Ideas for fight scenes
I have been looking at potential ideas for how i can construct the fight scenes and have come acroos a few videos on youtube that have given me some ideas.
I looked at some of the previous james bond fight scenes such as in the latest film Quantam of solace
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4ZgXiHPXMs
The video clip also gave me the idea for how could my james bond character opening the door and entering the room from a few interesting angles.
I have also looked at some of the bourne identity fight scenes, to see how they construct the fight scenes.
Monday, 14 March 2011
Thursday, 10 March 2011
Problems occured
Whilst commencing filming, and taking action, I have encountered problems already, even before actually filming.
- I have had to recast my actors numerous times, as the actors have backed out at the last minute.
- I have also had to substitute the car, as i was unable to get the Aston Martin that i had been awaiting, from a friend.
- I have also had to look at the props needed, as some of them where not easy to find.
- Along with a filming light, as i will be filming during the night.
- I have had to recast my actors numerous times, as the actors have backed out at the last minute.
- I have also had to substitute the car, as i was unable to get the Aston Martin that i had been awaiting, from a friend.
- I have also had to look at the props needed, as some of them where not easy to find.
- Along with a filming light, as i will be filming during the night.
What i need
I will require 2 characters, one to play the character of 007, and the other to play the character of the unknown enemy.
I will also require an aston martin, for 007 to appear in.
I will also require a suit for 007 to wear.
Along with a watch that i will use as a gadget watch.
I will also require a vacant house, on a fairly quiet road to film on
I will need to film during the night time. as the steak out will be during the night
I might need some black gloves, along with some potential tools as weapons.
I will need another car which the enemy would drive into his house
I might need a female extra character as a diversion, for the fight scene, to play a slient role.
I will also require an aston martin, for 007 to appear in.
I will also require a suit for 007 to wear.
Along with a watch that i will use as a gadget watch.
I will also require a vacant house, on a fairly quiet road to film on
I will need to film during the night time. as the steak out will be during the night
I might need some black gloves, along with some potential tools as weapons.
I will need another car which the enemy would drive into his house
I might need a female extra character as a diversion, for the fight scene, to play a slient role.
Idea for plot for my production
After doing some research I have decided that i will look intro creating the opening sequence to the next 007 Bond film. I have looked at the most recent bond films, such as Casino Royale and Quantam of Solace.
I have looked at the codes and conventions for those films, and other films in the bond franchise, and have picked up ideas for what i will need to use.
I have picked up the idea of constructing a 'steak out' scene which i will use 007 as the person who will be steaking out a house, of an unknown character. I will have numerous shots focussing on 007 and his prestige car the aston martin.
I will then show the unknown character arrive and drive into his driveway, which 007 is closely watching from a distance in his car.
once the unknown character enters his house, i will have 007 follow him into his house, and sliently break in to his house, where he will encounter the unknown and a fight scene will commence. which take place around the house.
I have looked at the codes and conventions for those films, and other films in the bond franchise, and have picked up ideas for what i will need to use.
I have picked up the idea of constructing a 'steak out' scene which i will use 007 as the person who will be steaking out a house, of an unknown character. I will have numerous shots focussing on 007 and his prestige car the aston martin.
I will then show the unknown character arrive and drive into his driveway, which 007 is closely watching from a distance in his car.
once the unknown character enters his house, i will have 007 follow him into his house, and sliently break in to his house, where he will encounter the unknown and a fight scene will commence. which take place around the house.
Practical Production Ideas
- I will be reconstructing the opening sequence of a typical Hollywood film, conveying the codes and conventions to portray the sequence correctly.
- I will replace the stereotypical role of the white male with an South Asian male.
- I will look into the action and drama genres for Hollywood films One text i will look at will be the James Bond franchise. As it is a very popular action franchise, which i could look at to immitate.
- the basic conventions of camera paning, and wide variety of shots around the car.
- The use of a car is very typicial and the variety of shots while the car is in motion can be very powerful.
- the opening of the trunk, and the specificity of his dialect which is precise and powerful.
- the accent is also a powerfull element.
- also the use of grey and white to make it seem more classicall than it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNvzNWuzI9Y&feature=related
- Along with the conventions that are displayed in the 1st video, there is the use of mystery created by the annonymous character who is walking into a building at night, wearing black leather gloves and an overcoat. also the camera angles and use of shots to higlight certain objects such as the gun.
The camera angles also are used in relation to the lighting to give it more effect by showing james bond in the shadow at 1st. Looking at other films such as Law abiding citizen, there is violence and drama immiedatly into the film wanted taken
- I will replace the stereotypical role of the white male with an South Asian male.
- I will look into the action and drama genres for Hollywood films One text i will look at will be the James Bond franchise. As it is a very popular action franchise, which i could look at to immitate.
- the basic conventions of camera paning, and wide variety of shots around the car.
- The use of a car is very typicial and the variety of shots while the car is in motion can be very powerful.
- the opening of the trunk, and the specificity of his dialect which is precise and powerful.
- the accent is also a powerfull element.
- also the use of grey and white to make it seem more classicall than it is.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HNvzNWuzI9Y&feature=related
- Along with the conventions that are displayed in the 1st video, there is the use of mystery created by the annonymous character who is walking into a building at night, wearing black leather gloves and an overcoat. also the camera angles and use of shots to higlight certain objects such as the gun.
The camera angles also are used in relation to the lighting to give it more effect by showing james bond in the shadow at 1st. Looking at other films such as Law abiding citizen, there is violence and drama immiedatly into the film wanted taken
Thursday, 17 February 2011
Interim - Self Evaluation
Attainment - B
Effort - 2
Indictive A/B
Homework or Written Communication : Written Communication
- I could improve on my writing skills as my writing style can be slightly jumbled up, i could make more sense with my writing if i proof read what i write and double check to see if it makes sense. Also so it sounds more at an A level standard and makes sense.
Targets
- Improveon my writing skills by proof reading my own work.
- Work on my punctuality to lessons
- My time management, so i complete work on time and have enough time to check it
Effort - 2
Indictive A/B
Homework or Written Communication : Written Communication
- I could improve on my writing skills as my writing style can be slightly jumbled up, i could make more sense with my writing if i proof read what i write and double check to see if it makes sense. Also so it sounds more at an A level standard and makes sense.
Targets
- Improveon my writing skills by proof reading my own work.
- Work on my punctuality to lessons
- My time management, so i complete work on time and have enough time to check it
Thursday, 3 February 2011
Critical investigation 1st draft 1.1
'' The film won eight Oscars out of 10 nominations in every conceivable category," he says. "Every category that is, except for acting ones." Which might have been a much stronger point were he not using Dev Patel and Freida Pinto. ' '
Despite the success of 'Slumdog Millionaire' why is it that there is still a lack of South Asian actors in Hollywood?
Cameos, cab drivers and criticism are what is to be expected of South Asian actors in Hollywood today. As we approach the age of new and advanced digital technology it seems that the stereotypes and representations of South Asians still remain the same, despite director Danny Boyle’s record breaking, global blockbuster 'Slumdog Millionaire’ a story about a boy from the slums who defies all odds to become a millionaire, which was released in 2008 and was said to have changed the cinema landscape for South Asian actors wanting to break into Hollywood. The film was conveyed ‘‘as being a globalised movie...’’ as a result of its ‘‘meshing of western and eastern forms and locations, styles and sounds’’' and was clearly rewarded for its efforts scooping an amazing 10 Academy Awards, 7 BAFTAS and 4 Golden Globes. Although the aftermath of the film seems to have gone silent as despite the movies unique and creative idea of interacting and mixing western and eastern styles, sounds and locations. The film doesn’t appear to have had much of an influence in the Hollywood industry as there have been no films of similar meshing styles or creative uses of south Asians. As the industry is still dominated by and majorly dictated by the American, middle class, white male.
Over the last decade or so there have been some promising changes for South Asians as you could argue that there have been ''Examples of Bollywood slowly entering the western world..’’ such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘‘ new musical Bombay Dreams, Monsoon Wedding was a hit in western cinemas’’' ' which shows a glimmer of hope for South Asians, just like Slumdog Millionaire did when it first appeared in cinemas, giving audiences from ethnic backgrounds optimism of change, something that is yet to occur. Despite the fact that since the films short success, the likes of Anil Kapoor has gone on to cast in American Television show 24, Dev Patel has had a cameo role in The Last Airbender and Freida Pinto has become the face of L’Oreal becoming ‘‘the first Asian spokeswoman for the Lauder brand’’.
Although further developments or changes seem to be a long way coming as yet still ‘‘Ethnic minorities are continually misrepresented by racial (and racist) stereotypes.” As ‘‘Rather than representing them as individuals,’’ the media identifies individuals by their ethnic groups to determined whether or not they are Hollywood material. When looking at recent films that have casted minorities, the industry plays upon moral panics such as the 9/11 incident to construct suitable roles for South Asians, racially profiling and grouping them as terrorists. Including films such as Harold and Kumar; Escape from Guantanamo Bay; which uses the stereotype of South Asians as terrorists in comic spoof, taking the mickey out of the American justice system, and My Name is Khan; which looks at the personal struggles of South Asians in America being negatively portrayed as terrorists and discriminated against. Two films which are different in genre and text, but the deliver the same message in a way. That Asians are not all terrorists, and they shouldn’t be judged as a group but as individuals. Which can also be referred back to the saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’.
Even young South Asian actor Dev Patel ‘‘whose role as a young "chai-wallah" in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire catapulted him into the limelight,’’ has found it hard to break into the industry and has made his feelings clear about the ‘‘stereotypical’’ roles of South Asians such as cab drivers, doctors, nurses, and computer nerds being offered to him. As Asian actors are not being offered roles or sent Hollywood scripts that are of any significance or even remotely challenging. As they are more likely to be ‘‘offered the roles of a terrorist, cab driver and smart geek.’’ All roles that are ‘‘constructed by media representations’’ which are racially discriminating against South Asians, which can be frustrating for actors as they don’t get to show that they have versatility or something different to offer. Which would explain why it’s difficult for south Asians to break into the Hollywood industry as despite having credentials like Dev Patel who has won numerous awards for his role in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ he is yet to land any new role of any significance.
Although you could argue that there have been breakthroughs into American Television which is a start, as the likes of Parminder Nagra, star of British hit comedy Bend it Like Beckham is now a regular on one of Americas longest running weekly shows ER and also Sendhil Ramamurthy, who is from a South Asian background has been a member of the Heroes cast for 4 years and has starred in films like It’s A Wonderful Afterlife. Another South Asian actor who has had their success in both Hollywood and in American TV is Aasif Mandvi, who is a regular on The Daily Show and has had a few cameo roles in films such as The Proposal and Spiderman 2. This could be linked ideologically to things such as ‘’legislation promoting equal opportunity’’ . As American TV producers look to introduce South Asian minorities into small roles to help promote equal opportunities, which is deffintly a positive step forward. Even directors such as the South Asian director Gurrinder Chadha feels it’s ‘‘not easy..’’ for South Asian actors ‘‘to break into Hollywood.’’ Showing that even from a director’s point of view it’s a slim light of hope for any actors who aspire to break into Hollywood if they are South Asian. Breaking into Hollywood is tough already for any new actor with all the competition and auditions that you have to overcome, let alone being from a South Asian descent. This would explain why there are more South Asians that have taken up roles in American Television as it’s easier to accept one of the stereotypical and minimal roles that are offered, than to wait for a big role that may never come.
One South Asian actor who is arguably the most recognisable and well known is Kalpen Suresh Modi, also known in Hollywood as Kal Penn, who has starred in comic film franchises such as Harold and Kumar and National Lampoons Van Wilder, also starring as the lead in the intense drama The Namesake. Along with having cameo roles in films such as Superman Returns and Epic Movie as well as starring in American TV shows such as 24, House, and ER. Although even someone with his impressive résumé found it tricky at first to break into the Hollywood industry and was also offered questionable roles. When discussing his role in American TV series 24, Kal Penn stated that he had a ‘’huge political problem with the role...’’ As ‘‘It was essentially accepting a form of racial profiling..’’ Clearly voicing his frustrations about being racially stereotyped to fit a characters role in a TV series. Going on to say ‘‘As an actor, why shouldn’t I have that opportunity?’ Because I'm brown’’ . Expressing that as a professional he should be offered any and all roles despite his skin colour. His success as an actor has opened up many doors for him, as he has had a brief spell teaching cinema studies at university and now works in the white house under the ‘Obama administration. Showing just how far someone can go, when given the chance, despite their skin colour or ethnic background.
Audiences are used to being familiarised by seeing their favourite celebrities and Hollywood icons in films as the media uses Harold Lasswell’s Hypodermic Needle wisely as it shoots its content at audiences ‘‘like a magic bullet, directly penetrating the viewer' mind,’’ As audiences have been ‘‘injected’’ by Hollywood’s star power, which in turn makes them less willing to accept change. As the media are highly selective in the way in which they construct and represent the world back to us”. Showing exactly how the media, uses the industry to implement audiences with the media’s ideologies of what is fair and true. This would be in relation to the hegemonic theory which states that the majority of the media is ‘‘controlled by a relatively small group of people (who are generally male, middle class and white)’’ as this basically underlines the main reason for the media being so one sided and in favour of the white, male, middleclass Americans.
It’s also important to remember that ''Ethnicity is crucial to identity formation..’’ even though ‘‘it’s not something predetermined or complete,’’ as this is what separates individuals and groups from being one. This is what the media uses against South Asian and Other minorities to subordinate them from the upper ruling white class. As controlling figures in the media would look at ones ethnic background and immediately judge them and place them in a category, such as south Asians being ‘’depicted as doctors, engineers and mathematicians.’’ Justifying just how unfair it may seem on ethnic minorities in the media, yet they seem powerless to help change this. Although as audiences have become more powerful within the media, through their user generated content (UGC) and other interactive resources, it could be argued that with enough backing from audiences that ethnic minorities such as the South Asians can eventually overpower the media’s ruling elite, to have their say and their input into what is being produced.
Furthermore when looking as far back as the 1970’s, where South Asians first became noticed in the broadcast media via the British comedy series Mind your language which featured a multicultural cast including South Asians, that are stereotyped and portrayed to be equal with other minorities yet subordinated by the white. Suggesting that despite the likes of Slumdog Millionaire and other one hit wonders like Bend it Like Beckham, that South Asians have always been at the back of the list and barely visible in the media. Even when looking back historically at the American industry, you can notice that South Asians have been ‘‘invisible’’ as their roles, if any, where minuet in the case that they were seen as a prop for ‘‘the background’’ to add colour to the room. Such as in the film Outsourced (2006) in which even in the promotional poster the South Asians are in the background, even though the lead American male character is virtually unknown or unheard of himself, which showcases the extent to which South Asians have been subordinated.
To conclude, even though South Asians have taken a step forward in having more cameo roles, in both Television and film they are still not seen to have any real significance or importance in a most texts. Underlining the very slim chances of success for any South Asian or ethnic actor. Although the argument can be made against this that more recently ‘‘South Asian stereotypes’’ have undergone many changes over recent years, reflecting various changes in society and the zeitgeist, fighting back against the ‘‘whitewashed’’ society which has been constructed by the media through it’s ‘‘Media stereotyping’’. Although there is always a chance that South Asians may find it easier in the future to break into Hollywood, as the media can be unpredictable at times, and there may come a time when they decide to lighten up on the way they ‘‘portray minorities..’’ in the ways they ‘‘perpetuate particular stereotypes.’’ As ‘‘The representation..’’ of South Asian groups are ‘‘not axed forever and its possible to observe how it changes over time.'' As even Slumdog Millionaire has showed us that South Asians can in fact act, and that audiences can relate to them, as they offer something unique and fresh to the industry.
Word count 2,217
Bibliography
Works Cited (used in my essay)
Books -
Andrews, Maggie. Burton, Julia. & Stevenson, Elspeth. (2009). AQA A2 Media Studies: Student's Book (Aqa Media Studies for A2). Surrey: Nelson Thornes Ltd.
Creeber, Glen. (2008). The Television Genre Book (Second Edition ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan
Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, cultural and media studies: the key concepts (3. ed.). London [u.a.: Routledge.
Kruger, Stephen. Rayner, Philip. & Wall, Peter. (2004). Media Studies: The Essential Resource. London: Routledge, London and New York.
Laughey, Dan. (2009). The Media Studies Guide. Harpenden: Kamera Books.
Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, cultural and media studies: the key concepts (3. ed.). London [u.a.: Routledge.
Williams, Kevin. (2003). Understanding Media Theory (Hodder Arnold Publication). London: A Hodder Arnold Publication
Newspapers and magazines –
South Asian Stereotypes
http://www.detoursmagazine.com/blog/2010/04/28/78-south-asian-stereotypes
How Slumdog Millionaire is changing film-making in India
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/04/slumdog-millionaire-india
Go South and East, Hollywood
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/dec/22/south-and-east-asian-actors
Dev Patel attacks Hollywood over lack of roles for Asian actors
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/aug/11/dev-patel-asian-roles-slumdog?INTCMP=SRCH
The White Castle Ceiling
http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/28866/
‘It takes me back to my Punjabi roots’ -Gurrinder Chadha
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/2009/gurinder-chadha-interview-140509.html -
New Meera Syal film ‘Mad, Bad and Sad’ releases next week
http://www.asiansinmedia.org/2009/07/24/new-meera-syal-film-mad-bad-and-sad-releases-next-week/ -
Pinto Thinks L’Oreal Is Worth It
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/100775/Pinto-thinks-L-Oreal-is-worth-itPinto-thinks-L-Oreal-is-worth-it#ixzz1CaggvjVQ
Internet –
Top soaps Accused Of Stereotyping Ethnic Minorities
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passtheremote/2008/07/top-soaps-accused-of-stereotyp.html
The Hypodermic Needle Theory and The Mass Media
http://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708629.html
Bollywood - The History and Key Elements of Bombay Cinema; With an Excursus on Gurinder Chadha's Cross Cultural Film "Bend It Like Beckham"
http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/27389.html
Stereotypes of South Asians
http://www.enotes.com/topic/Stereotypes_of_South_Asians
What happened to all the South Asians in Hollywood
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006344.html -
All Snark, No substance
http://jedifreac.livejournal.com/
Representations of South Asians in popular media
http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/4/0/8/7/2/p408720_index.html
Moving Image Text –
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Danny Boyle,
U.K
Bend it like Beckham (2002)
Gurinder Chadha,
U.K
Harold and Kumar (2004)
Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
Danny Leiner, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schollsberg,
USA
The Namesake (2006)
Mira Nair,
USA
National Lampoons Van Wilder (2002)
Walt Becker,
USA
My Name is Khan (2010)
Karan Johar,
India/USA
Outsourced (2006)
John Jeffcoat,
USA/India
Spiderman 2 (2004)
Sam Raimi,
USA
The proposal (2009)
Anne Fletcher,
USA
TV Programmes -
Mind Your Language (1977 - 1979)
Vince Powell,
U.K
ER (1994 – 2009)
Christopher Chulack, Jonathan Kaplan, Richard Thorpe
USA
House (2004 – Present)
David Shore,
USA
24 (2001 – 2010)
Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran
USA
Works Consulted
Books -
Abrams, N., Bell, I., & Udris, J. (2001). Studying film. London: Arnold;.
Wiley-Blackwell. (2004). Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity and Ethnicity.
Hollywood Cinema. Malden, MA:
Newspapers and magazines
Now you see us, Now you don’t
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/dec/04/mondaymediasection32?INTCMP=SRCH
Katrina Kaif: How Bollywood fell in love with a British unknown
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/dec/19/bollywood-belly-dance-british-star?INTCMP=SRCH
Bachchan and Khan head Indian player list
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2003/dec/03/bollywood.news?INTCMP=SRCH
Go south and east, Hollywood
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/dec/22/south-and-east-asian-actors?INTCMP=SRCH
Slumdog Millionaire - Overview
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/movie/126911/slumdog-millionaire
English is Recast in Indian Films
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/17/bollywood-english?INTCMP=SRCH
Internet –
Bollywood hopes Christmas animation is a draw for audiences
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/bollywood-hopes-christmas-animation-is-a-draw-for-audiences-2168547.html
Slumdog Millionaire
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/
Harold and Kumar escape from Guantanamo Bay
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0481536/
Slumdog Millionaire - Reviews
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/slumdog_millionaire/
Despite the success of 'Slumdog Millionaire' why is it that there is still a lack of South Asian actors in Hollywood?
Cameos, cab drivers and criticism are what is to be expected of South Asian actors in Hollywood today. As we approach the age of new and advanced digital technology it seems that the stereotypes and representations of South Asians still remain the same, despite director Danny Boyle’s record breaking, global blockbuster 'Slumdog Millionaire’ a story about a boy from the slums who defies all odds to become a millionaire, which was released in 2008 and was said to have changed the cinema landscape for South Asian actors wanting to break into Hollywood. The film was conveyed ‘‘as being a globalised movie...’’ as a result of its ‘‘meshing of western and eastern forms and locations, styles and sounds’’' and was clearly rewarded for its efforts scooping an amazing 10 Academy Awards, 7 BAFTAS and 4 Golden Globes. Although the aftermath of the film seems to have gone silent as despite the movies unique and creative idea of interacting and mixing western and eastern styles, sounds and locations. The film doesn’t appear to have had much of an influence in the Hollywood industry as there have been no films of similar meshing styles or creative uses of south Asians. As the industry is still dominated by and majorly dictated by the American, middle class, white male.
Over the last decade or so there have been some promising changes for South Asians as you could argue that there have been ''Examples of Bollywood slowly entering the western world..’’ such as Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘‘ new musical Bombay Dreams, Monsoon Wedding was a hit in western cinemas’’' ' which shows a glimmer of hope for South Asians, just like Slumdog Millionaire did when it first appeared in cinemas, giving audiences from ethnic backgrounds optimism of change, something that is yet to occur. Despite the fact that since the films short success, the likes of Anil Kapoor has gone on to cast in American Television show 24, Dev Patel has had a cameo role in The Last Airbender and Freida Pinto has become the face of L’Oreal becoming ‘‘the first Asian spokeswoman for the Lauder brand’’.
Although further developments or changes seem to be a long way coming as yet still ‘‘Ethnic minorities are continually misrepresented by racial (and racist) stereotypes.” As ‘‘Rather than representing them as individuals,’’ the media identifies individuals by their ethnic groups to determined whether or not they are Hollywood material. When looking at recent films that have casted minorities, the industry plays upon moral panics such as the 9/11 incident to construct suitable roles for South Asians, racially profiling and grouping them as terrorists. Including films such as Harold and Kumar; Escape from Guantanamo Bay; which uses the stereotype of South Asians as terrorists in comic spoof, taking the mickey out of the American justice system, and My Name is Khan; which looks at the personal struggles of South Asians in America being negatively portrayed as terrorists and discriminated against. Two films which are different in genre and text, but the deliver the same message in a way. That Asians are not all terrorists, and they shouldn’t be judged as a group but as individuals. Which can also be referred back to the saying ‘Don’t judge a book by its cover’.
Even young South Asian actor Dev Patel ‘‘whose role as a young "chai-wallah" in the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire catapulted him into the limelight,’’ has found it hard to break into the industry and has made his feelings clear about the ‘‘stereotypical’’ roles of South Asians such as cab drivers, doctors, nurses, and computer nerds being offered to him. As Asian actors are not being offered roles or sent Hollywood scripts that are of any significance or even remotely challenging. As they are more likely to be ‘‘offered the roles of a terrorist, cab driver and smart geek.’’ All roles that are ‘‘constructed by media representations’’ which are racially discriminating against South Asians, which can be frustrating for actors as they don’t get to show that they have versatility or something different to offer. Which would explain why it’s difficult for south Asians to break into the Hollywood industry as despite having credentials like Dev Patel who has won numerous awards for his role in ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ he is yet to land any new role of any significance.
Although you could argue that there have been breakthroughs into American Television which is a start, as the likes of Parminder Nagra, star of British hit comedy Bend it Like Beckham is now a regular on one of Americas longest running weekly shows ER and also Sendhil Ramamurthy, who is from a South Asian background has been a member of the Heroes cast for 4 years and has starred in films like It’s A Wonderful Afterlife. Another South Asian actor who has had their success in both Hollywood and in American TV is Aasif Mandvi, who is a regular on The Daily Show and has had a few cameo roles in films such as The Proposal and Spiderman 2. This could be linked ideologically to things such as ‘’legislation promoting equal opportunity’’ . As American TV producers look to introduce South Asian minorities into small roles to help promote equal opportunities, which is deffintly a positive step forward. Even directors such as the South Asian director Gurrinder Chadha feels it’s ‘‘not easy..’’ for South Asian actors ‘‘to break into Hollywood.’’ Showing that even from a director’s point of view it’s a slim light of hope for any actors who aspire to break into Hollywood if they are South Asian. Breaking into Hollywood is tough already for any new actor with all the competition and auditions that you have to overcome, let alone being from a South Asian descent. This would explain why there are more South Asians that have taken up roles in American Television as it’s easier to accept one of the stereotypical and minimal roles that are offered, than to wait for a big role that may never come.
One South Asian actor who is arguably the most recognisable and well known is Kalpen Suresh Modi, also known in Hollywood as Kal Penn, who has starred in comic film franchises such as Harold and Kumar and National Lampoons Van Wilder, also starring as the lead in the intense drama The Namesake. Along with having cameo roles in films such as Superman Returns and Epic Movie as well as starring in American TV shows such as 24, House, and ER. Although even someone with his impressive résumé found it tricky at first to break into the Hollywood industry and was also offered questionable roles. When discussing his role in American TV series 24, Kal Penn stated that he had a ‘’huge political problem with the role...’’ As ‘‘It was essentially accepting a form of racial profiling..’’ Clearly voicing his frustrations about being racially stereotyped to fit a characters role in a TV series. Going on to say ‘‘As an actor, why shouldn’t I have that opportunity?’ Because I'm brown’’ . Expressing that as a professional he should be offered any and all roles despite his skin colour. His success as an actor has opened up many doors for him, as he has had a brief spell teaching cinema studies at university and now works in the white house under the ‘Obama administration. Showing just how far someone can go, when given the chance, despite their skin colour or ethnic background.
Audiences are used to being familiarised by seeing their favourite celebrities and Hollywood icons in films as the media uses Harold Lasswell’s Hypodermic Needle wisely as it shoots its content at audiences ‘‘like a magic bullet, directly penetrating the viewer' mind,’’ As audiences have been ‘‘injected’’ by Hollywood’s star power, which in turn makes them less willing to accept change. As the media are highly selective in the way in which they construct and represent the world back to us”. Showing exactly how the media, uses the industry to implement audiences with the media’s ideologies of what is fair and true. This would be in relation to the hegemonic theory which states that the majority of the media is ‘‘controlled by a relatively small group of people (who are generally male, middle class and white)’’ as this basically underlines the main reason for the media being so one sided and in favour of the white, male, middleclass Americans.
It’s also important to remember that ''Ethnicity is crucial to identity formation..’’ even though ‘‘it’s not something predetermined or complete,’’ as this is what separates individuals and groups from being one. This is what the media uses against South Asian and Other minorities to subordinate them from the upper ruling white class. As controlling figures in the media would look at ones ethnic background and immediately judge them and place them in a category, such as south Asians being ‘’depicted as doctors, engineers and mathematicians.’’ Justifying just how unfair it may seem on ethnic minorities in the media, yet they seem powerless to help change this. Although as audiences have become more powerful within the media, through their user generated content (UGC) and other interactive resources, it could be argued that with enough backing from audiences that ethnic minorities such as the South Asians can eventually overpower the media’s ruling elite, to have their say and their input into what is being produced.
Furthermore when looking as far back as the 1970’s, where South Asians first became noticed in the broadcast media via the British comedy series Mind your language which featured a multicultural cast including South Asians, that are stereotyped and portrayed to be equal with other minorities yet subordinated by the white. Suggesting that despite the likes of Slumdog Millionaire and other one hit wonders like Bend it Like Beckham, that South Asians have always been at the back of the list and barely visible in the media. Even when looking back historically at the American industry, you can notice that South Asians have been ‘‘invisible’’ as their roles, if any, where minuet in the case that they were seen as a prop for ‘‘the background’’ to add colour to the room. Such as in the film Outsourced (2006) in which even in the promotional poster the South Asians are in the background, even though the lead American male character is virtually unknown or unheard of himself, which showcases the extent to which South Asians have been subordinated.
To conclude, even though South Asians have taken a step forward in having more cameo roles, in both Television and film they are still not seen to have any real significance or importance in a most texts. Underlining the very slim chances of success for any South Asian or ethnic actor. Although the argument can be made against this that more recently ‘‘South Asian stereotypes’’ have undergone many changes over recent years, reflecting various changes in society and the zeitgeist, fighting back against the ‘‘whitewashed’’ society which has been constructed by the media through it’s ‘‘Media stereotyping’’. Although there is always a chance that South Asians may find it easier in the future to break into Hollywood, as the media can be unpredictable at times, and there may come a time when they decide to lighten up on the way they ‘‘portray minorities..’’ in the ways they ‘‘perpetuate particular stereotypes.’’ As ‘‘The representation..’’ of South Asian groups are ‘‘not axed forever and its possible to observe how it changes over time.'' As even Slumdog Millionaire has showed us that South Asians can in fact act, and that audiences can relate to them, as they offer something unique and fresh to the industry.
Word count 2,217
Bibliography
Works Cited (used in my essay)
Books -
Andrews, Maggie. Burton, Julia. & Stevenson, Elspeth. (2009). AQA A2 Media Studies: Student's Book (Aqa Media Studies for A2). Surrey: Nelson Thornes Ltd.
Creeber, Glen. (2008). The Television Genre Book (Second Edition ed.). New York: Palgrave Macmillan
Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, cultural and media studies: the key concepts (3. ed.). London [u.a.: Routledge.
Kruger, Stephen. Rayner, Philip. & Wall, Peter. (2004). Media Studies: The Essential Resource. London: Routledge, London and New York.
Laughey, Dan. (2009). The Media Studies Guide. Harpenden: Kamera Books.
Hartley, J. (2002). Communication, cultural and media studies: the key concepts (3. ed.). London [u.a.: Routledge.
Williams, Kevin. (2003). Understanding Media Theory (Hodder Arnold Publication). London: A Hodder Arnold Publication
Newspapers and magazines –
South Asian Stereotypes
http://www.detoursmagazine.com/blog/2010/04/28/78-south-asian-stereotypes
How Slumdog Millionaire is changing film-making in India
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2009/jun/04/slumdog-millionaire-india
Go South and East, Hollywood
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/dec/22/south-and-east-asian-actors
Dev Patel attacks Hollywood over lack of roles for Asian actors
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/aug/11/dev-patel-asian-roles-slumdog?INTCMP=SRCH
The White Castle Ceiling
http://nymag.com/movies/profiles/28866/
‘It takes me back to my Punjabi roots’ -Gurrinder Chadha
http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood/interviews/2009/gurinder-chadha-interview-140509.html -
New Meera Syal film ‘Mad, Bad and Sad’ releases next week
http://www.asiansinmedia.org/2009/07/24/new-meera-syal-film-mad-bad-and-sad-releases-next-week/ -
Pinto Thinks L’Oreal Is Worth It
http://www.express.co.uk/posts/view/100775/Pinto-thinks-L-Oreal-is-worth-itPinto-thinks-L-Oreal-is-worth-it#ixzz1CaggvjVQ
Internet –
Top soaps Accused Of Stereotyping Ethnic Minorities
http://blogs.coventrytelegraph.net/passtheremote/2008/07/top-soaps-accused-of-stereotyp.html
The Hypodermic Needle Theory and The Mass Media
http://www.lotsofessays.com/viewpaper/1708629.html
Bollywood - The History and Key Elements of Bombay Cinema; With an Excursus on Gurinder Chadha's Cross Cultural Film "Bend It Like Beckham"
http://www.hausarbeiten.de/faecher/vorschau/27389.html
Stereotypes of South Asians
http://www.enotes.com/topic/Stereotypes_of_South_Asians
What happened to all the South Asians in Hollywood
http://www.sepiamutiny.com/sepia/archives/006344.html -
All Snark, No substance
http://jedifreac.livejournal.com/
Representations of South Asians in popular media
http://www.allacademic.com/meta/p_mla_apa_research_citation/4/0/8/7/2/p408720_index.html
Moving Image Text –
Slumdog Millionaire (2008)
Danny Boyle,
U.K
Bend it like Beckham (2002)
Gurinder Chadha,
U.K
Harold and Kumar (2004)
Harold and Kumar: Escape from Guantanamo Bay (2008)
Danny Leiner, Jon Hurwitz, Hayden Schollsberg,
USA
The Namesake (2006)
Mira Nair,
USA
National Lampoons Van Wilder (2002)
Walt Becker,
USA
My Name is Khan (2010)
Karan Johar,
India/USA
Outsourced (2006)
John Jeffcoat,
USA/India
Spiderman 2 (2004)
Sam Raimi,
USA
The proposal (2009)
Anne Fletcher,
USA
TV Programmes -
Mind Your Language (1977 - 1979)
Vince Powell,
U.K
ER (1994 – 2009)
Christopher Chulack, Jonathan Kaplan, Richard Thorpe
USA
House (2004 – Present)
David Shore,
USA
24 (2001 – 2010)
Joel Surnow, Robert Cochran
USA
Works Consulted
Books -
Abrams, N., Bell, I., & Udris, J. (2001). Studying film. London: Arnold;.
Wiley-Blackwell. (2004). Asian American Youth: Culture, Identity and Ethnicity.
Hollywood Cinema. Malden, MA:
Newspapers and magazines
Now you see us, Now you don’t
http://www.guardian.co.uk/media/2006/dec/04/mondaymediasection32?INTCMP=SRCH
Katrina Kaif: How Bollywood fell in love with a British unknown
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2010/dec/19/bollywood-belly-dance-british-star?INTCMP=SRCH
Bachchan and Khan head Indian player list
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2003/dec/03/bollywood.news?INTCMP=SRCH
Go south and east, Hollywood
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/dec/22/south-and-east-asian-actors?INTCMP=SRCH
Slumdog Millionaire - Overview
http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/movie/126911/slumdog-millionaire
English is Recast in Indian Films
http://www.guardian.co.uk/education/2008/oct/17/bollywood-english?INTCMP=SRCH
Internet –
Bollywood hopes Christmas animation is a draw for audiences
http://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/films/bollywood-hopes-christmas-animation-is-a-draw-for-audiences-2168547.html
Slumdog Millionaire
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt1010048/
Harold and Kumar escape from Guantanamo Bay
http://uk.imdb.com/title/tt0481536/
Slumdog Millionaire - Reviews
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/slumdog_millionaire/
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