David Sedaris on who gets to play whom on screen

The bestselling author and essayist has some thoughts on representation in movies.
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[@robertfreedman6651]

Harold Russell, who had no arms, was awarded an Oscar for his supporting role in THE BEST YEARS OF OUR LIVES. Mr. Russell, a double amputee from his service in the Navy during WW2, wore prosthetics. He removed them during the course of the film. A very memorable actor. Hollywood cast him many years ago. Where are we now?

[@truth_teller571]

Loving his satire!

[@alfababy7038]

Sooooooo True!!!!

[@KatieGray1]

I just realized I have extremely similar thoughts to David on this issue. I've definitely been upset by casting choices when it seemed incredibly clear that they could have found that actor from a pool of people who represented them better. But then I also think, where does it end and where do we draw the line? Also, how much does name recognition factor in after all they have to finance and sell the movie and surely it's harder to do with unknown actors, which means a much smaller casting pool. Then I think about acting talent, because someone could physically represent a character in every way, but what if they don't mentally inhabit the character the way you want (I imagine the people who make these things have a mental image they're casting for or an idea of how the character looks and behaves.) Where I come down is for supporting actors, they should always hire someone who represents that marginalized or unrepresented character. For starring roles, I think every effort should be made to find a actor from a pool of known actors who represent the character as best as possible physically and culturally (including deaf culture) and then if that's not possible perhaps choose someone that at least represents one of those things. When it comes to race, if it's not crucial to story it should be open to all races and I feel the same way about physicality, if it's not crucial to the story for a character to not be in a wheelchair then there should be no reason not to audition actors who use wheelchairs. I think there's more and more actors from all groups than ever before so it should get easier to at a minimum include diverse characters to create a fictional world that more accurately reflects the real one.

[@Nancy-pf6ft]

So right!!!

[@CG68810]

He wears the same shirt and blazer in every one of these! LOL

[@NickHarman]

Possibly because he records them all on the same day?

[@MohawkMangopit]

David Sedaris simply HAS to play Andrew Clyde in all upcoming movies about January 6th. For five minutes I was convinced that I was watching David Sedaris only to suddenly realize it wasn't him when Andrew Clyde delivered his "bold faced lie" speech - so powerful... so... so... powerful. David - get you a shoulder holster and warm up by recreating that speech. I swear - it's like you two were separated at birth.

[@genagena127]

He and NPR have gotten me through Covid...oh, and Netflix, (Pretend its a City)

[@jennywu73]

Andy Rooney coming thru.

[@natashasemrau3670]

Haaahhaaa !!! Love you too!💮🌼🌻🏵🌸🌺🌺🌷🌹💐♥❤💛💚💙💜♥❤💛💚💙💜♥❤💛💚💙💜♥❤💛💚💙💜♥💕💞💓💓💗

[@agneslaufer9579]

Gary Sinise in Forest Gump? !!! Wait Timothee Chalamet!!! Haaa

[@evangreen3080]

Ha!

[@nebraskafrankcourtny]

All my life I've been baffled that Peter Pan (a BOY) is often played by a woman, on stage and in movies. IT MAKES NO SENSE AND IT'S STUPID AND CREEPY.

[@sunshinepurple1043]

I think it has more to do with size and the pitch of the actor's voice. Also it's show biz tradition thanks to Mary Martin's performance.

[@HellalujahChorus]

"IT MAKES NO SENSE" You mean you don't understand it. Overreact much?

[@jeffeastwood15]

It's the same reason females often do the voices of male children in animation.

[@southy98]

If you’re good enough for the role, than you should get the role regardless of race, sexuality, or gender. Simple as that.

[@railstoruin]

The movie 'Titanic' would have been much more convincing if they'd gotten actors who'd actually died on the Titanic. Now that I'm moved to think about it, I really didn't know I should mind that the actor who played Captain Smith wasn't actually a real sea captain. Maybe what's actually being said in sentiment here (if we insist that gay people play gay people, samurais play samurais, etc) is this: "I can't relate to a person in a story, unless they're like me." Isn't storytelling a powerful tool for understanding others by feeling ourselves in their shoes? Does the argument miss the point of storytelling entirely?

[@billlenahan4014]

First World problem.

[@rr7firefly]

David Sedaris will never be able to play a suave stud who has a bevy of curvaceous ladies in and out of his bedroom. Too big of a stretch.

[@Duricas]

I subscribe to the scientific principles that DNA defines your sex (since sex is locked in at the moment of conception) not some wishy washy thinking.

[@Civilizashum]

actually an unscientific principle, which is what we expect when some idiot troll decides to posture with the word online, off topic

[@laurabrooks8824]

David, you are usually so witty. What was this mindless drivel? Weird word salad.