Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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Disability Organization Slams ‘Blind’ for Casting Alec Baldwin in Lead Role as Blind Man (variety.com)
submitted by cajwalkman
cajwalkman [OP] 4 points 6y ago
To be honest I find this plot more offensive:
"...Demi Moore as a married socialite who cares for Baldwin’s character as part of a plea bargain. The two develop a love affair, leaving Moore’s character to choose between Baldwin’s and her husband"
So does any lady criminal want a get out of jail pass by sacrificing herself and shacking up with and doing everything for a blind person?
"...Demi Moore as a married socialite who cares for Baldwin’s character as part of a plea bargain. The two develop a love affair, leaving Moore’s character to choose between Baldwin’s and her husband"
So does any lady criminal want a get out of jail pass by sacrificing herself and shacking up with and doing everything for a blind person?
fastfinge 3 points 6y ago
Ditto! I mean, we've had loads of sighted folks playing blind, and nobody ever cared before. Does anyone remember the Ray Charles movie? The attention here should be on the plot, not the person playing the lead.
-shacklebolt- 3 points 6y ago
Both things seem like issues.
Obviously disabled actors face barriers in advancing their careers and being treated like realistic prospects for roles. This leads to situations where an actual disabled person is not cast either because of assumptions about what they can and cannot do, or where claims of "not being able to find a good actor with x disability" are made long after systemic barriers forced most of the actors with that disability to do something else.
I don't think it's an issue that able-bodied actors play disabled people. I think it's an issue when people assume that disabled people can't be qualified for the same roles, and disabled actors seem excluded from real opportunities.
But this movie also sounds pretty shitty in it's portrayal of blind people, at least as far as I can tell from the trailer. The woman is punished by having to "help" a blind man. The trailer has scenes where she is reading from a book for him, a professional tells her "for the visually impaired, feeling is seeing, so don't be alarmed if he touches you," (because blind people don't have boundaries apparently?) a face-touching scene, the sighted woman saying "I want to see what you see," etc.
Obviously disabled actors face barriers in advancing their careers and being treated like realistic prospects for roles. This leads to situations where an actual disabled person is not cast either because of assumptions about what they can and cannot do, or where claims of "not being able to find a good actor with x disability" are made long after systemic barriers forced most of the actors with that disability to do something else.
I don't think it's an issue that able-bodied actors play disabled people. I think it's an issue when people assume that disabled people can't be qualified for the same roles, and disabled actors seem excluded from real opportunities.
But this movie also sounds pretty shitty in it's portrayal of blind people, at least as far as I can tell from the trailer. The woman is punished by having to "help" a blind man. The trailer has scenes where she is reading from a book for him, a professional tells her "for the visually impaired, feeling is seeing, so don't be alarmed if he touches you," (because blind people don't have boundaries apparently?) a face-touching scene, the sighted woman saying "I want to see what you see," etc.
fastfinge 5 points 6y ago
> people assume that disabled people can't be qualified for the same roles.
Well, I will say that I'm completely unconvinced that a blind actor could play a sighted role. However, I've been blind all my life. I could be overestimating how important eye contact, meaningful glances, etc, are. And I just don't think there are enough blind roles to keep a blind actor in work. So I can't get upset that sighted actors play blind people.
I am willing to have my view changed, though. But before starting to protest this as "ableism", I really would need comvincing that being a fully blind actor is viable.
edit to ad: I should clarify that I mean on-camera acting work. I bet blind people would make wonderful voice actors (either in cartoons, radio plays, or anywhere else), and I'd love to hear more of them.
Well, I will say that I'm completely unconvinced that a blind actor could play a sighted role. However, I've been blind all my life. I could be overestimating how important eye contact, meaningful glances, etc, are. And I just don't think there are enough blind roles to keep a blind actor in work. So I can't get upset that sighted actors play blind people.
I am willing to have my view changed, though. But before starting to protest this as "ableism", I really would need comvincing that being a fully blind actor is viable.
edit to ad: I should clarify that I mean on-camera acting work. I bet blind people would make wonderful voice actors (either in cartoons, radio plays, or anywhere else), and I'd love to hear more of them.
Terry_Pie 3 points 6y ago
As I've mentioned on here previously (in a very long and fairly comprehensive comment), I prefer characters with disability to be played by people with disability. I'd also like to see people with disability play characters whose disability isn't the central thing to their character.
As has been pointed out already though, the plot is a far greater issue than the casting. I don't think that's unique to this particular film though. If it isn't inspiration porn, it's falling in love the character with disability the other character is caring for). Which, in the real world, is quite likely to end with some pretty significant questions being asked by people in positions of authority.
As has been pointed out already though, the plot is a far greater issue than the casting. I don't think that's unique to this particular film though. If it isn't inspiration porn, it's falling in love the character with disability the other character is caring for). Which, in the real world, is quite likely to end with some pretty significant questions being asked by people in positions of authority.
Nighthawk321 2 points 6y ago
Basically what everyone else is saying. I don't care so much that a sighted person was cast to be a blind person, but the fact that all of the blind stereotypes are still in tact.
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