Teressa Thomas F.’s Post

The recent "Good Times" cartoon remake has stirred controversy, reigniting discussions about stereotypical portrayals of Black characters. In this blog, I discuss the implications of these representations and whether Black content creators have the responsibility to create narratives that combat negative representations of Blackness. #RepresentationMatters #BlackExcellence #MediaJustice #Netflix #GoodTimes

If you have seen David Henry Hwang’s excellent play Yellow Face (playing until 11/24 in New York at the Roundabout Theatre Company), or listened to it on Audible, you may have questions about what’s real and what’s not.  In particular, can casting decisions take race into account? The play does reflect the state of the law in the 1990s when the play is set, but the law has changed since then, thanks in part to a lawsuit involving the TV show the Bachelor. Generally speaking, federal anti-discrimination laws prevent employers from considering race in making hiring decisions. As a result, some thought that you could not consider race in making casting decisions, though you could consider physical appearance. Basically, you could look for actors who looked like they were of a particular race, but you had to be open to actors who were not actually of that race. This view got tested in 2012, when two black men who unsuccessfully applied to be the “Bachelor” in 2011 brought a lawsuit alleging employment discrimination because all the Bachelors and Bachelorettes as of that time had been white (Claybrooks v. American Broadcasting Companies, Inc.). A federal court noted that the lawsuit sought to “support the social acceptance of interracial relationships, to eradicate outdated racial taboos, and to encourage television networks not to perpetuate outdated racial stereotypes,” and the court noted that this cause was “laudable.” Even so, the court dismissed the lawsuit because the First Amendment protected casting decisions that might violate anti-discrimination laws in other contexts. The court found that casting decisions were “part and parcel of the creative process behind a television program” and thus merited First Amendment protection. “Whatever messages The Bachelor and The Bachelorette communicate or are intended to communicate – whether explicitly, implicitly, intentionally, or otherwise – the First Amendment protects the right of the producers of [the shows] to craft and control those messages,” the court wrote. The court also noted that applying federal anti-discrimination laws to casting decisions would have far-reaching consequences. “Would applying anti-discrimination laws require a playwright to consider white actors to paly Othello, black actors to play Macbeth, or a male to play Lady MacBeth? For that matter, could a dramatist face civil liability for staging an all-female version of Romeo & Juliet?” The court’s ruling avoided such consequences and has been applied in at least one recent court case involving a Broadway musical. As a result, much of Yellow Face’s plot makes sense for how the law was interpreted in and around the 1990s, but it does not depict how the law is generally interpreted today for casting decisions. For more notes by me about Yellow Face, including a discussion of the Wen Ho Lee case, go to https://lnkd.in/gfiwbJjq

What role do celebrities and award-winning artists play in elevating events like the Annual All-Star Gospel Celebration? 🎤 Their participation often brings a unique blend of glamour and talent to the table. This year's 17th edition was no different, with a host of famous faces gracing the event during the NBA All-Star Weekend. Their contributions undoubtedly added an extra layer of allure and success to the occasion. It's fascinating to see how the worlds of sports, music, and faith can intersect so beautifully. How do you think such collaborations impact the overall experience of these events?

Incredible new TIC offering TONIGHT! Friend of the studio fam jam Walid Chaya is on the Talent Inner Circle zoom tonight with his Powerful Publicity For Performers: Shine In Hollywood & Get Cast Globally webinar! Don't miss it, join the Talent Inner Circle now! 7:00 PM ET - Powerful Publicity For Performers: Shine In Hollywood & Get Cast Globally with Walid Chaya Are you a performer striving to break into Hollywood or make your mark globally? In the digital age, online publicity is your golden ticket to discovery and recognition. Join renowned acting and publicity coach, Walid Chaya, and Director of Studio For Performing Arts LA, for an exclusive webinar designed to transform your brand and career. Plus special freebies and giveaways you don’t want to miss! Walid, celebrated for his work on NBC’s Blacklist: Redemption, CBS’s Madam Secretary, and films with ‘A24’ and ‘Moonlit Wings’, brings his expertise from both in front of and behind the camera to this dynamic session. With a unique focus on digital strategies, Walid will reveal the essential tools actors need to shine online and stand out to casting directors and talent reps. In this engaging webinar, you will: ● Gain tips to secure features in top news outlets, interviews, and articles for visibility. ● Discover social media’s power for networking and opening doors to acting opportunities. ● Learn 5 social media networking “Dos & Don’ts” to maximize your presence. ● Explore what casting pros seek in social media profiles to make yours irresistible. ● Hear actor success stories leveraging techniques to land roles and boost careers. Don’t miss this chance to elevate your acting career with groundbreaking publicity tools and actionable insights tailored for the digital era. Join us for this powerful publicity webinar and take your first step towards becoming an unstoppable force in the entertainment industry.

Dive into the latest reality beat! Fubo TV makes headlines with an antitrust lawsuit, while Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson secures several IP rights. Get the full scoop on the latest developments in the entertainment world. Check out the article now! #entertainment #television

Delve into the complex world of cultural appropriation in Bollywood! 🎬✨ From costume design to music, the industry walks a fine line between appreciation and appropriation. Explore how blending cultures in films sparks debates on authenticity and representation. Critics raise concerns about misinterpretation and perpetuating stereotypes. 🌍💬 As Bollywood evolves globally, the spotlight shines on the need for respectful portrayals. Collaborating with cultural experts, filmmakers aim to authentically celebrate diversity and foster cross-cultural understanding. 🌟💡 Embrace a future where art respects all voices and cultures, paving the way for a more inclusive film industry. #CulturalAppropriation #Bollywood #FilmIndustry #Representation #Inclusivity

4 huge names in entertainment that did things differently, despite what other people told them. This post is a reminder that a lot of successful stuff in entertainment didn't come about by doing what other people might tell us is the ‘right way’. 1. Jerry Seinfeld - Comedians In Cars Getting Coffee. Jerry Seinfeld wanted to make a show specifically designed to be watched on your phone. Famously, TV execs and various “internet gurus” told Jerry people wouldn’t pay attention to a show on the internet that was longer than 5 minutes. They were wrong, it was a huge hit and ended up being bought by Netflix. 2. Taylor Swift - Taylor’s version. You can imagine the number of people who would have told Taylor Swift that re recording her masters was a waste of time. Those people are everywhere. They were wrong, and Taylor Swift doing that has been enough to change the way record labels write contracts now. 3. Andrew Lloyd Webber - Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat. In 1968 ALW and Tim Rice debuted a 22 minute version of what would become “Joseph” at a school. No massive investors, no huge advertising campaign. A school. I’m sure plenty of other people started writing musicals at that time that we’ve never heard, because they weren't prepared to do something like that.  After all… It’s not “how it’s done…” They were wrong! 4. Lin Manuel Miranda - Hamilton Before Hamilton became a full out show, it was created as a mixtape. Again, you know plenty of people said “Well I don’t know why you’re doing that, that’s not how you get a show on Broadway…” They were wrong… It’s not that conventional wisdom is to be ignored, it’s that it’s to be taken with a pinch of salt… If you want different results, you have to do different things. And doing different things can be hard, and it’s a lot easier with a coach. If you’d like to explore how coaching can get you doing things differently, so you get the results you want, not the results you’re used to, drop me a message here and let’s chat.

Still relying on the logic of making films with pre-sold identities:

If you take away one thing from this story about how Rose Ayling-Ellis succeeded in her recent sports presenting role, let it be that talent, adaptability and agility are character traits not only possessed by Rose but by thousands of disabled people who are excluded from or overlooked in workplaces and boards every single day. Rose has shone in whatever role she's been given when her co-workers have adapted the environment by making adjustments not only within the physical environment but also in their own thinking. Disabled people, as is the case for other minoritised groups, frequently have to work extra hard to get access to opportunities than non-disabled counterparts. Systems and structures designed primarily for non-disabled people present barriers which hold disabled people back. What adjustment and shifts in your attitude can you make to remove them? #disability #DeafAwareness

It's important to understand current trends, pop culture, styles, sayings, and the kind of entertainment that is being consumed. As much as it is to watch and understand entertainment that came before you. While I'm not a fan personally of a lot of the media my younger contemporaries may be into, I definitley am glad to know it, and be able to recognize it. Watching the first few episodes in the newest season of the Hulu show Solar Opposites. It's a great show, but it's interesting how much pop culture, and how many decades of pop culture it spans in it's references and themes. While references might be overused in this day and age, with some series relying on them to serve as the basis of a large portion of it's comedy, it's a part of the modern style in adult animation specifically, a favorite medium of mine. Solar Opposites in the same episode will reference Alf in one joke, and things being cringe or extra in another. As a pop culture junkie, who's spent way too much time consuming anything tv or the internet could offer, I can appreciate both references even though there's roughly a 40 year gap between them. So how do these writers and actors (AND OF COURSE ANIMATORS) stay up to date? Just like almost every other field of work, there is people of all ages working together! Improv and voice acting both demand that people of all generations work together, and the more you're around different age groups the more you naturally pick up vernacular, references, interests and adopt a greater understanding for each generation. Respect your elders and youngers and learn from them! It can only be beneficial! (Just look at my improv partner Jack and I! :) )