Argo
Edward James Olmos speaks up against Ben Affleck , director and actor inArgo , for playing a Mexican - American character . Going on 46 year , Olmos is a fabled honor - succeed thespian , producer , and director for telecasting and motion picture . He is most known for his roles inStand and Deliver , Miami Vice , Blade RunnerandBlade Runner 2049 , andAmerican Me , which he both orchestrate and starred in . Akey Latino figure in Hollywood , Olmos has actively fought for diversity and greater opportunity for Hispanics in American medium .
In 2012,Affleck place and asterisked inArgo , which tell the honest story about CIA broker Tony Mendez who posed as a Hollywood film manufacturer reconnoitring location in Iran in ordering to redeem six American hostages during the U.S. hostage crisis in 1979 . Affleck , who is an American of European descent , play Mendez , who was a Mexican - American . While the film become to earn three Academy Awards , the factMendez ’s character was whitewasheddid not geezerhood well . Sadly , Argois among many films in Hollywood that is guilty of casting white actors as non - white-hot characters .
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Recently , Deadlinehad a conversation with Olmos in which they discussed the problem of erasure of people of color in Hollywood , Affleck ’s function inArgo , and the current political climate . Olmos challenge Affleck ’s claim thatArgowould not have been made if he himself did not star in the role , pointing out the fact that Affleck ’s spotlight in the film contributed to the overwriting of Tony Mendez ’s true identity and heritage . Olmos shared articulately :
" … and when they have made movies about Latinos , “ our heroes , ” say like Tony Mendez in Argo ? Ben Affleck bring Tony Mendez . He should never have play Tony Mendez . He was the director and he should ’ve either gotten Michael Pena , or Andy Garcia , or myself , Jimmy Smits , any one of a hoi polloi of people that can handle those roles . He said , well , they would n’t have made the movie if I was n’t playing the role . crap . He was directing it , he wrote it . It won the full film of the class Academy Award , so what are you talking about ? Tony Mendez was a Chicano , a Mexican American , born and raised in El Paso , Texas . Now , 99 % of the people do n’t even have a go at it that . "
Olmos work up what he believe to be the core issue of variety in Hollywood : It is too focused on a black or white view instead of a multicultural linear perspective . Those with the highest rankings in the business , such as studios and executive , have the power to settle not only what stories are tell , but also which faces exemplify the tale . The big guys are , agree to Olmos , the 1 who make the decisions and until their positions are filled by people of colour , the amusement patronage will not switch . He shared in paying attention to the deficiency of industry diversity : " … it ’s all about Africans and Caucasians having it out , and of form , the Asian , the Indigenous , and the Latino are nowhere to be found . " Olmos maintains that the solution for bringing in more inclusiveness to Hollywood is to let hoi polloi of color make their films and secernate their tarradiddle on a commercial scurf - and , to star in them . Moreover , Olmos shared his support of the global Black Lives Matter motion and knock President Donald Trump ’s role in inciting furiousness against peaceful protestors .
Olmos is a talented , inspiring artist and activist of our time . alas , the erasure of citizenry of color is not the only major flaw in the business , for distaff delegacy is also a huge problem . It seems that when Hollywood come after in one matter , it fail at another - such as when it provided more directing Book of Job for women yethit an all - time Sir David Alexander Cecil Low with racial inclusivenessin 2017 . Olmos ' spot remains honest : Hollywood need to extend its horizons and think outside the scope of smutty and white , male and distaff for include the faces and vocalisation that audience - and the world - need .
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Source : Deadline
