Random Film Thoughts: You've Been Blackballed

[Dr.ciski77]

It's apparently why Mo'nique isn't in movies anymore.

I find it interesting that Daniels essentially corroborated her account with that really vague statement. The issue, however, seems to originate from the fact that not only did Mo'nique refuse to campaign, but that she actually wanted to be paid to do so (making appearances and junkets, etc)...which strikes me as less ethically and artistically charged.

Of course, men can openly denounce the whole process of awards campaigning and still be fine and get work (Penn, Hopkins, Phoenix, Di Caprio), but if it's a woman, it's enough to get her blacklisted.

[eurocheese]

Was it a misunderstanding when Mo'Nique was asking to be paid to go to her events? I remember reading that at the time and thinking as a comedian, of course she was used to sending over a booking price for everything. It's not like she opened a ton of movies before then, especially not ones where she was doing press for free as the face of the film. I remember thinking even at the time that the press was picking on her unfairly because she wasn't used to the Oscar game, and honestly, why should she be familiar with it? I don't think I've ever read an interview where a nominee was prepared for their first nomination, what came with it and its aftermath.

[misplaced validity]

Good points. I, too, remember there being a misunderstanding about her asking for money, though.

I think in general the problem is also about the lack of good roles for minority women. It's not like Octavia Spencer has gotten huge roles since her win.

[Dr.ciski77]

Mo'nique did say that she was offered high profile roles though (good or bad, that's another matter), and that those offers were all ultimately rescinded (she mentioned the Oprah role in 'The Butler' and a few other ones). So while the lack of good roles for minority women is definitely an issue at large, I don't think it really applies in this specific instance. The offers were there, and TPTB actively decided against going with her.

I mainly struggle to understand how her refusal to campaign allegedly hurt a movie that was nominated for six Oscars and won two (and arguably over-performed). Or why, if it really all boiled down to a misunderstanding, there was no effort on either side to clear things up and just move on.

[dug11]

Based on what I've read, it sounds like her husband/manager (?) may be an issue, too.

She has been offered some major roles (thanks mainly to Lee Daniels), but then it fell apart. So it doesn't sound like those specific instances it was that she was being blackballed, it sounds like something else was happening.

However, something definitely seems to be going on. I'm sure that some people in the industry don't view her as "grateful". Of course, Sean Penn, Joaquin Phoenix, etc. can all trash the process openly, and still be fine.

[misplaced validity]

(02-22-2015 05:34 AM)dug11 Wrote:  She has been offered some major roles (thanks mainly to Lee Daniels), but then it fell apart. So it doesn't sound like those specific instances it was that she was being blackballed, it sounds like something else was happening.

If Lee Daniels is really the only one offering her good roles and then TPTB are denying them, I can see it being true that she's been "blackballed." Lee is really good to his friends in terms of getting them in his movies and now Empire.

[dug11]

(02-22-2015 12:13 PM)misplaced validity Wrote:  

(02-22-2015 05:34 AM)dug11 Wrote:  She has been offered some major roles (thanks mainly to Lee Daniels), but then it fell apart. So it doesn't sound like those specific instances it was that she was being blackballed, it sounds like something else was happening.

If Lee Daniels is really the only one offering her good roles and then TPTB are denying them, I can see it being true that she's been "blackballed." Lee is really good to his friends in terms of getting them in his movies and now Empire.

Very true.

[Dr.ciski77]

Daniels himself used the term blackballed, so it's coming from the horse's mouth. Still...it seems he was willing to offer her roles, but not really willing to stick up for her once her involvement got questioned by others (at least based on how I'm reading her account). I've also read that her husband was involved in cutting "deals" on her behalf in ways that ended up hurting her reputation. One could argue that she's (willingly or unwillingly) not portrayed herself as a team player, but her behavior had no direct effect on the movie's awards performance (and she won the damn thing, after all).

She still owns the rights to the Hattie McDaniel story/biopic, so she should find a director and move ahead with that. If roles are being rerouted away from her, she should create other opportunities for herself.

[tonygoldenemmy]

Back to our Oscar/Razzie discussion from before - Blake Edwards' S.O.B. actually garnered Best and Worst Screenplay accolades from WGA and the Razzies. And Edwards was nodded for Worst Director, while the picture garnered a GG nod for Musical/Comedy!

(I happen to love S.O.B. and think it's supremely underrated...it was notorious for Julie Andrews' nude scene and uber-unflattering portrayal of Hollywood.)

[misplaced validity]

Is this seriously Willem Dafoe? NSFW.
https://vimeo.com/49333930