Acting : Will ‘Hawaii Five-0’ Flap Lead to Changes for Actors of Color? by Richard "RB" Botto

I'd like to apologize beforehand, if something I'm about to say comes off rude but not everything has to with racism. This is the last year's oscars all over again -- and no, it was not racist that no black people were nominated, has it occurred to you that they just might not have been good enough?! Back to this: Daniel and Grace CHOSE to leave the show so I don't think that CBS or whoever is to blame here. The only thing that I hope is that they won't replace them with completely new actors which is the mistake that NCIS made after Cote de Pablo left the show and then again after Mike Weatherly left. Before you jump on me, some of my best friends and black/asian and I loved both of them on the show and I know that it won't be the same without them!

It should lead to changes, but i think it is going to take a little bit longer than we hope. I think if you compare the demographics of network tv, which H50 is on, to streaming tv like Netflix, Hulu and Amazon, you'll find that there is a much older audience watching network tv. I have two sets of parents and one set of grandparents that watch only network tv, ( I just recently introduced my mom to Netflix). Networks are trying to appeal to both demographics to get the ratings numbers and hey are having a hard time introducing different ideas without losing that older audience. Change is difficult for some, but network tv has made leaps and bounds compared to 20 years ago.

Owen, to answer your question: it's really for the same reason! Men are just better at writing, directing, filmmaking etc. That's also why there are so few women in cop shows. They're women in a man's world, and if you can't be a worrier (good enough) you go down!

What I see - the basic mistake here (and in the whole discussion about inclusion/diversity) is generalization. "Men are better than women" or "Whites are better than blacks" are less than constructive statements. Individually, some people are "better" than others (and I mean better at whatever job they're doing - writing, directing, etc.); always have been and always will be. To lump them into PC groups is to parrot social/corporate doublespeak. For all their spouting, the Bigs only care about one thing - money. At the end of the day, they're going to hire who they think can do the job (make them the most money). If that person satisfies some social inclusion trend, that's a PR homerun for them. But they don't really care.

As storytellers and content creators, we shouldn't care, either. I personally don't care and don't worry about diversity in the teams I work with. If you tell a great, authentic story, the audience won't care how diverse the cast/crew is.

people

It's all about opportunity. Since the creation of Hollywood, the business caters to white people.

And in 2017, it's an insult to people of color that a show set in Hawaii has 0 diverse representation in lead character roles. So, it's not about talent, it's just a lack of opportunity. The new Boss is the same as old Bosses. Straight from top executive jobs, casting directors, Marketing heads, Agents... The people in control in Hollywood are majority white.

The only way to change folks is boycotting. Hit them financially. MONEY talks. Don't support shows with Bullshit casting like Iron Fist with a white guy. I don't believe Marvel would cast a white guy to play LUKE CAGE? I did see "Ghost In the Shell" because I was curious and I'm a fan of ScartJo. But I wouldn't recommend GITS as a matinee ticket price.

Just rename the show from "HAWAII 5-0" to "Starsky & Hutch" . Luv to see a Hawaiian Huggy Bear. :)

Also, the Oscars and the Academy are effed up. Always been. Sidney Pottier won an Oscar in the 1960s. 40++ years past until Denzel Washington won the 2nd.

Owen - I never said white people are better actors than black people. All I said was that there are not a lot of black actors whose work is oscar worthy. Off the top of my head the only ones I can think of are Denzel Washington and Will Smith, and if you count LL Cool J, him too (but does mainly tv and no movies)

Off the top of my head, Halle Belle, Jamie Foxx, Volia Davis, Rita Moreno, Morgan Freeman have Oscars. In her life bio, Rita said she couldn't get an acting gig after winning an Oscar

As an audience member, John, I care. Sorry, I don't buy into that cynicism. Nor do many others. Obviously. Inclusiveness is way past due. Plus bringing different perspectives to the creative table is of great benefit. :) I often turn to Netflix for more diverse talent and material. Just watched some great Korean films. Any and all foreign works are fantastic. Don't ever let subtitles get in your way. There's so much more out there. ;) That said, I am hopeful for change. Just took the family to see the new Spiderman movie and it's certainly more diverse with some of its casting: supporting characters, background extras, they better matched urban, multi-racial reality. It looked very different than older, previous Spiderman films. Like I said, I'm hopeful. ;)

Lisa, I just have to say I too find your comments Alarming. Shocking. Reductionist. As Dan M said, the core of these issues is lack of opportunity.

Getting back to the article, I have to agree; Kim and Park's departure is a huge loss for equality, audiences, and for the show. Personally speaking, there goes my interest. Why bother watching now? The observation that CBS and other companies seem to think that American audiences will not accept Asian-American characters... That corporate, blanket assumption is insulting, offensive! Give audiences a chance!!! Would have loved to see Daniel Dae Kim and Jason Scott Lee in the lead roles. ;)

Hi, Beth. In re-reading my post, I realized I didn't express my view very clearly. What I meant is, in my opinion, the Bigs (studios, networks, etc.) simply only care about the bottom line (most of them are public companies). The whole discussion about inclusion is, for them, just another social trend that they will try to capitalize on. Very cynical, yes, I know.

What I meant about "I don't care" is that I tend to be color/culture blind when I work with people. If you're the best person for the job, that's what important. In actors, perhaps a certain gender or ethnicity is the better person for the role (and that's definitely a consideration) - but if he or she can't act, diversity be damned, they don't deserve the role. With crew, in the few occasions I've had to be the boss, I've paid people for the job they do - paid them the same regardless of color, faith or lifestyle. Perhaps I'm not so far along as to consciously offer opportunities to diverse persons, and that's something I'll work on. But that assumes I'll ever have that kind of power! :)

Wow...interesting read. First off, I understand, Park & Kim not being paid more than O'laughlin, he is THE lead. My argument is that if Caan is considered a secondary lead then Park and Kim should have gotten equal pay in addition to equal deals on the back end of the show. I LOVED H50. Never missed an episode and trust me when I say Park & Kim's characters carried just as much weight as Caan's. I'm still confused on how Caan is considered a secondary lead. This truly baffles me as an avid television watcher. So I don't agree with CBS's decision to say the least.

SPOILERS AHEAD! SPOILERS AHEAD! SPOILERS AHEAD!! SPOILERS AHEAD!!

My question for who the lead is of a show is always, "Who has the most to lose?" We know what Steve McGarret is fighting for - The island of Hawaii, better government, keeping his family together, finding love, blah, blah, blah. He is the lead. Hands down. No argument.

Dano - Divorced and still loves his wife, Wants to stay with his family so he moves to Hawaii, raising a daughter and then a son as a cop, trying to stay alive because he has deal with Steve's need for an adrenaline rush. (This truly bothers Dano)

Chin-Ho - was accused of being a crooked cop, had a very close relationship with Steve McGarret's Dad and this relationship defines his relationship with McGarret, has something to prove by being on the Five-0 team, lost a wife to murder, has to raise a niece, and is fighting to keep a sense of family amid all his loss

Kono - Lost her dream of being a professional surfer, becomes a cop to follow in her cousins footsteps, is a bit of an outcast because she knows her cousin isn't guilty, Falls in love with a former Yakuza, marries this rehabilitated criminal. Is branded cop married to a criminal.

Now someone please show me where the character of Kono and Chin-Ho don't have just as much to fight for? If CBS wants to consider Scott Caan a secondary lead then fine, all I'm saying is Park & Kim should have received an equal shake.

Evening all. Being multi-perspective, I refuse to profile CBS or Hawaii Five-0 because profiling is wrong. As artists, we can each decide the types of projects we develop, work on and support. Artistic freedom is beautiful.

The only Real problem with the money makers is that they write what will sell most easily, which is neither conducive to quality nor adaptation to new markets. Example being the above topic - frankly, most pay-day writers have No idea how to write anything But formulaic scripts for white people. A lot of them will lose money over progress, and will resist it.

Owen, if 100% is wrong because it is too large and 0% is wrong because it is too small, what is the correct number?

Owen, the Oscars are a unique event each year as the films and thus eligible potential nominees are different every year. You are unhappy about both the 100% and 0% results for the parameter you viewed the awards through. A parameter that is not part of regulations governing the eligibility and voting for the Awards. Logically if 100% and 0% are wrong there will be either a correct number or every number is wrong. How is this not a sensible question? Statistical probability is very commonly used and is very accurate. Attempting to deflect provides no insight to the question.

If every year yielded the same 100% results for your parameter your point would be much stronger. From past results we know that is not the case.

Funny, it was against my better judgement to ask about a zero sum game played in this situation. I had hoped you might have an answer. I was not looking for my number, I do not have one, which is why I asked what your number was. No, you did not say 100% etc. That was putting in words my understanding of the implications of the picture you posted along with the comment, "Get the picture now?". If I interpreted your statement incorrectly as inferring that there was a problem then please explain what you meant by the statement "Get the picture now?".

Why then would 0% and 100% be unacceptable if every number between 0% and 100% is acceptable?

The only criteria that matters should be the artistic product created. A meritocracy. Sadly, my industry is not that, but at least merit is a consideration. And it is certainly the major consideration in the Oscars.

Beth/Owen - honestly, I cannot see how my statements are shocking. Isn't equality what black people have been begging the world to get?? Well, welcome to a world of equality! Equality also includes not being awarded every time you walk through the frame in a movie. If you're not good enough, you don't get an oscar, period! May I remind you that the oscar is the highest award in Hollywood?! It's not being thrown at you when you walk down the street just because you're an actor (or African-American). Also, Leonardo DiCaprio waited I don't how many years to receive his first one when he deserved an oscar for every single film he's done. Did he start a wave of prejudices that him not receiving an oscar is racist against guys with dark blond hair and blue eyes? No! So stop nagging and learn how to act!!

Of course you are now "bored" Owen. I will choose my own first questions, thank you. Your answers are most informative.

Owen, that was something Stage 32 is not. It was rude.

Lisa... "begging the world to get?"—that's awful. Racist. Equality is not about being "good enough" or being awarded anything or about sameness; it's about fairness and about fair opportunity. And may I remind you that offensive comments are not appreciated here at S32.

Beth, you are awesome. The Oscars are prestigious and represent something significant to their culture. Instead of us trying to prove a point in the matrix, leave Lisa the hologram alone. JK, Lisa. Everyone made good points, maybe some could use less emotional language. Awards are nice Beth, but I'm trying to survive and still write stories I love for fun and profit. I am excited about all the female protagonist films hitting the big screen. There have been religious movies and cultural movies lately too. I see all viewpoints but my opinion does not matter because I am a lowly scribe. And novice at that. Writing Spec which is like a writing sin to Dan MaxXx. I might as well be painting rocks. If some of you good folk would like to collaborate, let me know.

WTF Myron, when did I say writing a spec is a sin?

This post is about actors and equal pay and there is 100++ years of Hollywood data that proves people of Color/Women get the shaft.

Owen - I appreciate the request but no thanks :) Beth - I'm sorry, but the last time I checked this was a free country. The problem that some African American people have (apparently this includes Owen) is that they want equality so badly on the one hand but on the other cannot stand that they're all of a sudden not the center of the word anymore. Besides, I never said that "equality is about being good enough". I said that you don't get an oscar if you aren't. Hollywood or the film business in general is literally based on who's the best. If you don't grasp that concept maybe you shouldn't be in this business!

Lisa, Do you ... actually even know that you are being racist ? You don't seem to understand that everything you say about race seems purposefully inflammatory and, frankly you seem to be going out of your way to be offensive. So I'm wondering if you Know you are racist and are trying to make a point, or if you're just racially stupid. Either way, you're going to find it harder and harder to get work as the world is only 20 percent white and falling.

Also saying previously that men are better writers is ... indigestible given the circumstances. Analysis - You like the attention, and you blame everyone but yourself for your inability to push scripts which betray your ignorance. But if you adapt your ideas to embrace the big world, you have a chance to succeed.

Wow, I'm sorry I posted to this because now it show up in my feed.