Ep 7: The Mixed Actor’s Dilemma in Hollywood with guests Colin McCalla, Kyla Nova, Amy ward and Lorenzo Silva

Join us as we get right into the nuanced experiences of four mixed-race actors: Collin McCalla, Kyla Nova, Amy Ward and Lorenzo Silva as they navigate the complex landscape of Hollywood casting.

We explore the challenges they face when their identities intersect with industry stereotypes and casting conventions. We examine the delicate balance between diversity in casting and authentic representation, raising questions on ethnicity, identity, and the evolving standards of storytelling in film and television.

How should Hollywood balance the quest for authenticity in casting with the fluidity of mixed-race identities?

Where do mixed-race actors fit in an industry striving for diversity, but still grappling with rigid perceptions of ethnicity? Should there be a threshold for how much an actor's ethnicity should align with the character's, and who decides this threshold?

What happens when you’re unable to get cast as the ethnicity/ies you actually are because you don’t look it and in fact look more like another ethnic group? 

 

Episode breakdown:

• Introductions to Collin McCalla and Kyla Nova and their mixed heritage.
• Personal anecdotes from McCalla and Nova on casting experiences that overlook their unique backgrounds, including sometimes being placed under the umbrella of other ethnicities
• The dilemma of playing roles not matching one's own ethnicity and Hollywood's generalizations of race and culture. 

• Where do mixed actors fit in when there is a gap between their ethnic background and how they are perceived?

•  How far should filmmakers  go to assure diverse actors are properly portrayed and represented? Should they base castings off of biology or appearance? 

• Amy Ward's experiences with being of Korean and Irish descent and her thoughts on casting limitations for mixed actors.

• Reflecting on the scarcity of mixed-race representation when we were children and the impact on personal and cultural identity.
• The historical context of diversity in Hollywood, referencing Anna Mae Wong's era versus the current climate.
• What happens when you can’t get cast as your own ethnicity because you don’t look it. Are you therefore ‘allowed’ to play a role that’s of another ethnicity if you look like it?
•  Discussion about casting an actress with Native American ancestry but who identifies as an Asian American - Can she play a native American role with references to an example from an article on globalcomment.com
• Discussions on the backlash and boundaries in casting, exemplified by Amy Ward's portrayal of Anna Mae Wong.
• How strict should we become about who can play what because we could end up shutting the door in the faces of people who should be in the room.  
• Lorenzo Silva’s unique situation and his perspective on ethnic authenticity 
• A affirming summary from Amy Ward 

Special Guests: 

Collin McCalla, Kyla Nova, Amy WArd, Lorenzo Silva

 

Instagram: @jcmccalla, @kylanova11, @grimgaiety, @lorenzosilvadolla

 

 Links:

‘Casting an Asian-American in a Native American Role Does Not Help Diversity in Hollywood’

https://globalcomment.com/casting-asian-american-native-american-role-not-help-diversity-hollywood/

Hollywood: The True Story of Anna May Wong and The Good Earth

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/05/hollywood-ryan-murphy-anna-may-wong

 

 Additional info on the Podcast: 

Hosts: Amy Maghera -Taub, Hanna-Lee Sakakibara

Music: Mathias Kunzli - www.mathiasjunzli.com 

 

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