They all look the same...

[Alex Zahlten]

The stir that a casting of Chinese nationals as Japanese in a Hollywood film
might stir up in respective "areas" (Japan, Japanophiles, Film Studies
etc.), and the different reasons that each of these groups might have to
object to it, is interesting in itself, I think. 
For one, to stay in the realm of the national/national identity, no one
really objects when Angelina Jolie is cast as a Briton in Tombraider, or
Hugh Jackson as an American mutant in X-Men. Of course, this kind of
cross-casting can extend into sexual identity, when straight actors gay
characters or vice versa, which also rarely causes uproar anymore (though
there are specific dynamics at work here as well).

I'd like to hear some thoughts on what is actually objectionable to the
casting of memoirs as it stands- apart from the fact that it might alienate
Japanese audiences, which is more of an economic reasoning. Although it
could be interesting to think about why Japanese audiences would be
alienated by such a move (I can think of cases where such national
cross-casting has not caused any kind of objections- a complicated case in
point would be the casting of Schindlers List and the reactions to it in
Germany). And Japan itself, of course, has a long history of such national
cross-casting (I lack a better word for it), with a fair amount, if not the
majority, of bit part American roles to this day being played by obviously
(maybe not to a Japanese audience) non-Americans. In this case, I find it
much more problematic that they are also often obviously not professional
actors.


Alex Zahlten




> The casting director for "Memoirs" told me that the decision to use the
> Chinese actresses was mainly box office calculation -- they are among the
few
> Asian names the American audience knows. They have also demonstrated their
> ability to handle English -- essential for an all-English project like
> this. 
> 
> In addition to Watanabe, Yakusho Koji and Kudo Yuki have been cast, which
> may make the film more acceptable to the Japanese audience. Also, she
quite
> likes what she has seen of Marshall, saying that he is enthusiastic and
> sincere. 
> 
> One problem is that, even with the best dialogue coaching, the Chinese are
> probably going to sound "off" to anyone who knows what a real Japanese
> accent sound like. This may matter more to Japanophiles than the multiplex
> masses, though.
> 
> More seriously, the Japanese industry people I have spoken with about the
> film are angry and disappointed that so many of the  geisha roles are
going
> to foreigners. "It's an insult, really," one told me. It's somewhat like a
> Japanese producer casting Jean Reno as a cowboy, thinking that no one is
> going to object in the target market -- Japan. Americans might, however --
> especially if the cowboy is supposed to be an All-American Clint Eastwood
> type. 
> 
> And what is more All-Japanese than a geisha? 
> 
> In other words, the "Memoirs" people are asking for commercial
> disappointment, if not disaster, in Japan. After "The Last Samurai"
grossed $127
> million here -- more than it earned in the States -- casting Japanese
stars in
> Japanese roles you would think that Hollywood might have learned
something.
> Guess not -- the wheel is still being re-invented as we speak.
> 
> Mark Schilling  
> 
> 
>   ----- Original Message ----- 
>   From: JAG 
>   To: KineJapan at lists.acs.ohio-state.edu 
>   Sent: Monday, August 30, 2004 2:30 PM
>   Subject: Re: They all look the same...
> 
> 
>   I wouldn't give up hope that there might be something of interest
> besides the sideshow. 
> 
>   A Kyoto friend who's becoming something of an expert on geisha, spent
> about a week in July helping Rob Marshall and a small crew scout Kyoto
> locations and somebody from the art department buy properties (hair
ornaments,
> jewelry, etc). My friend said he was especially struck by the 'eye' of the
> buyer and the command Marshall had over his crew, seemingly largely due to
> his earnestness. 
> 
>   He also said that the plan is to only shoot in Kyoto for about two weeks
> some time around November.
> 
>   It is sad that so many of the Japanese roles are not being played by
> Japanese. I would be interested to hear other members' speculation why
this is
> so. Is it just name recognition? 
> 
>   Anyone care to offer their propositions for Japanese actors to fill the
> roles?
> 
>   John 
> 
>   Update on myself: Last year I learned of the list while getting an MA in
> Film Studies in Dublin. (Thanks again to all who helped in my reseach.)
> I'm now teaching mainly eikaiwa at Kyoto area universities, trying to do
more
> with Film Studies and hoping to at least dabble in production. (Until I
> fill out my schedule, I'm also putting the experience gained in Ireland to
> good use, working in an Irish Pub in Gion, through which many interesting
> characters pass. Stop in if you're in town and I'll pull you a pint.)
> 
> 
>   On Aug 29, 2004, at 7:49 PM, Mark Mays wrote:
> 
> 
>     Yeah, did you expect any more from them? On the other hand, maybe some
> great controversy will erupt from it all and provide some interesting side
> show.
> 
>     ----- Original Message -----
>     From: Mark Nornes 
>     To: KineJapan 
>     Sent: Sunday, August 29, 2004 7:40 PM
>     Subject: They all look the same...
> 
>     A few years ago, Spielberg was interviewed in the midst of
> preproduction for Memoirs of a Geisha. The reporter describes costume
designs for the
> film's kimono spread out over a table, and admires all the elaborate
images
> of dragons decorating the costumes. Ever since that moment, I've been
> looking forward to how cheesy the final film would be. Looks like I won't
be
> disappointed. The dragon motifs foreshadowed the casting: Watanabe Ken
will
> be joined by Zhang Ziyi, Michelle Yeoh, and Li Gong. 
> 
>     Markus
> 

-- 
alex at nipponconnection.de

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