(no subject)
I've been watching The Shield, a show about corrupt cops taking care of gangs in the LA area. It's a tough show with tough characters. I came across a scene where these cops come face to face with a Mexican gang. I looked at the gang and I started to wonder about the extras agencies and the directors who hire from them. And I wondered if the following scenario has ever happened.
The director: (on the phone with the agency) Okay, we need a whole bunch of latino tough guys for our Mexican gang scene.
The Agency's Rep: I'm on it.
Agency Rep: (looking through a huge database of pictures) He looks mexican, so yes. He looks too white, so no. Him? No. Him? Yes. No. No. No. Maybe. Maybe. No...
Nothing interesting in this scenario yet. But imagine just the day before, a latino gay bear decides he wants to get into doing extra work and so gives his head shot to this one agency. In the picture he's got a bushy goatee and a five o'clock stubble where his beard should be. He's got a shaved head. He's got tattoos on his arm. When he took the picture he wanted to make the agency believe he's serious about acting, so he makes his look extra serious. And it works! The rep takes one look the picture and says "A definite YES!"
So the rep sends them all off to the shoot.
The Director: (from the director's chair with a mega phone in his mouth) Cut! Cut cut cut cut. Extra number four. Please stop your swishing! Okay? Thank you! Now from the top. Aaaaand ACTION!
The Director: Cut cut cut cut cut cut. Extra number four! Please tighten your wrists a little! Okay? *beat* Thank you! Now from the top... again... Aaaaand ACTION
The Director: CUUUUUUT. Cut cut cut cut cut. Extra number FOUR! Please don't roll you're eyes so much. *beat* For Christ sake, you're supposed to be in a tough gang!
Gay Bear: (puts his hands on his tilted hips and talks to the extra next to him) What's his problem. I'm BEING like butch and all.
The director: (on the phone with the agency) Okay, we need a whole bunch of latino tough guys for our Mexican gang scene.
The Agency's Rep: I'm on it.
Agency Rep: (looking through a huge database of pictures) He looks mexican, so yes. He looks too white, so no. Him? No. Him? Yes. No. No. No. Maybe. Maybe. No...
Nothing interesting in this scenario yet. But imagine just the day before, a latino gay bear decides he wants to get into doing extra work and so gives his head shot to this one agency. In the picture he's got a bushy goatee and a five o'clock stubble where his beard should be. He's got a shaved head. He's got tattoos on his arm. When he took the picture he wanted to make the agency believe he's serious about acting, so he makes his look extra serious. And it works! The rep takes one look the picture and says "A definite YES!"
So the rep sends them all off to the shoot.
The Director: (from the director's chair with a mega phone in his mouth) Cut! Cut cut cut cut. Extra number four. Please stop your swishing! Okay? Thank you! Now from the top. Aaaaand ACTION!
The Director: Cut cut cut cut cut cut. Extra number four! Please tighten your wrists a little! Okay? *beat* Thank you! Now from the top... again... Aaaaand ACTION
The Director: CUUUUUUT. Cut cut cut cut cut. Extra number FOUR! Please don't roll you're eyes so much. *beat* For Christ sake, you're supposed to be in a tough gang!
Gay Bear: (puts his hands on his tilted hips and talks to the extra next to him) What's his problem. I'm BEING like butch and all.