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Post by maryseo on Oct 26, 2012 9:18:59 GMT 1
I don't even understand how Zoe Saldana accepted this role, it's actually insulting. No foundation, afro wig or nose prothesis will make her look like Nina Simone. i hope this movie will be boycotted
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masdo
Full Member
Posts: 264
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Post by masdo on Oct 26, 2012 9:33:08 GMT 1
Her look on that movie set is embarassing, the wig she has on is insulting to black natural hair. Her skin looks like a burn victim, when Nina Simone had a beautiful flawless smooth dark skin. I do understand that we dont have to critisise actors for getting a dollar we should question the whole Hollyweird system of trying to erase black iconic figures, its unethical on so many levels. As much as some celebrities are defending Zoe, we need to question her integrity as a person. Zoe is not even a great actress, she is not Angela Bassett, and some people have even recommended Viola Davis who i think is overrated, they should have gone for an unknown actress sometimes that recipe works well. Nina Simone was very complex, and a very interesting character to have this lollipop actress play her is a joke.
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Post by Nylle23 on Oct 30, 2012 14:46:04 GMT 1
An Open Letter To Anyone Who Cares About Nina Simone I’m writing this letter to anyone who cares about Nina Simone: her legacy, her artistry, her spirit, her genius, her music, her activism, everything. If you care at all about Nina Simone — even if you’ve only heard a few of her songs — then this letter is for you. If you’re here reading this, it’s for you. I won’t waste time writing to Cynthia Mort or Zoe Saldana and releasing the words out into the public sphere for the chance they might cross paths, because even if that were the case the words would mean nothing to them. What they are creating proves those words would mean nothing, so why waste my breath (or finger taps)? They will not listen. The issues surrounding this unauthorized film depicting Nina Simone, which we might as well call a biopic since they are naming the thing Nina, are complex, multilayered, and multifaceted. The discussions of the issues are as complex as they are controversial; however, they are important conversations to have and keep having. The most frustrating people are the ones who imply everyone should just shut up and “wait and see” or “leave them alone.” That kind of attitude and oppression is not in the spirit of Nina Simone whatsoever. Quite the opposite. Nina was vocal, defiant, a warrior, an activist. She would not have simply shut up and sat down. She would’ve shown up at the studio with a shotgun to speak with Ms. Mort and slapped the makeup off Zoe. So let’s get that straight first. We’re going to talk about this and those of us with strong, impassioned opinions are going to express them. Zoe’s complexion (the level of her “blackness”) has taken the forefront in the discussion. Her complexion as well as her phenotype/features. We’re going to have to address this since obviously it is dominating the outcry against this project, understandably so. However, I believe this issue is a byproduct of the much, much larger issue: the total gentrification of Nina Simone. This occurred at the inception of this film so it’s no wonder the script and casting have come to symbolize the total fictionalization of Nina as a person and as an artist. The script, written by Latin American writer and first time director Cynthia Mort, is based in a series of lies. That is our starting point. Cynthia calls this her “artistic license.” Under that umbrella what Cynthia is implying is that she can pretty much do whatever the hell she wants and she doesn’t have to listen to anyone. Cynthia has focused her story on Nina’s relationship with her personal assistant, Clifton Henderson, himself a controversial person in Nina’s life. Well before Nina’s death, before talks about a movie, there were issues expressed about Clifton’s intentions regarding Nina and his efforts to seemingly keep her isolated. He was around Nina for the last few years of her life. He can be seen with her in a filming of Nina’s concert in Brazil in 2000, during shots of Nina being interviewed in a boat (http://vimeo.com/ninasimone/livebrazil). After Nina’s death, Clifton sold his story to Cynthia and that became the basis for the movie. So, a (controversial) personal assistant’s relationship with Nina Simone for the very last few years of her life somehow became the focal point of the first ever Nina Simone movie. Moreover, that controversial relationship became fictionalized by Cynthia Mort by her writing the relationship as a romantic one (putting Nina in the role as sexual aggressor and as emotionally needy). Read the rest of the letter: www.ninasimone.com/2012/10/an-open-letter-to-anyone-who-cares-about-nina-simone/
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Post by maryseo on Oct 30, 2012 17:06:12 GMT 1
At first, I thought her daughter Simone had written this letter. So much things have been said about this movie, it's like the producers live in their own world. How can they even think that this movie will sell tickets if they infuriate Nina Simone's family and her fans? They're just plain stupid. When Mary J "spelling bee" Blige was (thankfully) dropped from the project, I thought they would hire someone who would make sense, but now I even regret Mary J. I sincerely hope this movie fails miserably on the box office and I rarely wish negative things.
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Post by maryseo on Oct 30, 2012 17:30:54 GMT 1
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Post by mountzion on Nov 2, 2012 17:34:32 GMT 1
I agree maryseo, the media loves to over simplify things, and saying she is a victim of reverse racism is ridiculous! She may be the victim of her own ego though! LOL! I don't know her background enough to judge, but she may not be aware of certain color issues and think nothing of taking on the role because she loves Nina too! I don't know for sure.
The media kills me! Racism is a systematic oppression of a people in every area of human relations based on race by an oppressive class of another race. This is not reverse racism. There is really no such thing! Most times when people say "reverse racism" they really only mean PREJUDICE (judging another based on race, religion, appearence, etc.) by the people who are ususally opressed. The opressed have no power to be racist!
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Post by nigelahmad on Nov 2, 2012 19:28:50 GMT 1
I agree maryseo, the media loves to over simplify things, and saying she is a victim of reverse racism is ridiculous! She may be the victim of her own ego though! LOL! I don't know her background enough to judge, but she may not be aware of certain color issues and think nothing of taking on the role because she loves Nina too! I don't know for sure. The media kills me! Racism is a systematic oppression of a people in every area of human relations based on race by an oppressive class of another race. This is not reverse racism. There is really no such thing! Most times when people say "reverse racism" they really only mean PREJUDICE (judging another based on race, religion, appearence, etc.) by the people who are ususally opressed. The opressed have no power to be racist! thank you!!!
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Post by mountzion on Nov 2, 2012 21:48:09 GMT 1
NP!
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Post by Moderator on Nov 7, 2012 5:12:53 GMT 1
India Arie responded to her fans about this as well
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Post by maryseo on Nov 15, 2012 22:35:31 GMT 1
I agree maryseo, the media loves to over simplify things, and saying she is a victim of reverse racism is ridiculous! She may be the victim of her own ego though! LOL! I don't know her background enough to judge, but she may not be aware of certain color issues and think nothing of taking on the role because she loves Nina too! I don't know for sure. The media kills me! Racism is a systematic oppression of a people in every area of human relations based on race by an oppressive class of another race. This is not reverse racism. There is really no such thing! Most times when people say "reverse racism" they really only mean PREJUDICE (judging another based on race, religion, appearence, etc.) by the people who are ususally opressed. The opressed have no power to be racist! I agree 100%Mountzion. As for the color issue, I think Zoe Saldana is aware of that factor but just does not care about the impact of this movie on Nina's legacy and memory. Most Black people worldwide are aware of it. Some succeeded to overcome the inferior complex resulting from it and other are still color struck. But who is not aware of it? If she does not know how Ms Simone's color skin played a major role in her life, then she knows nothing about her...I cannot even begin to understand how a Black woman can accept to wear an afro wig and nose prothesis to portray someone who was about truth and pride even in the face of life-threatening danger...Some people mentioned ministrel shows on other forums...It's beyond Black face to me, it's...I dunno. It's crazy how money and ego as you pointed can make people forget about integrity. It's such a shame
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Post by mountzion on Nov 17, 2012 3:07:53 GMT 1
I agree maryseo, the media loves to over simplify things, and saying she is a victim of reverse racism is ridiculous! She may be the victim of her own ego though! LOL! I don't know her background enough to judge, but she may not be aware of certain color issues and think nothing of taking on the role because she loves Nina too! I don't know for sure. The media kills me! Racism is a systematic oppression of a people in every area of human relations based on race by an oppressive class of another race. This is not reverse racism. There is really no such thing! Most times when people say "reverse racism" they really only mean PREJUDICE (judging another based on race, religion, appearence, etc.) by the people who are ususally opressed. The opressed have no power to be racist! I agree 100%Mountzion. As for the color issue, I think Zoe Saldana is aware of that factor but just does not care about the impact of this movie on Nina's legacy and memory. Most Black people worldwide are aware of it. Some succeeded to overcome the inferior complex resulting from it and other are still color struck. But who is not aware of it? If she does not know how Ms Simone's color skin played a major role in her life, then she knows nothing about her...I cannot even begin to understand how a Black woman can accept to wear an afro wig and nose prothesis to portray someone who was about truth and pride even in the face of life-threatening danger...Some people mentioned ministrel shows on other forums...It's beyond Black face to me, it's...I dunno. It's crazy how money and ego as you pointed can make people forget about integrity. It's such a shame Ditto Maryseo...the more I think about it, the more I think you are right!
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