Smarmy Society: Term XXV, Activity 3: Character Replacements

[anbyrobanby.livejournal.com]

Activity name: Character Replacements
Points: 24hr debate: Participation 10pts, Additional comment: 5pts. 30pts limit.
End date: Monday 1st April @ 14:00 UTC
Details: Over the course of the films, some of the characters were written out, assimilated into others, or played by multiple actors. Do you feel this is the right approach? Does the change of face affect how you feel about that character? A 24 hour debate to end the month.



So I was considering my next activity for the Smarmy Society, when I read on the news that the actor Richard Griffiths, who played Vernon Dursley, passed away on Good Friday following surgery complications.

I was reading some of the assosciated articles related to this, and one thing that came up was how he was perceived as "perfect" for the role of Uncle Vernon. This got me thinking- without doubt he was excellent in the role, but had someone else played the part, would it have still been as good? The thought reminded me of when Richard Harris was replaced by Michael Gambon and the ensuing dissonance.

I would like to invite a quick discussion about the synergy between actor and character. If an actor or actress becomes unavailable, walks away from the project, etc, how would you think this impacts on the character role? Would it change? Does a strong actor or actress fit into the role smoothly, and would a transition be smooth? More importantly to the Smarmy Club, would your view change if it were a major role versus a minor one?

I'll give 10 points for a substantial, thought-out comment (let's say about 200 words, minimum). Further comments of at least 50 words will be awarded five house points.

As it's a topic with broad scope I shall not be assigning debate motions here. I would just like to see some free chatter. But of course, feel free to play devil's advocate with each other. I love to see a bit of that over a circle of people nodding among themselves. ;)


_{The Smarmy Society: Because loving the Trio is too mainstream.}

Comments

[bergeronprocess.livejournal.com]

Yeah, if they'd written him out due to actor death, I think the riots would have been...out of this world!

I know, right? Not just one black actress who was replaced, but TWO! And like I said, it did not go unnoticed by people, even though I think maybe they hoped people wouldn't notice. I always imagined Blaise as a man, too, and in my head Lavender was always black even before I saw the movies. Not only did Hunger Games display a rather appalling amount of whitewashing, that terrible Avatar: The Last Airbender movie that came out a few years ago did the same. It's definitely getting more exposure/call-out because people notice this stuff and talk about it! (Like we're doing right here. Yes!) But will it affect change? Let's just see.

Emmapuff

[anbyrobanby.livejournal.com]

See, THG seemed to respect ethnic diversity to an extent (Rue, Thresh, Cinna). What pissed me off was how the general public responded. Ugh, some of that stuff was gut-churningly repugnant. I do not care to entertain it further. Would Katniss have been truer with a different casting? Maybe. Maybe not. I like JL as her, personally. I had little issue with her, though she could have looked "seamier".

The less said about Finnick, the better. ¬__¬

Anyway, back to HP. On one level, I guess the industry caters for expectations, right? But on the other hand they help define that expectation, and really there's a time when they need to take the lead and go "well, that's your problem assholes- check your sources and come back with a rebuttal based in evidence." But sadly, this didnt happen for HP, which blows- it could have hit far and wide.

rob/gryff

[bergeronprocess.livejournal.com]

Yeah, some folks reeeeally took it hard and past the bounds of intelligent, rational discussion of The Big Issues. That's also a side effect of internet.

LOL LET'S NOT EVEN TALK ABOUT FINNICK. That super hot dude people wanted to have him cast as on tumblr, some guy with amazing green eyes, I was all about that. I'm sorry I forgot his name. The guy they cast instead, I'm not impressed with yet. WOW ME, GUY WHOSE NAME I ALSO DON'T KNOW.

As for Harry Potter, that's a great point! Yes, there is some diversity, which is nice and all. But then, there's The Case of Lavender (lol I just find it so egregious that I'm going to keep coming back to it), which just seems to defy logical expectations. Even if the first two actresses became unavailable for whatever reason, like schoolwork or whatnot, why not replace her with another black actress for the sake of SOME consistency? Be the expectation. Define the expectation.

Emmapuff

[anbyrobanby.livejournal.com]

Jesse Williams. I remember when ONTD went into meltdown when they announced their pick of that runty, pigeon-chested kid from the lesser POTC movie to have the role. I recall it on the same salience as I recall where I was when Michael Jackson died. Which in a way is quite sad of me, but still.

There's always a risk of fandom trying to define and command what a film interpretation of their precious should do, and tbh I don't think it's wrong for the industry to do what they damn well want lest BNFs get ideas above their station. But let's be real, nobody realllly had any special expectation for Lav-Lav. Can she eat Ron's face? Yes. Can she simper about divination? Irrelevant, we cut it out. Can she be mauled by Greyback in the final battle? Yeah, but so could anyone, really. It's very odd, and as you say, egregious.

rob/gryff

[kaitydid33087.livejournal.com]

Actually, I think the Hunger Games did it pretty good. I mean, all the important scenes with Rue and Thresh were there. It's not like they ignored that Rue and Thresh were black. It would've been one thing, if they had, when it clearly states in the book, that they're both black. And Katniss was the main focus, not Rue and Thresh. Though I really wish that Rue's part hadn't had been as rushed as it was. But that's a different topic.

KaityPuff