2. Straight Outta Compton's Casting Call Is Deemed To Be Super Racist
When a movie starts its casting process, the studio will usually send out a "casting call" in order to fill certain parts. Here's the one that was sent out for Straight Outta Compton, before it was recalled after everybody who laid eyes upon it declared it to be "insanely racist." Seriously: take a look at all the "groups," and pay special attention to group D:
"A GIRLS: These are the hottest of the hottest. Models. MUST have real hair - no extensions, very classy looking, great bodies. You can be black, white, asian, hispanic, mid eastern, or mixed race too. B GIRLS: These are fine girls, long natural hair, really nice bodies. Small waists, nice hips. You should be light-skinned. Beyonce is a prototype here. C GIRLS: These are African American girls, medium to light skinned with a weave. D GIRLS: These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone. Character types."
The issue here, of course, is that the casting call goes as far to describe what they think "D" girls should look like, and it isn't pretty. Whilst Straight Outta Compton itself wasn't flagged for racism, it's a shame that the casting call went down in such a jarring way - clearly the people who conjured up the groups didn't think about what they had written.
Sam Hill is an ardent cinephile and has been writing about film professionally since 2008. He harbours a particular fondness for western and sci-fi movies.
