Warchief
12-01-2010, 04:25 AM
“The Hobbit” casting became entangled in a racial dispute Monday over a casting agent who told extra hopefuls that they were too dark to play the tiny Middle Earth creatures.
The independent contractor who specified in advertisements in local newspapers that female hobbit extras “should have light skin tones” has been fired, according to Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films.
"No such instructions were given, the crew member in question took it upon themselves to do that and it's not something we instructed or condoned,” said a spokesman for the production company to AFP.
The agent had placed an advertisement in the Bay of Plenty Times listing requirements for would-be hobbits, including age, height, and light skin tones—the latter of which only applied to women.
According to the Waikato Times, video footage surfaced showing the casting agent telling people at the audition in the New Zealand city of Hamilton last week: "We are looking for light-skinned people. I'm not trying to be -- whatever. It's just the brief. You've got to look like a hobbit."
The racial row made headlines after Briton Naz Humphreys, of Pakistani heritage, attended a casting call and was told her skin tone was too dark.
“It's 2010 and I still can't believe I'm being discriminated against because I have brown skin," Humphreys told the Waikato Times newspaper."The casting manager basically said they weren't having anybody who wasn't pale-skinned."
Humphreys also started a Facebook group called “Hire hobbits of all colours! Say no to hobbit racism!”
The Wingnut spokesman has since said that anyone who met the age and height criteria was free to audition, regardless of skin color.
“The Hobbit,” which has been plagued by budget and director woes, is a two-part prequel to Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and will be directed by Peter Jackson. Martin Freeman from “The Office” will star in the lead role of Bilbo Baggins.
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SOURCE ([Only registered and activated users can see links] uBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDAzMV8xNzk-/SIG=1331fcsot/EXP=1291281586/**[Only registered and activated users can see links])
Some other ppl say that i am a bit gnomish looking (with a bit resemblance of Johny Depp)...I think i'll passed.
The independent contractor who specified in advertisements in local newspapers that female hobbit extras “should have light skin tones” has been fired, according to Peter Jackson’s Wingnut Films.
"No such instructions were given, the crew member in question took it upon themselves to do that and it's not something we instructed or condoned,” said a spokesman for the production company to AFP.
The agent had placed an advertisement in the Bay of Plenty Times listing requirements for would-be hobbits, including age, height, and light skin tones—the latter of which only applied to women.
According to the Waikato Times, video footage surfaced showing the casting agent telling people at the audition in the New Zealand city of Hamilton last week: "We are looking for light-skinned people. I'm not trying to be -- whatever. It's just the brief. You've got to look like a hobbit."
The racial row made headlines after Briton Naz Humphreys, of Pakistani heritage, attended a casting call and was told her skin tone was too dark.
“It's 2010 and I still can't believe I'm being discriminated against because I have brown skin," Humphreys told the Waikato Times newspaper."The casting manager basically said they weren't having anybody who wasn't pale-skinned."
Humphreys also started a Facebook group called “Hire hobbits of all colours! Say no to hobbit racism!”
The Wingnut spokesman has since said that anyone who met the age and height criteria was free to audition, regardless of skin color.
“The Hobbit,” which has been plagued by budget and director woes, is a two-part prequel to Tolkien’s “Lord of the Rings” trilogy, and will be directed by Peter Jackson. Martin Freeman from “The Office” will star in the lead role of Bilbo Baggins.
Read more: [Only registered and activated users can see links]
SOURCE ([Only registered and activated users can see links] uBHNlYwNzYwRjb2xvA3NrMQR2dGlkA1ZJUDAzMV8xNzk-/SIG=1331fcsot/EXP=1291281586/**[Only registered and activated users can see links])
Some other ppl say that i am a bit gnomish looking (with a bit resemblance of Johny Depp)...I think i'll passed.