Bridgerton's colorblind casting signals a 'real shift' in Hollywood. … Shonda has broken that ceiling," says Toussaint, 60. The new Netflix series is based on the fictional, eight-volume novel by Julia Quinn about the far-flung Bridgerton family. By casting theater actress Golda Rosheuvel as the Queen (pictured top), series creators Shonda Rhimes and Chris van Dusen have resurrected a historical debate that Sophie Charlotte zu Mecklenburg-Strelitz, born in 1744, is said to have had African ancestors. And Netflix has acquired the rights to her next film, Concrete Cowboys, about a young Black teen who is "caught between a life of crime and his estranged father's [Idris Elba] vibrant urban-cowboy subculture." Calm down online bores, colour-blind casting isn’t ‘woke’ With Dev Patel as David Copperfield, movies have caught up with theatre’s creative approach Sat, Feb 1, 2020, 05:00 Colour blind casting first started to gain acceptance in the 80s and refers to non-traditional casting – i.e., where the race, ethnicity or sex of actors when casting is not relevant. Nicola Coughlan Speaks Out About Concerns Over Bridgerton's "Color-Blind" Casting Ryan Gajewski 1/13/2021. © Liam Daniel/Netflix/Everett Collection/picture alliance In my opinion, Bridgerton does not do the whole “colorblind” thing well — at all. Is colorblind casting the secret to 'Bridgerton's ... whose skin color and looks vastly differ from the literary or historical characters they portray onscreen is known as "colorblind casting." Casting actors whose skin color and looks vastly differ from the literary or historical characters they portray onscreen is known as " colorblind casting." The show was just renewed for a second season. "The traditional choice has been to predominate even minor roles, on-camera crowd sourcing roles or non-speaking roles with white people.". How well does Bridgerton address race? "Next to Rome, the British Empire was the largest colonial power in the world," he told DW. The portrayal of dark-skinned Black men on the show also leaves much to be desired, as Simon’s father is portrayed as cruel and abusive. Colorblind Casting, also ein farbenblindes Casting, bedeute eigentlich, die Rollen nach Talent und Fähigkeiten zu vergeben, nicht nach der Hautfarbe, so Ayivi. Katrin Maier-Sohn, 02.02.2021 - 13:00 Uhr. It's not just because the historical drama has become one of Netflix's most popular original shows, with the eight episodes in season 1 watched by more than 82 million accounts in its first month, according to the streaming service. "Oftentimes racism isn't particularly malicious, but that level of ignorance is no longer excusable," Toussaint says. That's how the industry changes.". So, the examples we're talking about are really exceptions,". Bridgerton is just part of what's driving Toussaint's optimism that Hollywood may finally be moving forward in embracing diversity and inclusion and that our society may be addressing institutional racism. But make no mistake, the Regency-era romance — with its multiracial cast — isn't merely an act of color-blind casting. Nicola appeared on the British daytime talk show, This Morning's latest episode on Tuesday, i.e. There are a whole slew of filmmakers that are top-notch and at the top of their game. © 2021 CNET, A RED VENTURES COMPANY. The second season of Bridgerton will follow the plot of Julia Quinn's ... to match the Shondaland series' race-blind casting. "The Queen is played by a Woman of Color, but what life was really like for most black women at the time is not adequately addressed. Since the 2016, the #OscarsSoWhite movement typifies efforts in Hollywood to introduce more diversity to the film industry — including having People of Color narrate from their perspective. Find out more. "I love period," she says, with a laugh. ", It is always very difficult, he says, to incorporate diversity into a story and sufficiently highlight all perspectives and speak to all viewers equally. Except that in the case of the new Netflix series Bridgerton, set in the British court of 1813, some of the main characters are People of Color. Launched on Netflix on December 25, 2020, the series is currently among the most viewed in many countries, including Germany. While casting is important in diverse storytelling, Bridgerton's omission of race presents a false colorblind narrative giving the illusion of a postracial society, where racism no longer exists. ", Which is why Toussaint is excited about the prospects of finally playing a "grand old broad" in a period piece on TV in a show like Bridgerton, which is set in Regency England. "Basically, these are terrible films because they show People of Color as stereotypes who need to be saved by white people who have the knowledge and skills.". So, while about half of audiences find colorblind casting is a value-add in general, Bridgerton seems to have hit the mark for most viewers. Microsoft and partners may be compensated if you purchase something through recommended links in this article. Bridgerton stars Rege-Jean Page as the dapper lead. There's love, intrigue and sex, ideas of class and rebellion against them: familiar themes that typically pepper a Jane Austen-esque historical romance. La storia d’amore tra i due protagonisti Daphne e il Duca Simon, interpretati da Phoebe Dynevor e Regé‑Jean Page, richiama l’attenzione del romantico pubblico. Colorblind Casting bei Netflix „Bridgerton“: Plötzlich ist der Adel schwarz. The wildly popular series from Grey’s Anatomy creator Shonda Rhimes puts a modern twist on the books about an upper-class family in early 19th-century England, including color-blind casting. Indeed, while people of colour are embraced into the fold of Bridgerton ‘s noble families, the show still appears to indicate they are outliers, as the majority of its main cast is white. The Non-Traditional Casting Project. And the show in question unfortunately does just that. But that doesn't apply to Bridgerton. The Actors' Equity Association is a co-founder.. "There is actually a very high correlation between higher profitability and a movie that shows a more diverse cast and world," said Harrington. Featuring a black queen, opulent costumes and "Fifty Shades"-like sex scenes, the Netflix series inspires and provokes in equal measure. Nicola Coughlan Speaks Out About Concerns Over Bridgerton's "Color-Blind" Casting Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan opened up about the Netflix show's diverse cast and … Casting actors regardless of their heritage may seem to allow for more diversity on screen and in theatre. Show full articles without "Continue Reading" button for {0} hours. Bridgerton's colorblind casting signals a 'real shift' in Hollywood. In addition, Netflix’s upcoming period piece “ Bridgerton ” will feature an entirely color-blind cast (see trailer above). Like us on Facebook to see similar stories, Suspect in Capitol attack suffered delusions, source says, Three dead in shooting at N.C. house party. All too often, the said protagonist rushes to the aid of his black counterpart — in other words, playing the "white savior. There are women of color who are very high up in the networks. Instead, the producers used color-blind casting to show that people from diverse backgrounds can have the same opportunities to be involved in historical dramas. In February, she began starring in CBS' crime series The Equalizer alongside Queen Latifah and Chris Noth, playing "an unconventional maternal figure." "Black Lives Matter has finally surfaced in a way that cannot be ignored. January 12, 2021, wherein she spoke about Bridgerton's colour-blind casting.The Irish actor also expressed how her conversation with co-actor Adjoa Andoh helped her … Films like these are often hits. EW takes you behind-the-scenes of Shondaland's Netflix debut, 'Bridgerton,' a Regency-era drama inspired by a series of romance novels. ... “It’s not color-blind casting,” explains Beers. The danger, however, is that viewers might take what is shown at face value; that is, perceive it as historical reality, says US sociologist, Matthew Hughey. In the world of Bridgerton, most dark It's scheduled to be released on April 2. There will always be change in our world, and we'll be here to discuss how to navigate it all. But the show also casts strong women of color such as Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh in dignified positions of power. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. While it’s easy to fill a diversity quota by including the occasional extra or stereotypical co-star role with a person of color, casting leading men and women with complex and dimensional characters is still scarce today. Actress Lorraine Toussaint says Black Lives Matter and Netflix shows like Shonda Rhimes' Bridgerton are … Lorraine Toussaint says she’s been sending emails every few months to television producer Shonda Rhimes, offering to play a “grand old dame” in future episodes of Rhimes’ groundbreaking Netflix series Bridgerton. It's the color-blind casting in "Bridgerton" that comes as a welcome surprise in a genre usually reserved for white actors. ", He cites Green Book, which won the best film Oscar in 2019, as a fitting example. Bridgerton star Nicola Coughlan hopes that the Netflix Original will set a benchmark as to how 'diverse' period dramas can be. Colorblind casting "never quite got to film and then it certainly never really got to television. Also worth looking out for is Hulu’s new satirical comedy The Great, which stars Elle Fanning as Catherine the Great and employs some colour-blind casting, and Netflix’s Bridgerton, which is set to feature an entirely colour-blind cast. That in itself is not new; the creator of Bridgerton, producer Shonda Rhimes, made colorblind casting her trademark. Die neue Netflix-Serie Bridgerton ist das jüngste Beispiel für eine Besetzungspraxis im Film, die man "Colorblind Casting" nennt, die also, zumindest dem Anschein nach, "farbenblind" ist. Subscribe to CNET Now for the day's most interesting reviews, news stories and videos. © Liam Daniel/Netflix/Everett Collection/picture alliance, © Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/picture alliance. "I'm encouraged by what's happening in front of the screen, but also what's happening behind," Toussaint said in an interview for CNET's Now What series from her home in New York. Bridgerton showrunner Chris Van Dusen felt similarly, even going so far as to tell The New York Times that the term “colorblind casting” was a misnomer, implying that race had not been considered, when in fact “race and color are part of the show.” Phoebe Dynevor (left) and Rege-Jean Page in the first season episode. The Non-Traditional Casting Project was founded in 1986 to examine problems of racial discrimination in theatre, film and television. This means she could indeed have been the first black British queen. But it isn't always done this way. Prior to this, it wasn’t common to see actors of colour in classical roles. So, while about half of audiences find colorblind casting is a value-add in general, Bridgerton seems to have hit the mark for most viewers. Kultur Netflix-Serie "Bridgerton" - Erfolg dank Colorblind Casting? Netflix’s Bridgerton has proved itself to be a new sensation, having been streamed in 63 million households in the first four weeks of release – the streaming service’s very own diamond of the season, if you will. Colorblind casting is nothing new of course although in the past it has generally been white actors playing PoC. ", "The Actors Equity in the U.S. calls it 'non-traditional' casting," says Ellen Harrington, the director of the German Film Institute and Film Museum (DFF) in Frankfurt. Tuttavia, l’occhio attento dello spettatore non può che ricadere su alcuni punti giudicati distanti dalla realtà. "We're getting to a critical mass point where we're starting to see a real shift in the business and the industry. The series is addressing the issue of race head-on. Now What is a video interview series with industry leaders, celebrities and influencers that covers trends impacting businesses and consumers amid the "new normal." Why maintain the illusion that a fictional series can't tell a slightly different story? While it’s easy to fill a diversity quota by including the occasional extra or stereotypical co-star role with a person of color, casting leading men and women with complex and dimensional characters is still scarce today. Black Panther, starring the late Chadwick Boseman, is a striking example. Actress Lorraine Toussaint says Black Lives Matter and Netflix shows like Shonda Rhimes' Bridgerton are positive signs of change in the entertainment industry -- and beyond. Bridgerton, in many ways, is just another period piece.Based on the eight novels by Julia Quinn that are collectively known as the Bridgerton Series and released by Netflix in December, the series is set in Regency-era London; its main characters are all gentry in the “ton,” and each one’s character arc is marked by anxiety about virtue, status, and marriage. Bridgerton (TV Series 2020– ) cast and crew credits, including actors, actresses, directors, writers and more. An atypical look and feel to previously all-white film adaptations like "Pride and Prejudice. As for what's next, Toussaint says she's looking forward to a post-pandemic world where we can return to see live performances in a theater, noting that the technology that allows her to perform virtually on stage -- what she calls "simulated intimacy" -- doesn't work for her. ", Casting actors whose skin color and looks vastly differ from the literary or historical characters they portray onscreen is known as "colorblind casting. And that diversity, fueled in part by last year's reckoning over Black Lives Matter, is prompting real discussions and action. But the show also casts strong women of color such as Golda Rosheuvel and Adjoa Andoh in dignified positions of power. Bridgerton: 'It's not colour-blind casting, it's colour-conscious casting' We collect information on how quizzes are used so we can make them even better. ... of COVID-19 spread in every county displays a new color now. CNET - Connie Guglielmo • 19m. PS5, Xbox Series X backward compatibility, Bridgerton star Regé-Jean Page won't be back for season 2, one of Netflix's most popular original shows. Or Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, which also features Boseman in his final role before his death in 2020. In his book, The White Savior Film, Hughey discusses how in Hollywood stories about People of Color are still mostly told from a white protagonist's point of view. The embrace of entertainment executives including Rhimes, who earned initial success as the showrunner for the medical drama Grey's Anatomy, and directors Ava Duvernay and Gina Prince-Bythewood, shows that real progress is possible, she says. But the fact that the show rewrites history to bestow titles like queen and duke on Black characters does not make “Bridgerton” a project that features “color blind” casting. However, Britain's Queen Charlotte, who does not appear in the novel, has been drafted into the series. Nicola Coughlan hopes that Bridgerton will forever help to change the way people think about period pieces. When asked about diverse or colorblind casting, 53% say that it adds to a show or movie in general, while 83% of Bridgerton viewers say that it adds to the show. The series takes this idea further, says Skadi Loist, junior professor at Babelsberg Film University, by asking what happens when we no longer make Eurocentric assumptions that "imagine our history as homogeneously white?" 5. That daring is a hallmark of Shonda Rhimes, the TV hit-maker ("Grey's Anatomy," "Scandal") who offers "Bridgerton" as the first entry in her reported $150 million deal to bring Shondaland content to Netflix. Here’s the thing: any type of nontraditional casting is pointless if it just reinscribes stereotypes. "I was trained to do period, and to be able to do that on film now would be really exciting.". Casting People of Color in the court was a conscious decision to reinterpret and retell history, she explained. "There are more women coming into power at the studio levels, the networks levels. Debate and "color-consciousness" In the theatre community, there is significant debate over the concept of color-blind casting vs "color-conscious casting". When asked about diverse or colorblind casting, 53% say that it adds to a show or movie in general, while 83% of Bridgerton viewers say that it adds to the show. But the fact that the show rewrites history to bestow titles like queen and duke on Black characters does not make "Bridgerton" a project that features "color blind" casting. "The face of theater may change, but I think there's nothing else in the world that compares to walking into a space and having a live interaction.". Bridgerton: l’effetto blind-color casting. In 2018’s Colette, for instance, Keira Knightley and Dominic West star as the titular 19th-century novelist and her husband, but the British-Asian Ray Panthaki and black actor Johnny K Palmer appear in their coterie of friends. Actress Lorraine Toussaint says Black Lives Matter and Netflix shows like Shonda Rhimes' Bridgerton are positive signs of change in the entertainment industry -- and beyond. Producer and series creator Shonda Rhimes embraced colorblind casting. Bridgerton sits somewhere in the middle of the spectrum, not really committed to color-conscious casting, but not color-blind either. Bridgerton, in many ways, is just another period piece.Based on the eight novels by Julia Quinn that are collectively known as the Bridgerton Series and released by Netflix in December, the series is set in Regency-era London; its main characters are all gentry in the “ton,” and each one’s character arc is marked by anxiety about virtue, status, and marriage. That is touching the industry. Lorraine Toussaint says she's been sending emails every few months to television producer Shonda Rhimes, offering to play a "grand old dame" in future episodes of Rhimes' groundbreaking Netflix series Bridgerton. That correlation is evident with Bridgerton too. In the meantime, Toussaint, who played a villain of sorts on Netflix's Orange Is the New Black and voiced the sorceress Shadow Weaver in the animated series She-Ra and the Princesses of Power, remains busy at work. Le tout Londres bruisse de l’entrée réussie de la jeune Daphné Bridgerton, ainsi que du retour du séduisant duc d’Hastings. New Netflix period drama Bridgerton adopts colour-blind casting Save Bridgerton will be based on the series of novels by Julia Quinn, the best-selling US romance writer. It is awakening minds and hearts and opening eyes," says Toussaint, who last year created the Mothers & Sons 2020 Project to encourage Black Americans to vote.