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Casting calls in Virginia and New York

  • Feb. 25th, 2009 at 8:03 PM
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First, there will be a casting call on February 28th, this Saturday, in Arlington, Virginia. If you're interested in attending a peaceful protest there with other supporters, a Facebook event has been created to help with organization.

From this article on the Washington Post website, the details are as follows:

The producers are looking for actors of Mongolian, Cambodian or Laotian heritage, which suggests the filmmaker is responding to previous criticism from "Avatar" fans about the cast looking a little too Caucasian. [...]

From 9 a.m. until noon on Saturday, an open call for Mongolian-American males and females between the ages of 5 and 85 will be held in the party room at the River Place Apartments, located at 1011 Arlington Blvd.

From 1 to 5 p.m., a larger call for Cambodian, Laotian and Mongolian actors -- again, male and female, ages 5 to 85 -- will be held at the Rosslyn Spectrum Theatre at 1611 N. Kent St. [...]

If you're interested, you should e-mail a photo, your name, phone numbers, age and availability to lastairbendercasting@gmail.com. You can get more information by calling 215-574-7878.


There also appears to be a casting call scheduled to take place in Flushing, New York. It will be from 11AM to 5PM on March 1st, this Sunday, at Flushing Town Hall. The address is:

Flushing Town Hall
137-35 Northern Boulevard, at the corner of Linden Place
Flushing, NY 11354

A Facebook Group has been set up to organize supporters who want to attend. The details were forwarded to us by several supporters and are as follows:


In detail, we are looking for individuals of Cambodian, Mongolian, Chinese, Korean and Thai Descent ... MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE IS A PLUS!!! Anyone cast in New York will be traveled to Philadelphia, given housing and per diem as well as paid for their work. This is an excellent opporunity for anyone to work with an amazing cast and director. We would appreciate any and all your help in getting this information out to the communities in New York, as this is such a wonderful opportunity. [...] MARTIAL ARTS EXPERIENCE IS A PLUS!!!! Acting and Dance Experience are a PLUS!!!

Sarah A. Tirado
Casting Assistant
(215) 226-1939
The Last Airbender Casting
lastairbendercasting@gmail.com


To reach Flushing Town Hall you can use NYC transit -- it's a short walk away from the end of the 7 line. The 7 is running irregularly this weekend so: take the N/Q trains to Queensboro Plaza or the E/F/G/R trains to 74th St-Roosevelt Ave and transfer to the 7 train, then ride it until the end of the line, which is the Main St stop.

If you have further transit advice please let us know!

If you live near either of these casting call locations and wish to organize a protest, please let us know and we'll direct our other supports to you!

Paramount is trying to put a bandaid on this problem by casting Asian actors in minor, background roles, in a world that will still be saved by three white heroes. Now is the time to tell them that that isn't good enough.

The pre-production window is closing. This is an excellent opportunity to show Paramount in person that their audience -- not matter what their own race may be -- won't support this project as it stands.

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Comments

( 67 comments — Leave a comment )
[info]filterpaper wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 01:38 am (UTC)
God, I wish I could go protest. :(
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[info]japantheman wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 02:27 am (UTC)
It's a little short notice but I might try to go to the one in VA. It's a ways away from where I am in Ohio so I'm really sorry I can't make any promises. But if there are going to be some other people there I may try to go.

I'm a little apprehensive about driving to any part of New York but if I can get a more specific location to drive to I may have the opportunity to go there since I'll be on spring break. Once again though, sincerest apology I can't make any promises but I would really appreciate some more info.
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(no subject) - [info]japantheman - Feb. 26th, 2009 02:28 am (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]filterpaper - Feb. 26th, 2009 02:29 am (UTC) Expand
[info]gwailowrite wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 02:52 am (UTC)
Sigh...yet more extras casting. They truly do not get it.
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[info]xneoninja wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 03:36 am (UTC)
Unless they are reconsidering recasting the mains. They need to lay off the Cactus Juice. >.>
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(no subject) - [info]caterfree10 - Feb. 26th, 2009 04:12 am (UTC) Expand
[info]the_glow_worm wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 03:09 am (UTC)
I live REALLY REALLY CLOSE to the Virginia one. I can't organize a protest, but if someone else does I'll make a level attempt to come.
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[info]sidepocket_pro wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 06:05 pm (UTC)
It's actually really easy too. Just make a page on MySpace/Facebook with the info and your E-Mail. Then just show up yourself and hope for the best.
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[info]nilecrocodile wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 03:36 am (UTC)
Hmmm, wish I could go to protest, but the casting calls don't seem to be coming anywhere near me.
Oh well, that's not going to stop me from making protest signs. JUST IN CASE. 8D
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[info]rakushi wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 03:52 am (UTC)
i litterally live 3 minutes from arlington, but i suck at organizing things. anyone wanna try giving me a hand?
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[info]nojojojo wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 04:03 am (UTC)
When you find out where the one in Flushing is, let me know. I live in NYC, and would be happy to try and organize something.
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[info]jedifreac wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 09:28 am (UTC)
Maybe you should email them with a fake resume or headshot or something so they send you more info?
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(no subject) - [info]aang_aint_white - Feb. 26th, 2009 06:21 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]paracletelux wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 04:38 am (UTC)
I was going to ask why they specified "Mongolian, Cambodian or Laotian" heritage (over, I dunno, "Chinese, Korean" or "East and South East Asian"), but it makes about as much sense as anything the casting department has done thus far.
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[info]tallycola wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 04:48 am (UTC)
Being completely ignorant of the places in question, I was wondering if perhaps those populations were smaller than the Chinese, Korean, etc communities - wondering if they're trying to set it up so they can say SEE - we couldn't find any Asian actors!

If it turns out Arlington is a bustling hub of the Laotian-American community, then disregard!
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(no subject) - [info]paracletelux - Feb. 26th, 2009 05:46 am (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]caterfree10 - Feb. 26th, 2009 03:43 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]the_glow_worm - Feb. 27th, 2009 02:21 am (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]the_glow_worm - Feb. 27th, 2009 02:29 am (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]amaterasu_no_ki - Mar. 5th, 2009 04:51 am (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]jedifreac - Feb. 26th, 2009 09:30 am (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]caterfree10 - Feb. 26th, 2009 04:28 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]jedifreac - Feb. 26th, 2009 05:08 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]caterfree10 - Feb. 26th, 2009 05:30 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]jedifreac - Feb. 26th, 2009 05:45 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]nthdraft - Feb. 26th, 2009 06:50 pm (UTC) Expand
(Anonymous) wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 06:08 am (UTC)
:heavy sigh:
WHEN are they gonna realize... that you can't put a band-aid on a BROKEN ARM???

If they blow off MANAA and the EWP... MAN, will there be trouble!
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[info]nthdraft wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 08:29 am (UTC)
waitaminit. Cambodian, Laotian, and Mongolian? How fricking specific is that? And why those choices? So if you were say, Thai, you'd be out of luck? Or would you just put on a big smile and claim to be Cambodian and dare them to tell you you're not (or bet that the casting director couldn't tell the difference anyway--since it's looking more and more like they couldn't catch a clue with a butterfly net and a mayonnaise jar)?

Why not ask for southeast Asians and then use Laotian and Cambodian for EXAMPLES of what they mean? And why Mongolian, of all things? Unless they just decided, as someone suggested above, to ask for specific stuff and then when they don't get it say "well we tried to find Asian actors that met our needs, but..." wink wink nudge nudge, and then go back to business as usual.

(oh, and the words "Flushing open call" made me laugh a lot, for all the right reasons and a couple of wrong ones)
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[info]nthdraft wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 08:45 am (UTC)
let's try this again...

after "why Mongolian", I meant as opposed to Tibetan? Or any of a number of mainland ethnic (non-Han) Chinese? Why the super-specifics?

(and I didn't read the second casting call thoroughly the first time. That one wants also Chinese, Thai, and Korean auditioners. So, apparently if you're Thai you're welcome to audition in New York, but not in Virginia? Or what?)
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[info]star_bolt08 wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 02:55 pm (UTC)
AAAAHHHH!!!! I freakin' live in VA, but I can't go protest since I'm going to be out of town this weekend, and even further away from Arlington! I'm so sorry guys... This is so unfair! *headdesk* Is it just me, or have all their casting calls been announced on extremely short notice?
| Reply | Thread
[info]rakushi wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 04:29 pm (UTC)
i think it's to deter protesters. there's a huuuuuuge ATLA fanbase in the NVCCs.
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(Anonymous) wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 03:53 pm (UTC)
There's an event page for the Flushing one on facebook:
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=52666529547
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[info]sidepocket_pro wrote:
Feb. 26th, 2009 06:08 pm (UTC)
Yes I am organizing that one. I am going to get more info on it soon and work out ways for all of us to keep in touch!
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(no subject) - [info]djinnj - Feb. 26th, 2009 08:57 pm (UTC) Expand
(no subject) - [info]sidepocket_pro - Feb. 26th, 2009 09:29 pm (UTC) Expand
Specific Reminders - (Anonymous) - Feb. 26th, 2009 06:21 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]megan_c_kelly wrote:
Feb. 27th, 2009 04:58 pm (UTC)
Facebook Group
Just so you know, the facebook group linked here isn't the one connected to the orignial facebook group. That one would be here.
http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=53680780938

Thanks much :)
| Reply | Thread
[info]aang_aint_white wrote:
Feb. 27th, 2009 05:03 pm (UTC)
Re: Facebook Group
Have you and Jordan worked something out? Just let us know, we want to direct people to the correct place! I know Jordan is local to NYC and wanted to organize things, so just tell us what you've decided. :)
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[info]djinnj wrote:
Feb. 27th, 2009 05:46 pm (UTC)
For folks planning to attend, the single most useful thing to have at these is a poster board (foam core is really useful as it's rigid) with pictures from Avatar to show what the characters and world actually look like. And having pictures of the known cast is really useful as well. Visual aids speak louder than words. Also, the small paper flyer we used in Philly was brilliant because not everyone wants to stay and talk, but if they can take something away they might remember. And too, it's easier for them to find more info later if they have a url to reference rather than to memorize. And it had pictures of some historic yellowface on it to ram home what we're talking about.
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[info]sidepocket_pro wrote:
Mar. 1st, 2009 10:59 pm (UTC)
We rocked! :0P

*defrosts' feet*
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(Anonymous) wrote:
Feb. 28th, 2009 07:02 am (UTC)
Stan Sakai (creator of Usagi Yojimbo)
At Wondercon, San Francisco
Feb 27, 2009

Image (http://www.facebook.com/topic.php?uid=54866461619&topic=8009)

I also haded a flyer to Jim Lee (Korean-American comic book artist)


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[info]aang_aint_white wrote:
Feb. 28th, 2009 07:08 am (UTC)
Re: Stan Sakai (creator of Usagi Yojimbo)
Thank you! <3
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Re: Stan Sakai (creator of Usagi Yojimbo) - (Anonymous) - Mar. 1st, 2009 03:50 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]xneoninja wrote:
Feb. 28th, 2009 07:45 am (UTC)
Nice job on spreading the word. I see there's 40 people confirmed. I hope every single one shows up because that would be a great impact. Not to mention there's Strength(& safety) in numbers. I wish all the protesters good luck!

And sorry I can't be there. But I am looking forward to an L.A. Protest!
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(Anonymous) wrote:
Mar. 1st, 2009 04:12 am (UTC)
Protest
...so how did things go at the protest? I'm just curious how it was received! Sadly I'm not near any of the areas where they were held so I couldn't attend.
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[info]sapphire_fuego wrote:
Mar. 1st, 2009 09:37 pm (UTC)
Any News?
Has anyone heard back from those who attended the protests? Are they reporting on another site?
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[info]sidepocket_pro wrote:
Mar. 1st, 2009 10:28 pm (UTC)
I am happy to report that (IMO) this was a success. I will have a more exhaustive report later, but in a nut shell. Me and Dale (I hope I got her name right) were out there with signs, posted a few posters and handed out stuff while talking. I was attracting many people and she was doing an amazing job explaining our cause away. Because I did not get a permit in time (and we found out the entire zone was zoned off) we were kicked off the front of the property but they did not take down any of our fliers we put up and handing them out across the street gave us the same traffic as being in front of the building. We also had a guy stop buy and take pictures I should be getting shortly, as well as my own that I am going to upload soon. I am actually glad this was not a huge mob or they would have made a huge legal deal over it. Overall, 80% success. On to PHASE II for me.
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[info]aang_aint_white wrote:
Mar. 1st, 2009 10:31 pm (UTC)
Thank you SO MUCH -- looking forward to hearing more! <3
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[info]xneoninja wrote:
Mar. 2nd, 2009 09:59 am (UTC)
I just had to say "aang aint white" - "Li,"

when I read this article I smiled http://www.emorywheel.com/detail.php?n=26670


You're so sick. XD You so remind me of Zuko when he was choosing his alias when they were gonna be refugees and Uncle is like this is Lee. And later in another episode they go why didnt you choose a more common name like "Lee"

I just had to say that. It brought back memories from that episode.
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[info]caterfree10 wrote:
Mar. 2nd, 2009 03:15 pm (UTC)
LULZ, I remember that article! I giggled like a maniac while reading that part. x3
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(no subject) - [info]aang_aint_white - Mar. 2nd, 2009 05:31 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]perfectly_panda wrote:
Mar. 2nd, 2009 02:40 pm (UTC)
Washington post article!
The casting controversy made the Washington Post!
Here's a link to the article online:

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/03/01/AR2009030102088.html
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[info]caterfree10 wrote:
Mar. 2nd, 2009 03:16 pm (UTC)
Re: Washington post article!
Ha, I saw that last night. I was hoping to be quoted in that because I had been interviewed by the writer of that article by phone on Friday, but nope. Nothing. *headdesk*
| Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand
Re: Washington post article! - [info]sidepocket_pro - Mar. 3rd, 2009 08:27 am (UTC) Expand
Re: Washington post article! - [info]caterfree10 - Mar. 3rd, 2009 03:44 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Washington post article! - [info]chaobunny - Mar. 2nd, 2009 03:33 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Washington post article! - [info]caterfree10 - Mar. 2nd, 2009 05:03 pm (UTC) Expand
Re: Washington post article! - [info]aang_aint_white - Mar. 2nd, 2009 05:30 pm (UTC) Expand
(Anonymous) wrote:
Mar. 2nd, 2009 08:51 pm (UTC)
I wore this shirt to Wondercon in San Francisco

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2203372&l=a2862&id=690584273

http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=2203290&l=a3973&id=690584273

Here is a brief summary of my day:

Got quite a few reactions...

1) A group of African-American artists asked me what my shirt meant... so I explained the whole thing to them and they said that kind of stuff happens all the time
2) Another African-American artist asked me what my shirt meant
3) Daniel Logan, the young Boba Feet, asked me what my shirt meant... I explained it to him... he didn't seem to really care
4) A bunch of people in this one booth all cheered when they saw me... I can't remember what booth they were in
5) A couple artist in Artists Alley told me they liked my shirt and supported the cause
6) A couple random people on the streets told me they liked my shirt and supported the cause

So I did not really get to talk to anyone high-profile... but it seems like there are quite a few people who support our cause... the question is... how to translate that support to something tangible.
| Reply | Thread
[info]aang_aint_white wrote:
Mar. 2nd, 2009 08:54 pm (UTC)
Thank you for helping to get the word out! Raising awareness really IS a key thing with this, and for every person who talked to you there were likely a dozen who noticed and just thought things over quietly/were too shy to approach a stranger.

We're brainstorming ways to level things up this month -- we'll see how it goes! <3

Edited at 2009-03-02 08:54 pm (UTC)
| Reply | Parent | Thread
[info]amaterasu_no_ki wrote:
Mar. 5th, 2009 04:38 am (UTC)
Augh, I should've been watching this community! I live in Manhattan and I grew up in Flushing, I would've loved to go to this.
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[info]chaobunny wrote:
Mar. 6th, 2009 08:14 pm (UTC)
D=

Why has Paramount continued to ignore our letters, MANAA, and EWP. >_
| Reply | Parent | Thread | Expand
(no subject) - [info]caterfree10 - Mar. 6th, 2009 09:08 pm (UTC) Expand
[info]singingsun199 wrote:
Mar. 14th, 2009 01:53 am (UTC)
Augh! I'm so sick of them ignoring us! I just, I'm so mad and...

We have to cause a bigger stink. This is so not over. Hell, it's not over till the last minute. I'm still positive that some way or the other, we'll get our points across.

Out of all the movies that paramount could turn into racist crap, why TLA? Why is the one story that could become super popular the one with racist undetones?
This was an oppurtinity for East Asians and Inuits. And Paramount ruined it for them.

I wonder what else we could do.
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[info]canellaphile wrote:
Mar. 19th, 2009 01:51 am (UTC)
Mongolian, Cambodian or Laotian

Is there a reason for choosing these specifically? No...Japanese? Chinese? Korean? I am honestly confused.
| Reply | Thread
( 67 comments — Leave a comment )

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