Booted Out Of Bag End
What’s all this then, we’ll have no trouble here. The casting agent involved in yesterday’s Hobbit ‘skingate’ scandal has been terminated from the job, according to a report in Stuff:
…The agent, an independent contractor, had also placed a newspaper ad saying female hobbit extras should have “light skin tones”.
A spokesman for Jackson’s Wingnut Films told AFP the contractor had now been dismissed.
“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,” AFP reported.
In The Lord of the Rings, Tolkien described three races of Hobbits inhabiting the Middle Earth fantasy world which is the setting for the movies, including harfoots, who “were browner of skin” than the others.
However, Wingnut said anyone who met the height and age criteria was free to audition, regardless of skin colour.
“The crew member in question has been dismissed from the show,” he said. “It’s something we take very seriously.”…read the full report here
Hopefully Naz Humphreys will now be able to re-audition and realise her dream of getting a part in the films.
But yesterday we asked how many dark skinned extras had been chosen to play Hobbits in the ‘Rings trilogy?
If the answer is zero then doesn’t that suggest that there’s long term and institutionalised racism in New Zealand?
If so, Wingnut’s ‘sacking’ of the contracted agent looks like little more than a knee jerk reaction, due to the embarrassment caused and the risk of other countries boycotting the films.
We’re looking forward to seeing Hobbits of all races in the forthcoming films.
New Zealand’s Human Right Act 1993 prohibits discrimination on the grounds of
c) Religious belief:
(d) Ethical belief, which means the lack of a religious belief, whether in respect of a particular religion or religions or all religions:
(e) Colour:
(f) Race:
(g) Ethnic or national origins, which includes nationality or citizenship:
Wronged parties can lodge a complaint with the tribunal for an award of damages to be made against the offender.
for background to this issue read:
Racial Discrimination Allegation Hits Hobbit Movie Casting Call
and posts tagged Racism in New Zealand which include:
- Migrant Tales – “If you doubt discrimination in NZ read this…”
- ‘Non White’ Kiwi Treated Like Immigrant In Own Country
- Upset Hindus Want Paul Henry Charged With Racism And Terminated
- India Summons NZ To Protest Against TV Presenter’s Racial Slur
- Racist Street Attack In Christchurch
- India’s High Commission Disgusted At Racist Attack In Hastings, NZ
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