GENERAL DISCUSSIONS

more asians in serenity

POSTED BY: JEBUSYOON
UPDATED: Tuesday, October 25, 2005 20:32
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Tuesday, October 4, 2005 3:15 PM

JEBUSYOON


i don't know if anyone's mentioned this but... for a world that's melted the asian and western culture so well, why aren't there more asians? i mean, i love the show, and everything, but it would be cool if they had asian people speaking an asian language, or do the smuggling happen in caucasian worlds? sorry, just a little angry, being an asian-american, if you couldn't tell by my poor grammar... :P anywho, any asian would be fine, know or not so known... (me)cough... hahaha. like, for instance, jakie chan, jet li, johnny young bosh, william hung... wait... maybe not all, but some asian dude/dudette. well, thanks for reading my post! but seriously, joss is a genious.


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Tuesday, October 4, 2005 7:14 PM

KIZYR


Quote:

Originally posted by jebusyoon:
i don't know if anyone's mentioned this but... for a world that's melted the asian and western culture so well, why aren't there more asians? i mean, i love the show, and everything, but it would be cool if they had asian people speaking an asian language, or do the smuggling happen in caucasian worlds? sorry, just a little angry, being an asian-american, if you couldn't tell by my poor grammar... :P anywho, any asian would be fine, know or not so known... (me)cough... hahaha. like, for instance, jakie chan, jet li, johnny young bosh, william hung... wait... maybe not all, but some asian dude/dudette. well, thanks for reading my post! but seriously, joss is a genious.




I've definitely noticed. There's the occasional Chinese fellow (assuming by language). But, I figured in an environment like that in Firefly, areas might be separated based on language. Since the crew mostly bums around in English-speaking enclaves, then perhaps more of their contacts are of European and North American descent from Earth-that-was.

Then, there's also the fact of there being fewer Asian-American actors out there. Too bad, too. KF

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Tuesday, October 4, 2005 8:00 PM

STAKETHELURK


Quote:

Then, there's also the fact of there being fewer Asian-American actors out there. Too bad, too.


I wasn't aware of that. Interesting (though unfortunate). Joss has said they auditioned asian actors for basically every role on the series (both cast and guest star), but felt that the other actors just out-performed them (why couldn't they get Daniel Dae Kim from "Angel" for a guest stint?). So, a smaller talent pool means fewer numbers of high quality actors and thus basically no roles.

It should be pointed out that Ott from the comic books (where casting played somewhat less of a role) was Asian and had a fair amount of... um... page time. He also had no Chinese lines, whatever that means in the grand picture.

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Tuesday, October 4, 2005 8:04 PM

JASONZZZ




Well, if you just look at how many Mesopotamians are running around today... Maybe that's where all of the Asians have gone in the ff universe - the way of the Mesopotamians...



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Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:10 PM

JEBUSYOON


yeah, im thinking that there aren't many key asian actors in many films, and the ones that are decent at that practice only speak a friegn lanugage which really sucks. you would imagine that the world, no matter how seperated by language we are, gets intergrated, especially if we have to leave our world and colonize a new solar system. i just wish joss would make more of an effort to look for quality asian actors such as daniel dae kim, who is probably busy with lost which is another show i am currently obsessed over. i mean, it will take lots of man power, but it's the subtle things like that i appreciate about joss' work. ooo, or have david carradine do an apperence or something... oh well. dreams are ment to be dreamt.

but definately no william hung, i just can't stand that guy. i mean, he set back asians 17 generations. i feel my ancestors turning in their graves.

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Tuesday, October 4, 2005 9:52 PM

RAKARR


Well the crew of Serenity doesn't speak other languages that we know of except for some Chinese slang. It wouldn't be very logical for them to do business with people they can't comunicate with well.

There was asians in the movie though. Not playing big parts but they in there if I remember right.

Maybe if they do a 2nd Season they will get a new piolet that's asian?

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Tuesday, October 4, 2005 11:38 PM

KIZYR


Quote:

Originally posted by StakeTheLurk:
I wasn't aware of that. Interesting (though unfortunate). Joss has said they auditioned asian actors for basically every role on the series (both cast and guest star), but felt that the other actors just out-performed them



Yeah, that's why I don't think this was an intentional oversight. Joss tried to work around it, but not to the extent of passing up on good actors that portrayed the sort of characters he wanted to see.

I mean, it's hard to deny that Firefly had an excellent cast. It's like each actor was just meant for their role. Even Jayne's. Though, it does make it creepy to see Summer Glau talking normally (and didn't she do another 'crazy' role in The 4400?). KF

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Wednesday, October 5, 2005 6:48 AM

JEBUSYOON


think of what you're saying man... asians not speaking... english? i think that's a very bad stereotype you just made. anywho, seeing how they're under one government, you'd think they'd make some type of universal language... no pun intended.

there were couple of stabs at trying to place more asians in the series/movie, such as the pilot, where they were selling cooked dog meat, and the movie, where there was an exotic asian fan dancer in the bar. but im asking for a little more consideration, such as...

the lady in the transport, couldn't she be asian? i mean, there's tons of supporting cast that he could have tried and really have "gone out of his way" to find an asian. if you really have a passion for a craft, or an idea, going out of your way wouldn't be that big of a deal... well, i guess it is for me :D.

but yes, the cast is perfect. im not saying change everything, but the next time he places an idea on the paper, could he try and have an asian in mind? (and i know how devoted he is by how much time he spends on the slang)

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Wednesday, October 5, 2005 7:26 AM

KINGPAUSE


I know this won't hold up because there are plenty of other races visible in the 'verse, occasional "background" Asians included, but my personal theory always was that, in this story, races have become so mixed after 500 years (especially considering the fact that a lot of these people were conceived on colonies with limited populations) that basically everyone is 1/2, 1/4, 1/8, or 1/16 something.

"Tam" is, after all, a very Chinese surname.

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Wednesday, October 5, 2005 7:57 AM

BELASERA


Yeah, I always assumed that Simon and River were at least half asian, though in the ep with their parents, those actors didn't look asian at all.
I agree with the original poster, though, I too would enjoy a better casting blend.

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Wednesday, October 5, 2005 8:47 PM

JEBUSYOON


finally, someone that agrees. yes, tam is a chinese surname, but the actors didn't look even remotely asian. nor did their parents in the tv show. i was about to say how i found it odd that i was the only one wrestling with this thought and everyone saying, "it's ok, who cares if everyone's white?", but thank you for wanting a blend. i guess... im just complaining... as most americans do, and im sorry for that. i just wanted to have some company. you know, that ol' cliché, "misery desires company" or something like that. i forget, hey, i was born in this country, but i still don't understand it.


i love serenity.

jebus, are you looking around the room and saying that you love them?

i love serenity.

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Wednesday, October 5, 2005 9:15 PM

GIANTEVILHEAD


Well, Summer Glau does have some Asian features.

"I swallowed a bug." -River Tam

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 3:13 AM

THEPLAGUE


This was definitely something I noticed too, and found kinda disappointing in terms of "universe continuity" (for lack of a better term).

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:05 AM

KIZYR


Quote:

Originally posted by jebusyoon:
think of what you're saying man... asians not speaking... english? i think that's a very bad stereotype you just made. anywho, seeing how they're under one government, you'd think they'd make some type of universal language... no pun intended.



You really are taking that the wrong way. Think in worldwide terms... There are a lot more Asians who don't speak English as a first (or primary) language than those who do. Since, well, there are plenty more Asians than Asian-Americans (or Europeans, Australians, etc.).

I always figured that there would be a much larger Chinese population the more you got onto the core planets. Since the core planets aren't really a favored destination for Serenity, we don't see much of them. Other Earth-that-Was nationalities could be elsewhere, who knows.

I mean, it's not as silly as everyone in the future police department in Time Trax being white. KF

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ZOE: Preacher, don’t the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killing?
BOOK: Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps...

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 4:57 AM

SONG


I quite agree with the original complaint here -- there are in fact quality Asian American actors aplenty, and a conscious effort could have been made to fill more roles with them -- perhaps not the main ensemble, but the guest roles and bit parts. And I think doing so would give a bit more credibility to the basic premise that Chinese culture and language were one of the few to survive Earth-that-Was.

However -- it is possible that the great "mixing" or triumph of Chinese civilization happened on Earth-that-Was well before things went belly-up there. Chinese is clearly meant to be a lingua franca. Arguably, China sent its own people off to some other galaxy/solar system, and the mostly-white folks who ended up in the Firefly 'verse brought Chinese writing and speech with them because it was a useful way to communicate in large mixed groups -- just as French once was in the diplomatic world, and just as English is now.

The other thought that occurred to me is that while it might make logical sense to cast more Asians in Alliance/Blue Sky roles, or as Companions -- as these are the three institutions most clearly holding legitimate "civilized" status ... it wouldn't play well at all -- very bad taste to perpetuate the stereotypes of Asian men as ruthless, inscrutable, power-hungry and Asian women as submissive or seductive.

Anyway, it's a very interesting question, and I'm glad you raised it.

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Thursday, October 6, 2005 8:19 AM

BELASERA


Well, you could always cast Asian women in the blue sun/ alliance roles.
And was that a male companion I saw in the movie? The one with the lack of shirt, yum.

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Monday, October 10, 2005 6:49 AM

SONG


Quote:

Originally posted by jebusyoon:
... for a world that's melted the asian and western culture so well, why aren't there more asians?



Here's a blog-review that makes your point, emphatically. A good read.

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archives/2005/10/inscrutability.htm
l


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Monday, October 10, 2005 8:14 AM

JEBUSYOON


hahaha, that's what i was trying to say, but im a math graduate in davis, and can't use english as well as that lovely lady placed it. thanks claire

she also brought up a good point on how black people were portrayed as savage killers, (the assasin, bounty hunter and possibly sheperd book)

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Monday, October 10, 2005 3:08 PM

KIZYR


Quote:

Originally posted by jebusyoon:
she also brought up a good point on how black people were portrayed as savage killers, (the assasin, bounty hunter and possibly sheperd book)



I definitely disagree with that... The two prominent black people in Firefly are Shepherd Book and Zoe. One comes off almost all the time as an extremely compassionate and forgiving man--perhaps with a past he's trying to make up for, but compassionate nonetheless. The other comes off as a fierce warrior in love with a nutty pilot.

Jubal Early and the Operative were side characters, and villians. But it could just as easily be said that all Russians, or all short guys with Cockney accents, are portrayed as bad guys.

On another note... I still stand by my original statement. I honestly don't think it's that big a deal. Sure, I'd like there to be more Asians (and South Asians, in particular) in film and TV, but that doesn't get me all worked up whenever I see a cast without any Asians in it. Even when it comes to Firefly. KF

~Kaiser Farooque

ZOE: Preacher, don’t the Bible have some pretty specific things to say about killing?
BOOK: Quite specific. It is, however, somewhat fuzzier on the subject of kneecaps...

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Friday, October 14, 2005 9:49 AM

JEBUSYOON


i guess what im really angry is at the lack of response. i mean, the minorities are right, there is a new kind of rasism, and it's not your blatent, "you're different skin color" rasisim. it's this passive, who cares rasisim. i don't know if i said that correctly, but that's what peeved me off. not that joss didnt' employ asians, but just the blase response he had when he didn't have any. like, "oh, we dont' have asians? oh well." and every other fan trying to defend him by altering the universe so it could fit a non-asian human society. so my anger is toward not the people, but their blindness, their ignorance, and a sense, my ignorance as well. i've ignored this problem, saying to myself, all these different races should chill, but i think this outrage is needed to open our eyes. i hope that made sense...

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Friday, October 14, 2005 12:40 PM

INKA


I must admit that my delight at the use of Chinese in Firefly was tempered a bit by the fact that this element didn't seem to go very deeply into the world. You do see some Asian faces in the background (the village dance scene in "Safe" comes to mind), and I really like that, but generally, I agree with the original poster of this thread, that it doesn't make sense that a world with so much Asian influence on the surface would have so few Asian people in it.

More importantly, I think it was a missed opportunity on the part of the show's makers. The idea that cultures have mingled greatly is a cool one, and is somewhat supported by the upper classes having names that could be Chinese (Tam, Wing, etc. There are actually a couple of Dr. Tams here in Honolulu) but the faces don't bear that out--except Summer Glau's. I'd be surprised if I learned that she isn't of part-Asian descent. It would have been very cool if one of her parents had been played by an Asian actor, or both of them by people who are of some combined ancestry.

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Friday, October 14, 2005 1:12 PM

REAVERINA1985RIVIERA


Quote:

Originally posted by Jasonzzz:


Well, if you just look at how many Mesopotamians are running around today... Maybe that's where all of the Asians have gone in the ff universe - the way of the Mesopotamians...



Off topic, but:
Babelonians would be a better example.

A small history lesson: The British invaded Mesoptoamia in the early 20th century, then renamed it.

Know what it's new name is?

IRAQ!

Yep, Mesopotamians are still alive and kicking (and punching and shooting and blowing s**t up).



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Friday, October 14, 2005 2:20 PM

INKA


HAR. I was hoping someone would make that point about (as the Daily Show puts it) Mess O' Potamia.

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Friday, October 14, 2005 2:20 PM

SIGGGY


Do many Asians like Serenity? I thought they would like to go to hear some of the cussin? Its more than most Western films have in them.

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Friday, October 14, 2005 2:47 PM

JEBUSYOON


im an asian and i love it. but i don't love the fact that it doesn't employ them readily on the screen... sorry that was a bit corny

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Friday, October 14, 2005 4:33 PM

SONG


Quote:

Originally posted by jebusyoon:
... there is a new kind of rasism, and it's not your blatent, "you're different skin color" rasisim. it's this passive, who cares rasisim. ... so my anger is toward not the people, but their blindness, their ignorance, and a sense, my ignorance as well. i've ignored this problem, saying to myself, all these different races should chill, but i think this outrage is needed to open our eyes. i hope that made sense...



It makes perfect sense to me.

I think you are speaking of white privilege, which permits those in the majority group to remain sheltered in naivety and the very best of intentions, and to respond with pained defensiveness to any accusations of prejudice or bias.

And I think you show tremendous insight as well by recognizing that you have internalized that same "white privilege" response, the dismissive shrug when racism is demonstrated. In a culture that promotes whites at the expense of non-whites, real and concrete privileges accrue to the non-whites who can appear or act the most white.

The same dynamic is at work when very nice men (and many women) just "don't get" why women are angry about sexist behavior. They are privileged by the system of discrimination, so privileged that they can afford even to be unaware that there IS a system. I especially like the distinction you make between being angry at such people (a bad idea) and being angry at their blindness and ignorance. How you convince them to grow beyond it is a question I cannot answer, sadly.


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Saturday, October 15, 2005 8:31 AM

JASONZZZ


No, ur, we keep saying Asians... It's really just Chinese. I don't hear any Tagalog, Japanese, Hindi, Korean, Malay, etc.... Asians cover quite a bit of ground...

Understandably, for most people in the world. There isn't a whole lot of difference in the world between the more prominent facial and cultural chracterists between Japanese, Malays, Chinese, Vietnamese, Koreans, etc. To most folks, these people all look alike and the cultural practices equally foreign. But there is no excuse in the fact that we should use Chinese actors if we are really refering to a Universe where Chinese culture and language and practices became a greater part of the dominant forces in play.

Yes, Daniel Kim is a really good actor, but he is a ethinically Korean and we shouldn't just use any old "Asian" actor who's available. He doesn't look remotely Chinese.

Really!? Asians and Orientals are best left to describing things that are common to the entire region or if you *really* mean to talk about the entire set of people, or culture, or food. But in general practice, there aren't a lot of things that you are applying to the entire set of Asian cultures. It is such a huge and diverse area and the people are so different. There might be similarities between the Malays, the southern part of China, and Vietnam for instance. But that's no where close to the culture practiced in various different parts of India, Pakistan, or the Philippines... Stand up and be proud, don't get
mixed in and allow yourself to be blended into a big bunch of "Asians" just because people haven't learned to see the differences.

"Are you Asian?"

"No, I most certainly *am not* just Asian! I am Japanese!!!"



Anyways, the show really slaughters the Mandarin and Cantonese (what bits of Cantonese that it pretends to be) that are spoken in there. I mean, nobody is as critical as the French in their particuliarity with their own national language, but the spoken Chinese is really really horrific. To the point of wondering if they are speaking Chinese or not. Without the subtitles and the online guides, most of the chopped up spoken Chinese phrases are not understandable.




Quote:

Originally posted by sigggy:
Do many Asians like Serenity? I thought they would like to go to hear some of the cussin? Its more than most Western films have in them.



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Saturday, October 15, 2005 8:37 AM

JASONZZZ


hmm... yeah, I misspoke. But, to be exact, you are talking more of a geographical lesson rather than a historical one. But back on point, I was, of course, refering to ancient Mesopotamia, the Sumerian culture and people to place it within more historical context.

And to be blunt, the people that are in Iraq right now weren't anything close to the original Mesopotamians in the area. These were all of the rejects and bandits from up north that came in and slaughtered the Romans after they took over.



Quote:

Originally posted by ReaverInA1985Riviera:
Quote:

Originally posted by Jasonzzz:


Well, if you just look at how many Mesopotamians are running around today... Maybe that's where all of the Asians have gone in the ff universe - the way of the Mesopotamians...



Off topic, but:
Babelonians would be a better example.

A small history lesson: The British invaded Mesoptoamia in the early 20th century, then renamed it.

Know what it's new name is?

IRAQ!

Yep, Mesopotamians are still alive and kicking (and punching and shooting and blowing s**t up).



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Wednesday, October 19, 2005 11:44 AM

JEBUSYOON


yes, you are correct, and joss did hire daniel dae as a korean in his roll on angel, and if he did trully want to hire correct asians in his cast, it would be chinese. but the fact that he has no asians, whatsoever, is a bit odd. i was trying to name off some asians that he could use, but i guess i'm fighting a battle that is geared toward the wrong side. i guess if he would have hired a japanese person for a roll on serenity, i would be complaining that he wasn't chinese. i guess that's the way the world operates, people picking on the ones that stand out.

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Wednesday, October 19, 2005 12:36 PM

JASONZZZ



Well, that's the thing... If you are doing a show portraying Russian history and they go off and hired a bunch of Irish or Nordic guys/gals to do the show... Well, yeah, they are all white people, what the heck is the differences whether you get a bunch of Germans to play the Jewish people in a show about Jews being persecuted - they are all white people.

But it's just not the same.



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Wednesday, October 19, 2005 12:59 PM

DREAMTROVE


Good question, maybe there's a lack of talented chinese actors in Joss' audition pool. If that's the case, there's a good in for someone.

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Wednesday, October 19, 2005 1:55 PM

JASONZZZ



Yeah, I'm just busting an artery over absolutely nothing here. I mean, seriously, how many starving Chinese actors there are altogether? Do they deserve support as artists go? Yeah... well, at least the talented ones go anyways...

The real problem that I continue to see is that people keep thinking that all of these "Asian" folks all look alike. I think not, each distinct ethnic group have their very own features and physical characteristics to being with - that's just looks and outward behavior. There are very deep cultural differences that just make them completely different and distinct people.

There's enough of a learned and cultural difference that they literally see different things when looking at the same scenery, pictures, imageries - MRI and PETscan confirmed!





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Wednesday, October 19, 2005 2:06 PM

ALBATROSS


Thanks for bring this up! Although I love the fact that Joss took the idea that Chinese culture will be one of the two primary influences in this Universe, I do have a couple of small pet peeves. I take more issue with whomever is the cultural consultant on this show though since that person should know better. There's a scene with Inara doing calligraphy and she's holding the brush all wrong. Any child would know how to hold a callgraphy brush if they were taugh calligraphy. Second peeve is the vast amount of cheep looking Chinatown tourist quality clothing in garish colors that they put on the extras.

Okay, end of rant...

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Thursday, October 20, 2005 7:57 AM

ICEHQS


Hey there, i'm new to the FF verse, however i come from an RPG background pnp as well as electronically. As to the subject of hiring chinese actors that has an inkling of chinese, i'd say why not hire Russell Wong or his brother Michael Wong (search these names on any search engines and you'll find useful info on the actors).

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Monday, October 24, 2005 3:38 PM

JEBUSYOON


only if there was a way to mass email joss himself to higher some chinese people...

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Monday, October 24, 2005 5:24 PM

TWEEK128


Y'mean "hire?" Who cares, really?

Do I wish there were more Asians, specifically Chinese, about? Sure. But, hell, they speak some Mandarin, don't they?

And tell me Kaylee doesn't look part-Asian. And you can't ignore the surname Tam, the other surnames / family names about, the Chinese language everywhere, and the fact that their culture isn't homogenously "Western."

For the love a' Mike, Saffron made "bao" for Mal, and Mal uses chopsticks. They've done a lot as it is, but accept the world for what it is. Besides, out on the fringe, there's probably gonna be more "others" since Alliance is Anglo-Sino.

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Monday, October 24, 2005 6:49 PM

YORG


Some people are really clueless.


You don't "hire" actors in a traditional sense. I guess you could if you had enough money, but as we all know Firefly isn't exactly the biggest cash cow. You get a show like 24 for example and you have much more pull in getting certain actors to come work for you. But firefly doesn't have that ability.

But this is somewhat how it would go.

You put out a casting call asking for people who are interested in doing the show.

THEN those people check out what the show is about and deceide IF they feel like doing it.

THEN they have to audition and be better for certain parts than other people.


You can can't say, "Hey you have slanty eyes, you get the part." That would be ridiculous. You pick the actors that suit the role the best, and if no Chinese actors were interested in the show (or no good ones at least), then what can you do?

If you don't have the financial means to attract the actors that you want, then you take what you can get. You guys are acting like they made a choice to avoid Chinese actors. Like they sat around plotting about how they weren't going to hire a couple main Chinese actors to play main characters.


That being said. I wouldn't mind seeing a Chinese person added to the crew (if the series starts up again). It could open new doors for the crew in terms of connections. And it would be funny if the Chinese person would correct the crew when they misused Chinese.

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Monday, October 24, 2005 11:47 PM

JAYNEZTOWN


I saw a question like this before
http://www.fireflyfans.net/thread.asp?b=2&t=6342#191793
and here's what my thoughts were :

Asian actors are rare in sci-fi, there are mnay in horror, crime, kung-fu and drama movies but few in science fiction. George Takei is famous for his Star Trek work (Lt. Sulu ) but I'm not sure if he's done much lately

Zhang Ziyi did scifi with 2046 but she's a massive and expensive China/Hollywood star. Daniel Dae Kim has done the Babylon5 scifi Crusade but he's busy with Untitled Onion Movie and the tv
show Lost


its a fact that there are very few Asian actors in sci-fi

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Tuesday, October 25, 2005 3:37 AM

NICOLACLARKE


FWIW, I too find it disappointing - and inconsistent with the 'verse as apparently conceptualised - that we saw so few East Asian characters on the show and in the film (and, for that matter, South Asian - where are the Indians?). Present-day India and China do, after all, account for a rather large proportion of the world's population, a trend that seems only likely to continue. If they aren't out on the border planets, why aren't they at least on Ariel? Perhaps if we'd seen Sihnon?

While I absolutely take the point about casting the best actor for the role, regardless of race, casting calls frequently can and do specify race if such is integral to a character. Perhaps as the show went on Joss would have made more determined moves in that direction?

Song wrote:

Quote:

Here's a blog-review that makes your point, emphatically. A good read.

http://www.hyphenmagazine.com/blog/archives/2005/10/inscrutability.htm
l



Interesting article, and some even more interesting comments in response to it. In particular this one, from "mario":

Quote:

Just so you know, Simon Tam, who looks white, is written with a definite asianness to him. Meek, polite, respectful to parents. Very confucian. He's acting asian to me--more asian than most of my americanized friends but then again, what do I know?


This is something that had never occurred to me before, but it lends a whole new dimension to my impressions of Simon.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2005 4:12 AM

STEVE580


Quote:

Originally posted by yorg:
You can can't say, "Hey you have slanty eyes, you get the part." That would be ridiculous. You pick the actors that suit the role the best, and if no Chinese actors were interested in the show (or no good ones at least), then what can you do?

If you don't have the financial means to attract the actors that you want, then you take what you can get. You guys are acting like they made a choice to avoid Chinese actors. Like they sat around plotting about how they weren't going to hire a couple main Chinese actors to play main characters.


Exactly. I mean, denying a role to a better-qualified person solely because they're not Chinese...certainly, that’s not a sound policy, and one I think few people would advocate.

Let's remember, if Joss had limited himself to picking actors from the right reigonal location, we wouldn't have a Canadian with a fake accent as captain. But I don't hear any complaints about that....
-Steve

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Tuesday, October 25, 2005 4:47 AM

TWEEK128


Quote:



This is something that had never occurred to me before, but it lends a whole new dimension to my impressions of Simon.



Guess I'd forgotten that, but yeah. To me it was pretty plain to see that Simon and River were definitely Chinese. If not in straight ethnic terms, they were certainly culturally so.

Culture, after all, is more than just whether or not you have "slanty eyes" or not. Compare, say Zhang Ziyi and Bai Ling. Two very, VERY different Chinese actresses.

Besides, there were enough Asians on the show to give the flavor for my tastes. And the culture is what was respected, so that means a helluva lot more.

Again: Mal: Chopstick user. Kaylee: Chopstick user. Bao. Chinese: Very prevalent.

Even if Tam sounds more Cantonese than Mandarin, and most of the other stuff is straight Mandarin. I guess if there were enough colonies, you'd see more homogenously Cantonese settlements. Or, perhaps the Tams were an Americanized Chinese line that more easily took on Chinese cultural trappings due to their likely significantly diluted Chinese "racial" heritage.

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Tuesday, October 25, 2005 8:32 PM

VISITINGMYINTENTIONS


Quote:

Originally posted by yorg:
You can can't say, "Hey you have slanty eyes, you get the part." That would be ridiculous.



Why (besides the racist language)? If you're shooting a film about ancient Africa, you aren't going to sign on a bunch of Icelanders. Correspondingly, you don't do a film about Vikings with Indians, even if they are good actors.

I think they could put some more effort into the consistency of this world. This maybe based off the Civil War, but this ain't the ante-bellum south upperclass.

With only 14 episodes, they get a bit of slack. They certainly did have many in the random background extras. But they ought to have some as more important characters. Why weren't any of the doctors on Ariel asian? That's a core planet. Or how 'bout the counsellor? Terrible as it is to say, that would have made that bit of fan service even more service-ier.

My fantasy is Firefly starts up again where it left off in OiS, and we get to see that we were judging from too small a sample. Ah, the dreams, the dreams...

---------------------------------------------------
Early: Where'd she go?

Simon: I can't keep track of her when she's NOT incorporeally possessing a spaceship, don't look at me --

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