Pocahontas Played By Non N.A. Indian

[veritasxl]

Don't know what happened to my previous attempt to post this, but here goes again.
We're having a special screening of the movie The New World here in L.A. for the Native American community. Recently I read in Newsweek that the Director went to great lengths to re-create Jamestown as it was during the period, required the wardrobes to be made of materials actually worn by Eastern tribes at that time.


However, when it came time to cast the female lead, he had an international audtion call (why?). Then gave the part to a local, unknown, Q'orinka Kilcher who is half white and half Peruvian. First let me say I am not knocking Q'orinka, if she right for the part, she's right for the part. Yet now that the movie's debut is near everything just says she's Peruvian


What I am knocking is the statement made in the Newsweek article. The casting director and director said they found no Native Americans who were young enough, talented enough and could age with the part. I know we have many young, talented North American Indian girls that could have played that part, why they didn't hear about the auditons I don't know. It just seems inconsistent to have so much concern about sets and wardrobe and since you're taking a chance on an unknown anyway, why not start at the source. If not with the Eastern Tribes then other N. A. tribes as is most of the Indian cast

What's your take on this?

V

[Homalosa]

I can think of soooo many young native actresses who could have played her. Nativecelebs.com has tons of head shots and bios of great actresses.

[WhoMe]

[font=Arial]What I am knocking is the statement made in the Newsweek article. The casting director and director said they found no Native Americans who were young enough, talented enough and could age with the part.

veritasx,

This is actually a true "corrupted" statement.

If the casting director and director, "tried to find a Native American actress who was young enough, talented enough and could age with the part," --- by announching one audition that nobody heard about.... then the statement "is "technically" true --- but a "corrupt statement" (because they, in fact, did not find anyone in their limited audition).

They in turn gave the statement to journalists who also are professionally trained to make statements that give the truth .... just not all of it, at their discretion.

One more reason to add to the pot that Indians dont' have the power in America because not too many of us know decision makers at the top executive levels who affect our future.


"This needs to change."


Also, this actress is "technically" Native American if she if Peruvian. Peru is in South America.

Anyone born in the Americas is technically "NATIVE AMERICAN."


That is why I don't like to be referred to as a Native American.

[qwade]

white, black,mexican,chinese

you name it have been playing indian acting roles for years I do think it's wrong but what can you do no control on casting as a nation someone needs to step up and form a commitee that overlooks that part of casting after all were the ones theyre depicting.

[Homalosa]

What I don't get is why didn't First Americans In The Arts FAITA say something. I went to one of their events years ago and believe they are SAG affiliated. Seems like they could have a sub committee that looks at this type of thing.

[qwade]

actors

I'm not doggin Q she is still an indian if she was the girl for the part then so be it. Indianz are Indianz no matter wer thier from .I say the only thing that changed that was the white man when he put up borders

[kgirl7]

Q'orianka Kilcher is half white and Quechuan Indian not just "Peruvian" so she technically is an Indian. I think it's B.S. though because I know there are many talented Native actresses out there. I think they should have gotten someone from the Powhatan tribe. But I think I read somewhere that they wanted someone who could do a British accent. I think Kilcher lived in New Zealand or something so she could fake a British accent. I gotta check up on that.

[Joe G]

She's also the sister of the pop singer Jewell (Kilcher) but there are MANY native actresses who could and should have had a chance at this role....but most Hollywierd movies use anybody but a skin..as people have said....

[LumbeeGirl10]

It really does'nt matter if they used a Indian girl to play the part. The movie is based on the mythical story of Pocahontas and John Smith. Not the historical story. I'm not really sure whey any native actor would have wanted to play a part in a movie that is based on a lie. Why didn't they just make a the movie about the true history of Pocahontas and her family. On one site the synopsis of the flim says that Pocahontas betrayed her father and her people and so her father banished her and she went to live with the white people at Jamestown. This is so far from the true. I cant understand why someone would make a movie based on lies. But that is the way of White people. Native people are still being misrepresented and mistreated. This movie is doing the same thing that has happened to native people ever since the white people came across the water.

[veritasxl]

I was just curious what the consensus would be, I totally agree with you LumbeeGirl10, they do romanticize/lie about history facts to suite their conscience. Yet they spend millions on sets for historical accuracy. Also, to WHOME and others, I realize Peru is South America, and they are indigenous but hoped ya'll knew what I meant.

Anyway, make way for all the people who will be coming out to PW after this movie is seen by the masses. Get ready for all the great-grandmother stories etc. etc. etc.

c'ya

[LumbeeGirl10]

The Whole Movie is A Joke!

I don't unserstand why they went to such great lengths to make everything else in the movie historical. The language, the clothing and everything. Why couldn't they just make a movie that was historical? Why use the romantized story of a liar. In 500 nations it states that John Smith came up with story of his life being saved, 17 years later. That he was saved by more than one beauiful woman. Why didnt they bother to get the story straight. Kevin Costner didnt have a hard time making a movie that showed native people in a good way. If everyone would stop teaching the same tired stuff in schools and on flim, native people would be better off. The try to pass this "New World" movie off as a native movie, but it is nothing more than spitting in the face of native people. These people who make these movies need to do more research and stop telling lies! And stop trying to discredit native people. Its been that way for hundreds of years and I guess it is going to continue!

[veritasxl]

There's a free screening tonight out in Westwood for the Indian community. They usually do this out here just before a film about American Indians debuts. There are a few Powhatan families here in L. A. hopefully they will be there and ask about the story this producer chose to tell as opposed to the truth.

Maybe he just picked up where Disney left off. Who knows. My daughter used to teach here in California and she had to 'go to the mat' because she refused to teach the romanticized version of the California missions (which is required for all 4th graders in california). Instead she taught out the Jesuits beat, raped and forced catholicism on them. She also shared how usually off the tour path, you will find smal grave sites where the Cali indians that were worked to death are buried. It all starts in the schools, that's why all people of colour should be beating the doors down of State Boards that select text books to accurately protray our various cultures and not some Euro perception, which of course always shows them as savior of one sort or another.

Will up date after I see the thing tonight, good thing it's free. They usually have a question and answer period after these things with various actors, producers etc.

V

[veritasxl]

Review of movie the New World

I just came from the movie, see the review under Chat, so let's put this puppy to bed

v

[LumbeeGirl10]

What a load of CRAP!

I saw that the trailers are calling the movis a "Historical Epic", come on! Why tell lies and try to pass it off as the truth! This movis spits in the face of true history. Why do people see fit to water down native history and make it seem okay, like all the stuff they did, never happened. Why dont they tell the truth. How they terrorized native people for years and years and lie to make themselves feel okay. All the native tribes that are gone because they were killed in cold blood. And the reviews are saying that it is a great movie!
And then you have Colin Farrel, talking about Pocahontas, like he really knew what he was talking about. The whole thing is a joke!