Hapa Stardom

[monkeygone2]

While visiting family in the Philippines, a mother is told that her son’s mixed features (dad’s Caucasian) and light skin would enable him to be a successful child model.

She’s torn.
"If my son ever lands a part on TV because of his color, do I want to be the one who has cast him?"

Don’t know what she’ll ultimately decide to do. But when her son grows up, he will surely have a strong sense of self.

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/13248490/site/newsweek/

[BeTheReds]

I don't think there is shame in being cast because of your color. That's how TV works anyway. They cast you based on how you look.

[VV o n g B a]

Originally Posted by BeTheReds

That's how TV works anyway. They cast you based on how you look.

isn't that the main rub? she doesn't feel comfortable contributing to the status quo. maybe it's a similar feeling for the asian american actors that don't like playing the deliveryboy or the submissive sex prop.

[BeTheReds]

Originally Posted by VV o n g B a

isn't that the main rub? she doesn't feel comfortable contributing to the status quo. maybe it's a similar feeling for the asian american actors that don't like playing the deliveryboy or the submissive sex prop.

Well that could be, but she didn't specify which role the kid would be playing. There's a difference between getting hired for some role in acting due to a certain look (which is why practically anyone gets any role in movies or TV) or whether the role is degrading. If it's degrading, then yea, take the moral high road. Otherwise I don't see a problem.

[kimpossible]

Meh. Unless the kid grows up to be functionally bilingual and can sing it won't matter long term. A lot of mixed kids get limited model gigs offered to them in Asia. My friend's kids have been in quite a few Taiwan commercials. It didn't hurt them and they certainly didn't turn into pop stars. I think they barely remember it.

It's something that happens in Asia when your kid is mixed. We had people stop us in the street in downtown Taipei to take a picture with my infant. A lot of people also say "Takeshi" as soon as they find out he's a bit Japanese with the Taiwanese. That mom really shouldn't let it go to either her head or her son's head. It's not the type of thing that is always said or meant in earnest, or by people who you should believe know star potential when they see it.

edit: Chalk it up to the cynicism but she submitted and successfully got her child's picture up with this article. Considering it's Newsweek and MSNBC and she's talking about getting her kid an agent based on comments from a couple random people it seems she now has the photo in print to show them. Clever.