound to lose."
I mean, Depp's defenders will usually trot out the fact that apparently Heard was not a very good spouse to him and was plenty abusive in her own right, to which my response is, "...And?"
Even if true (and and for all I know she may very well have, I've already heard beforehand that it was a mutually destructive relationship) that doesn't mean it's ever OK to abuse someone back in return. It's not an eye-for-an-eye situation. Things don't work that way. All they're doing is providing a Freudian Excuse, but as the trope itself points out such things explain but are not valid justifications for shitty behavior.
To be honest I never really understood fandom's fascination with Depp, as Jack Sparrow is the only role I ever felt he was genuinely good in. And that's less because of him being a talented actor and more the character being written well and in a way that played to his strengths. Most of the time he just coasts on with being eccentric whether it fit the character or not, and usually it doesn't. Depp's descent into mediocrity has been slow but assured, and definitely not helped by his personal issues with self-control. The man is a prima donna well past his prime.
edited 21st May '17 5:59:18 PM by AlleyOop
Eh he's had roles like Donnie Brasco, What's Eating Gilbert Grape, etc that show that he can be a compelling dramatic actor. He's just gotten himself stuck in a rut of playing too many "weirdos in make-up."
Also I don't want to judge his performance in that other movie because, well he was only onscreen for like 30 seconds and said two lines (neither of which were badly delivered imo). Not exactly much of a sample size.
But yeah, that reasoning for the Pirates thing is ridiculous. No one remembers Dark Shadows anyway and most who do would probably say that Eva Green (who incidentally would make a great villain for a Pirates movie imo) was one of the most entertaining parts of said film (as she usually is).
it's a living
Not to go full hipster or anything, but Johnny Depp was better before he sold out, man. Seriously, as an actor and apparently as a human, he needs someone to pull him back and talk him down.
edited 22nd May '17 12:18:56 AM by Unsung
I really liked Pirates of the Carribean, but I soon got sick of Depp playing the same character over and over. Then the abuse allegations came along. I try to keep my distance nowadays.
I liked it better when Questionable Casting was called WTH Casting Agency
Paul Mc Cartney's in the next Pirates movie? Okay, that's on my "never watch at all list", along with Titanic and both Avatar movies.
I have no idea what you are all talking about. There is only one Pot C movie. And I'll stick to that story.
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
![[up]](https://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/smiles/arrow_up.png "[up]"){kind=icon}
What's wrong with Paul Mc Cartney? He wasn't a fucking abusive anti-Semite like John Lennon.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
He's a Provie sympathizing bastard. Sang "Give Ireland Back to the Irish" at a time when his pals were blowing apart kids who came from streets, towns and villages near me during the Troubles, who were spending their time and blood trying to stop them and their equally odious opposition blowing each other to bits in Ulster. Or blowing up pubs and nightclubs on the British mainland full of innocent people who had nothing at all to do with any of it . And he knew exactly what he was doing and on whose behalf.
John Lennon was just as bad as him but he's no longer a factor.
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
So something from a long time ago that has little to no bearing on today's society and I'm free to disregard, alright. At least Paul didn't hit his wife and abuse his son. Or hit his gay, Jewish manager while shouting homophobic and anti-Semitic insults.
Either way, this is getting off-topic. Best to change course.
edited 22nd May '17 9:41:09 AM by AdricDePsycho
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Long time ago? Debatable. No effect on today's society? Also debatable.
And you were the one who brought up why I won't go to see the film because Mc Cartney's tainting it with his presence. If you don't like the answer, don't ask the question.
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
Tainting? Really, tainting? If it were Woody Allen or Roman Polanksi or even Mel Gibson you'd have a point, but Paul Mc Cartney, really?
Ugh, why am I even bothering, this is already derailing the topic some. I'm not gonna press any further.
edited 22nd May '17 10:05:48 AM by AdricDePsycho
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?Wait, hold the phone, isn't "provie" a pretty offensive slur against Catholics in Northern Ireland? And wasn't the song entirely done in protest for the events of Bloody Sunday (in which 13 peaceful protesters were shot and murdered)? I don't see where's the malice at work here.
Like yeah this is off-topic but the casual use of "provie" threw me off-guard here.
edited 22nd May '17 10:08:54 AM by Gaon
"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
If it is a slur than this entire thread just got really disturbing. You're correct about why the song was written, however.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
No, Provie (or indeed Provo) is slang for Provisional Irish Republican Army or their sympathizers. Not Catholic. Since I are one, Catholic that is, I should know. Even more since I'm Scottish-Irish.
The More You Know, and all that. But yeah, off-topic.
edited 22nd May '17 10:14:38 AM by TamH70
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
Okay, so moving to something that's on topic, has there been any news about that whitewashed movie about the Niihau incident?
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
Nvm.
edited 22nd May '17 10:17:21 AM by AlleyOop
Nothing newer than 10th May on that one according to a cursory web search I just did.
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
Why do I get the feeling it's gonna wind up being made despite all of these protests...
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?Ah. Some corners of the Internet seem to use it in a different manner. The More You Know indeed.
"All you Fascists bound to lose."
Well, they're still trying to go ahead with the Hollywood white-washed remake of "Akira" even though even less people like THAT idea, so...
edited 22nd May '17 10:29:01 AM by TamH70
Rock on, Gold Dust Woman
The Akira remake has been tossed around for years and at this point I doubt it'll ever be made. The Niihau movie at least looks like it's on the track to being made.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?
It's for similar reasons that I'm skeptical of the Saint Seiya movie getting off the ground.
Most of these anime film or TV adaptations don't ever see the light of the day. A few years ago it was announced that Del Toro was attached to a TV series based on Monster, which everyone at the time was super pumped for but there's been no word of it since the initial announcement.
Them too, but the point is that Depp has pretty much ruined himself in my eyes after his descent into shitty typecast roles and being a physically abusive twat to his ex-wife.
Have you any dreams you'd like to sell?