This time, with a cisgender woman actress playing the part of the trans boy. At least they got the pronouns right in the article..

Weinstein Co. buys trans film starring Naomi Watts and Susan Sarandon

From: http://gaynewsnetwork.com.au/pony/weinstein-co-buys-trans-film-starring-naomi-watts-and-susan-sarandon-17694.html

Gay News Network/LAST UPDATED // Wednesday, 20 May 2015 11:06Written by // Sabine Brix

Quote

The transgender drama Three Generations starring Naomi Watts, Susan Sarandon and Elle Fanning has found a buyer with The Weinstein Co. bidding for the film at Cannes.

Three Generations focuses on New York teenager Ray (played by Fanning) and the impact his decision to transition from female to male has on his mother Maggie (Watts) who struggles to comprehend raising a son instead of a daughter. Sarandon plays Ray's grandmother Dolly, a partnered lesbian who works as a music manager and also grapples with her grandson's transition.

The Weinstein Co. bid on the film for a reported $6 million after the buyers were shown a promo reel of the project.

Is this not that About Ray movie? A sequel? idk

Well, it is acting.  What difference does it make who the actor is as long as they play the part well?


Sapere Aude

Quote from: Deborah on February 01, 2016, 08:48:07 AM
Well, it is acting.  What difference does it make who the actor is as long as they play the part well?


Sapere Aude

My thoughts exactly on this.

The problem with About Ray was that they didn't even consider trans actors, and the language the director used suggested it was a female story, not a trans one, even always calling the character she. They aren't interested in telling our stories, but using them. That's the thing about trans actors and directors for trans stories. It's not about equality alone, it's about giving us the agency to tell our own stories, and to own our own stories, and not to be a novelty explored by cis voices.

Quote from: Deborah on February 01, 2016, 08:48:07 AM
Well, it is acting.  What difference does it make who the actor is as long as they play the part well?


Sapere Aude

Yup! To me, this constant whining about cis actors playing trans parts is stupid. Nobody worries about straight actors playing gay parts (or vice versa), but somehow this is discrimination worthy of an article.

This seems like the worries of trans people who have no real problems to tackle. 2015 was a horrible year for murders of trans people (and 2016 is starting off bad as well), trans kids are disproportionately homeless, trans people are disproportionally unemployed/underemployed, we deal with suicide at a higher rate than the general population, and discrimination against trans folks is often celebrated as some sort of religious value instead of a denial of basic civil rights.

And amid all of this someone's worried about a cis actor playing a trans part? Really?

Quote from: Michelle-G on February 03, 2016, 07:29:17 AM
Yup! To me, this constant whining about cis actors playing trans parts is stupid. Nobody worries about straight actors playing gay parts (or vice versa), but somehow this is discrimination worthy of an article.

Yeah they do? Look what happened to Stonewall - one of the reasons that bombed was that they had a straight actor playing a gay "straight-acting" (i.e. not sterotypically effeminate gay) role. And people also worry about gay actors ONLY getting to play gay roles once they're out, when straight actors are allowed to play either. Matt Damon said that gay actors shouldn't come out because otherwise they'll always be seen as gay and will never be believable as straight. Despite being, y'know, actors. Also look up what Ian Mackellan said about straight actors getting Oscars for just for the challenge of playing gay roles vs how many gay actors get Oscars for playing straight. It's a more complicated issue that just simple black and white equality. I don't know how anyone could miss that Hollywood discriminates against gays too.

Straight or cis roles don't need to be protected for straight or cis actors because they already have an advantage. This is the same as why reverse racism doesn't exist. The thing about gay for gay roles or w/e is not about equality in terms of numbers or maintaining a balance, it's about re-balancing an already tipped scale, and about giving the control back to the people whose stories these are.  So maybe we should be trying harder to campaign for LGBTQAI writers and directors instead, but as the actors are the most visible part of most movies, that's why people always focus on them.

However, I do agree that there are worse things happening to trans people than the Danish Girl. lol

As a person who works in theatre, I have to agree with the "It is acting" comment. If trans actors are not being considered, there might be a problem.

However, in the world I am a part of, it is typically one of several things:

-they wanted a known name/star to attract more of an audience
-the director had an actor or image in mind
-the actor's managers did not push their client enough
-the casting director did not open his/her net wide enough

I can certainly understand the concern if people are not cast because they are not mainstream. However, personally, I want who can portray the role best. Of course theatre is a little different from film but not so much.

I also believe news that puts awareness forward is usually a good thing.

Joanna

Quote from: Joanna50 on February 03, 2016, 02:46:44 PM
As a person who works in theatre, I have to agree with the "It is acting" comment. If trans actors are not being considered, there might be a problem.

However, in the world I am a part of, it is typically one of several things:

-they wanted a known name/star to attract more of an audience
-the director had an actor or image in mind
-the actor's managers did not push their client enough
-the casting director did not open his/her net wide enough

I can certainly understand the concern if people are not cast because they are not mainstream. However, personally, I want who can portray the role best. Of course theatre is a little different from film but not so much.

I also believe news that puts awareness forward is usually a good thing.

Joanna

the thing about the statement they wanted a know quantity is an argument used a lot , but how many great movies throughout history or great plays have been made and been horrifically successful with unknown talent or new comers . I'm not a history buff , but I guarantee there has been a heck of a lot of great movies with unknown actors. As a minimal example ET. The kid that stared in that movie I'm guessing had a list of accomplishments you could write on one  of his fingers and still have room and the movie is a classic and made enough money to make Steven happy.

Quote from: stephaniec on February 03, 2016, 03:00:57 PM
the thing about the statement they wanted a know quantity is an argument used a lot , but how many great movies throughout history or great plays have been made and been horrifically successful with unknown talent or new comers . I'm not a history buff , but I guarantee there has been a heck of a lot of great movies with unknown actors. As a minimal example ET. The kid that stared in that movie I'm guessing had a list of accomplishments you could write on one  of his fingers and still have room and the movie is a classic and made enough money to make Steven happy.

Stephaniec,

You are right. I am not making a value judgement based on those justifications. Some seem more valid to me than others. However, directors often have a very narrow vision once in their head. Put another way. I am not saying this is or isn't what isn't what happens. Just the reasons I see. 

However, I am a firm believer in the right person for the role.

Years ago, when working on a production of "Damn Yankees", a person asked me what I thought. I said I would have liked it more if the performers(Yankees team) did not come across as gay. This person went to town on me for being homophobic, and closed minded... I stopped her and asked if the role of a homosexual were portrayed by a straight actor in such a way we could tell they were straight, would that be a good thing for the production? She agreed it would not. I followed up by saying these are great singing, dancing performers but I can tell they are gay. Maybe there were some gay Yankees at that time but they would not behave in a way that spectators knew it. Not the best, right, performers for the roles.

I would love to see more trans roles played by trans actors. However, if the best performer for the role is not, it does not bother me.

Joanna

The best person for the job should get it. 

Why do they always have to make up such a strange scripts about T women. Always trouble or prisons, etc.... Why not a nice movie about a nice person finally becomming a complete physical woman, marrying & adopting children & enjoying a good life, helping out other ppl in the world.........

Trans-actors are not alone in Hollywood.  Hollywood has a long history of discrimination.  Look at the way Native Americans have been portrayed.  The recent Adam Sandler Netflix production is just the latest example.

Also if any actor can play any part is it time to bring back the Black Face actors?   

I tend to agree with trans-actors playing trans characters.  If transgender people were equal members of society or the acting community, it would be different but trans people are one of the most discriminated groups in society.  A little more care is called for.

Take care,
Paige

Jonny Depp as Tonto

I am not trying to be argumentative. However, I will continue to make a few points:

Why do they always have to make up such a strange scripts about T women. Always trouble or prisons, etc.... Why not a nice movie about a nice person finally becomming a complete physical woman, marrying & adopting children & enjoying a good life, helping out other ppl in the world.........

FrancisAnn
You are right about the bizzare situations they put T women in. Your suggestion could be a great film, perhaps a really good documentary. However, the end might be considered lacking in dramatic tension. Theatre and most movies when boiled down, are about conflict.




Paige, I agree with much of what you are saying. Hollywood is not alone in discrimination but has lead the way in the past. I am not saying it is a bastion of moral or political correctness. The original "Birth of a Nation" kind of speaks to that.

The black face comment is funny but a little extreme. The productions we are talking about are more serious and grounded to our community than black face

Yes, trans people are highly discriminated against. We are working our way toward more equal rights. More care is called for. I would suggest that so many of us are in hiding and stealth that it is hard to be aware of who all is available. I would suggest managers and casting agents(directors) are the ones to help with the desired change.  They need to look for a specific demographic and create a pool of talented performers.

I heard a report on NPR and interview late last summer speaking to a casting agent. After the needs shown by "Transparent", "Sense8", "Orange is the New Black", "the Danish Girl" , they realized they were behind the ball. They were putting out large calls to transgender actors to create that pool of actors. Maybe I am being Pollyanna about it, but I think we will start to see more and more talented, appropriately cast roles.

In the mean time. The abilities of Jeffery Tambor and Eddie Redmayne are pretty great. There may be some within our community that equal them. However, with known names, they are bringing a normalcy to our existence that is reaching the common people around the world. Because of that, I am grateful for them being cast in such publicized productions.

With warmth and respect,

Joanna