Whitewashing in film
[4] Other non-Asian actors to portray Chinese detective Charlie Chan include Manuel Arbó, Sidney Toler, Roland Winters, Ross Martin, and Peter Ustinov.
The BBC explored two reasons for the casting practice: institutional racism and a belief that well-known white actors attract more audiences and maximize profits.
"[1] Jeffery Mio, author of Multicultural Psychology: Understanding Our Diverse Communities, hypothesizes that the film industry, mostly white, hires people of similar backgrounds.
"[1] Craig Detweiler, professor of film history at Pepperdine University, said, "There are a shortage [sic] of African American, Asian and Latino stars.
"[9] Film professor Mitchell W. Block said studios adhered to casting norms as a matter of practicing business to appeal to investors and producers.
"[10][11][12] USA Today noted with films like Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), A Mighty Heart (2007), and Pan (2015), "White actors continue to be top of mind for plum roles, despite the under-representation of people of color at the acting, directing and producing levels.
"[10] Media watchdog groups have sought more authentic representations on screen, taking issue with casting decisions such as actor Johnny Depp as a Native American in The Lone Ranger (2013).
[1] With films from the United States receiving promotion in more global markets, the groups argue for roles that represent the diversity of audiences, who are seeking more authenticity.
"[13][14] In 2016, a social media movement #StarringJohnCho created by Willam Yu trending on Twitter with photoshopped images of John Cho on popular movie posters.
After the casting received criticism on social media, Skrein withdrew, stating, "Representation of ethnic diversity is important, especially to me as I have a mixed heritage family.
[145] The filmmakers behind The Paper Tigers planned to have a male Asian-American main character with a minority leading cast for their martial arts comedy film.
She mentioned that many disheartening encounters with American financiers who wanted to include a "prominent white character into the narrative, and punch up the nuanced drama to turn it into a broad comedy."
Wang later created an episode on This American Life based on her family, which caught the attention of producer Chris Weitz who helped secure financing.
[154][155] The writers of Harold & Kumar Go to White Castle (2004), Jon Hurwitz and Hayden Schlossberg, said that they were really sick of seeing teen movies that were one-dimensional and that had characters that did not match the diversity of their group of friends.
Cho recalled, “It had to be rooted in that as a defense mechanism so that they wouldn’t get turned white.”[157][158][159] Salma Hayek stated that she was passed over for two large comedy roles due to her ethnicity.
[162] According to author Kevin Kwan, a potential producer wanted to change the heroine into a white girl for Crazy Rich Asians (2018).
Shirley Li of Entertainment Weekly wrote, "To whitewash Rachel would take away an integral part of the character’s identity and also be a detriment to the story itself.
