ONTD

2:12 pm - 08/05/2012

Director Spike Lee Responds to Oldboy Racial Casting Report



Director Spike Lee (Do the Right Thing, Red Hook Summer) responded on Saturday to a reported casting call for his planned Oldboy remake that lists one character of Asian lineage. The Angry Asian Man blog posted an unverified casting call with one character listed as "Asian," although it also has another character of "open ethnicity."



The Casting Call is as follows:

OLDBOY

Feature Film

SAG-AFTRA

Director: Spike Lee
Exec. Producer: Spike Lee
Producers: Nathan Kahane, Doug Davison, Roy Lee, John Powers Middleton
Co-Producer/Writer: Mark Protosevich
Screen Play: Jo-Yun, Chun-hyung Lim, Chan-wook Park
Casting Director: Kim Coleman
Casting Associate: Jackie Sollitto
Casting Assistant: Keisha Richardson
Callbacks: Aug. 12, 2012 (Sunday)
Shooting / Start: October 1, 2012
Location: New Orleans

SUBMIT ELECTRONICALLY

[WALLACE SHARKEY] Male, 60ish, Caucasian. Joe's well-tailored, slickster boss.

[DONNA HAWTHORNE] Female, Mid 20s, Caucasian. Joe's ex-wife and mother of Mia. Once a homecoming queen, now a stripped down hardworking single mom.

[DAVE BERMAN] Mid 40s to 50s. African-American. Shlubby, but very welthy businessman. Joe hits on his much younger girlfriend.

[ASIAN WOMAN] Female, Early to mid 20s, Asian. A mysterious exotic beauty sitting at the bar observing Joe. MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE A PLUS

[CHUCKY] Male, Mid 40s, Caucasian. A free spirited likeable human teddy bear who sports loud vintage Hawaiian shirts. Joe’s best friend.

[BROWNING] Male. Caucasian. Small in stature. A career criminal with pockmarked skin.

[CORTEZ] Latin male. 50s. A bullishly strong street thug/criminal.

[JAKE PRESTON] Male, Mid 30s to mid 40s, Caucasian. A clean cut tough looking former cop; the no-nonsense host of the TV show "Unsolved Crimes."

[ADULT MIA] Female, Early 20s, Caucasian. A musical prodigy on cello. Sensitive, intelligent, beautiful but humble. CELLO EXPERIENCE A PLUS.

[GRACE] Female, 50s, African American. A drug addicted nutcase in the Mobile Hospital.

[JOHNNY] Male, Mid 40s to 50s, Caucasian. A disheveled, schizophrenic man who is on the street near the Mobile Hospital unit.

[A BURLY MAN] Male, 40s, Caucasian. Muscular and serious with close-cropped hair.

[THE CHECKPOINT] Male, 40s, Open Ethnicity. A serious looking sort (probably trying to hold down two or three jobs to support his family) who is sitting at a desk in the underground parking garage.

[EDWINA BURKE] Female, Late 50s to early 60s, Caucasian, distinguished-looking. She is from Evergreen Academy where Joe attended school. She is tough, smart, and very much a lady, but a lonely one.

[SECURITY GUARD] Male, 40s to 50s, Caucasian. The guard at Evergreen Academy that patrols the grounds and takes his job a bit more seriously than he needs to.

[AMANDA PRYCE] Female, 14, Caucasian. Adrian's younger sister. She is pretty, yet shy and a bit awkward-looking.

[YOUNG JOE DOUCETTE] Male, 17, Caucasian. A young Josh Brolin.


A Twitter follower asked Lee to comment on the reported casting call's ethnicity listings, and Lee responded:

People You Need To Relax.The Cast Of OLD BOY Will Be Diverse.If You Think Otherwise You Do Not Know My Work.Bother Other Directors 'Bout Dat

Actor Josh Brolin (Milk, Men in Black 3), actor Sharlto Copley (District 9, The A-Team), and actress Elizabeth Olsen (Silent House, Martha Marcy May Marlene) have been attached to this planned remake of Park Chan-Wook's live-action film Oldboy, which is itself an adaptation of Garon Tsuchiya and Nobuaki Minegishi's manga.

Lee specifically addressed the reported casting call's character descriptions of "women of color [as] 'drug addicted nutcases' and 'mysterious exotic beauties'":

All That Stuff Has Been Changed.

SOURCE



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poop_of_death 5th-Aug-2012 06:16 pm (UTC)
chihaya19 5th-Aug-2012 06:20 pm (UTC)
furries???
hobnailedboots 5th-Aug-2012 06:22 pm (UTC)
National Geographic did something on furries? Lol
lady_mercury 5th-Aug-2012 06:22 pm (UTC)
omgwat
wonderwomanhero 5th-Aug-2012 06:26 pm (UTC)
Is it Taboo?
misoras 5th-Aug-2012 06:27 pm (UTC)
yiff
wonderwomanhero 5th-Aug-2012 06:30 pm (UTC)
prettyfoot 5th-Aug-2012 08:03 pm (UTC)
omg, lmaoooooooooooo. This is hilarious, thank you for posting.
sassypirate 6th-Aug-2012 12:24 am (UTC)
What in holy hell..
sugary_placenta 5th-Aug-2012 06:30 pm (UTC)
the nat geo logo is killing me
slacker_chic 5th-Aug-2012 06:43 pm (UTC)
only one of the best Taboo's EVER! I see you long haired brunette furry!
tigermilk 5th-Aug-2012 06:59 pm (UTC)
There are two furries on my FB. I've known once since kindergarten (the ferret) and the other since the sixth grade (the cat) and it is SO NORMAL TO ME NOW. My life, my choices.
deadendqueen16 5th-Aug-2012 08:12 pm (UTC)
Oh god
rogue 5th-Aug-2012 08:24 pm (UTC)
this gif terrifies the shit out of me everytime JFC WHO LET IT ONTO TELEVISION
chantonii 6th-Aug-2012 10:51 am (UTC)
LOL I remember watching this. Furries, man.
wonderwomanhero 5th-Aug-2012 06:20 pm (UTC)
awww
hrhobo 5th-Aug-2012 07:31 pm (UTC)
this comment is dark and full of terrors
palmsread 5th-Aug-2012 06:17 pm (UTC)
oh.
helders 5th-Aug-2012 06:17 pm (UTC)
the way this article is written is confusing.
oceanhue 5th-Aug-2012 06:18 pm (UTC)
Yea like... I'm confused.
wonderwomanhero 5th-Aug-2012 06:22 pm (UTC)
The stuff that is both bolded and italicized are Lee's tweets.
oceanhue 5th-Aug-2012 06:19 pm (UTC)
It's safe to assume the entire cast isn't going to be Asian since it's taking place in the States, I mean, come on now. I do think they should get an Asian to play the lead though.
paparatti 6th-Aug-2012 03:31 am (UTC)
I know your posting history is spot on, so no judgement, but my dining room is totally full of Asian people right now (I have been cast out to boobfeed the baby). I'm the only white person. In California at least, it's entirely plausible to tell a story where Asians dominate. But... America.
burningpumpkins 6th-Aug-2012 06:11 am (UTC)
I guess it makes sense if the film is set in small town USA. So... are they?
chihaya19 5th-Aug-2012 06:19 pm (UTC)
i still haven't seen this because the one they have on netflix streaming and dubbed and guuuurl i don't do that.

but lmao @ the way he writes on twitter
yolleh 5th-Aug-2012 10:04 pm (UTC)
I watched it on netflix subbed though!
halfslytherin 6th-Aug-2012 11:51 am (UTC)
torrent it!
supernature_971 5th-Aug-2012 06:21 pm (UTC)
Can't remember the last time I was interested by a Spike Lee project.

....I think I'll just watch the original.
wonderwomanhero 5th-Aug-2012 06:30 pm (UTC)
fierce queen in ur icon
fwee_prower 5th-Aug-2012 07:05 pm (UTC)
well she's not a queen anymore...
tigermilk 5th-Aug-2012 07:00 pm (UTC)
A Spike Lee Joint, you mean.
stellawuzadiver 5th-Aug-2012 07:01 pm (UTC)
I think you meant to say "joint."
bamboobanga2 5th-Aug-2012 08:25 pm (UTC)
your icon is the fiercest, most fabulous icon that ever did exist on ontd

would you happen to have the full size pic of it?
rare_lj 5th-Aug-2012 06:21 pm (UTC)
I guess we'll have to wait and see.

lol this post will be a mess
imnotasquirrel 5th-Aug-2012 06:21 pm (UTC)
This is the Angry Asian Man blog post in question, btw.

The one definite Asian character doesn't get a name unlike the others, it's just: [ASIAN WOMAN] Female, Early to mid 20s, Asian. A mysterious exotic beauty sitting at the bar observing Joe. MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE A PLUS

exotic...martial arts...nameless... oic

(although he says he's changed it, so who knows what it says now)

Edited at 2012-08-05 06:24 pm (UTC)
wonderwomanhero 5th-Aug-2012 06:24 pm (UTC)
12 white ppl....

oh.
rhapsodeeinblue 5th-Aug-2012 06:35 pm (UTC)
I love Angry Asian Man
burningpumpkins 6th-Aug-2012 06:13 am (UTC)
Great. They are using token characters as extras now. Probably less than 30 seconds screen time.
ohkimosabe 5th-Aug-2012 06:22 pm (UTC)
lol spike lee
wickedwatch some of the casting descriptions5th-Aug-2012 06:24 pm (UTC)
[WALLACE SHARKEY] Male, 60ish, Caucasian. Joe's well-tailored, slickster boss.

[DONNA HAWTHORNE] Female, Mid 20s, Caucasian. Joe's ex-wife and mother of Mia. Once a homecoming queen, now a stripped down hardworking single mom.

[DAVE BERMAN] Mid 40s to 50s. African-American. Shlubby, but very welthy businessman. Joe hits on his much younger girlfriend.

[ASIAN WOMAN] Female, Early to mid 20s, Asian. A mysterious exotic beauty sitting at the bar observing Joe. MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE A PLUS

[CHUCKY] Male, Mid 40s, Caucasian. A free spirited likeable human teddy bear who sports loud vintage Hawaiian shirts. Joe’s best friend.

[BROWNING] Male. Caucasian. Small in stature. A career criminal with pockmarked skin.

[CORTEZ] Latin male. 50s. A bullishly strong street thug/criminal.

[JAKE PRESTON] Male, Mid 30s to mid 40s, Caucasian. A clean cut tough looking former cop; the no-nonsense host of the TV show "Unsolved Crimes."

[ADULT MIA] Female, Early 20s, Caucasian. A musical prodigy on cello. Sensitive, intelligent, beautiful but humble. CELLO EXPERIENCE A PLUS.

[GRACE] Female, 50s, African American. A drug addicted nutcase in the Mobile Hospital.

[JOHNNY] Male, Mid 40s to 50s, Caucasian. A disheveled, schizophrenic man who is on the street near the Mobile Hospital unit.

[A BURLY MAN] Male, 40s, Caucasian. Muscular and serious with close-cropped hair.

[THE CHECKPOINT] Male, 40s, Open Ethnicity. A serious looking sort (probably trying to hold down two or three jobs to support his family) who is sitting at a desk in the underground parking garage.

[EDWINA BURKE] Female, Late 50s to early 60s, Caucasian, distinguished-looking. She is from Evergreen Academy where Joe attended school. She is tough, smart, and very much a lady, but a lonely one.

[SECURITY GUARD] Male, 40s to 50s, Caucasian. The guard at Evergreen Academy that patrols the grounds and takes his job a bit more seriously than he needs to.

[AMANDA PRYCE] Female, 14, Caucasian. Adrian's younger sister. She is pretty, yet shy and a bit awkward-looking.

[YOUNG JOE DOUCETTE] Male, 17, Caucasian. A young Josh Brolin.

Bolded all those who are definite POCs.


Edited at 2012-08-05 06:25 pm (UTC)
imnotasquirrel 5th-Aug-2012 06:25 pm (UTC)
The Asian woman doesn't even get a name, rme.
wickedwatch 5th-Aug-2012 06:27 pm (UTC)
It's not even that diverse on top of the fact that they're looking for stereotypes.
wonderwomanhero Re: some of the casting descriptions5th-Aug-2012 06:26 pm (UTC)
12 white people + Josh Brolin and Lizzie Olsen = 14...
pistol_eyes Re: some of the casting descriptions5th-Aug-2012 06:30 pm (UTC)
c'mon spike
what the fuck?
rhapsodeeinblue Re: some of the casting descriptions5th-Aug-2012 06:35 pm (UTC)
oy
swissbeauty23 Re: some of the casting descriptions5th-Aug-2012 06:36 pm (UTC)
yeah i noticed all that too smh
kimberwyn Re: some of the casting descriptions5th-Aug-2012 07:29 pm (UTC)
Yeah. And I don't see any reason why half of those other characters can't be open to all ethnicities.
kurtvonnegut 5th-Aug-2012 09:06 pm (UTC)
lol @ spike lee thinking "caucasian" = white (cuz u know that's what he meant). just say white, damn.
leitao Re: some of the casting descriptions6th-Aug-2012 05:19 am (UTC)
WTF Spike Lee.
redaodai 5th-Aug-2012 06:24 pm (UTC)
Not touching this one.



I have little faith in most western remakes/revisions of Asian media.
empirebird 5th-Aug-2012 06:24 pm (UTC)
I love Spike Lee.
davetvs 5th-Aug-2012 06:26 pm (UTC)
+1
screwhim 5th-Aug-2012 06:29 pm (UTC)
iawtc

25th Hour is one of the best movies of all time
beatlesluv 5th-Aug-2012 06:29 pm (UTC)
Me too!
lil_creamsoda 5th-Aug-2012 06:38 pm (UTC)
basically
bent_ley 5th-Aug-2012 06:40 pm (UTC)
HEY I WAS BORN IN BROOKLYN
xevochic 5th-Aug-2012 06:46 pm (UTC)
Whoops. That should not have been a reply to you. XD

Edited at 2012-08-05 06:47 pm (UTC)
xevochic Yus, I still sing this song5th-Aug-2012 06:47 pm (UTC)
jainasky 5th-Aug-2012 06:54 pm (UTC)
Your icon looks like Sam The Eagle and he's judging everything.
dynamitered 5th-Aug-2012 06:26 pm (UTC)
I hated the first Old Boy
wonderwomanhero 5th-Aug-2012 06:27 pm (UTC)
They'll probably butcher the *PLOT TWIST* in some way
pseudo_nom 5th-Aug-2012 06:29 pm (UTC)
you know they will.
slacker_chic 5th-Aug-2012 06:46 pm (UTC)
omfg they just better not.
hebk 5th-Aug-2012 06:56 pm (UTC)
yeah, everyone's raves about it being omg so good and plot twist being amazing but I was underwhelmed.
traversant 6th-Aug-2012 03:12 am (UTC)
SAME
cricketgrl 5th-Aug-2012 06:26 pm (UTC)
tundrabeast 5th-Aug-2012 06:31 pm (UTC)
Excellent.
punishermax 5th-Aug-2012 07:27 pm (UTC)
What is she shoving in her mouth anyway? The package doesn't look like popcorn.
theonlykow 6th-Aug-2012 02:09 am (UTC)
Cocaine. (She's doing it wrong.)
evangelion 6th-Aug-2012 05:18 am (UTC)
it is and it is delicious

http://www.popcornopolis.com/
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