Articles like this are the exact reason I got into screen writing.

While the odds are long, the fact is Hwood is always looking for fresh, distinctive voices - no matter the writer's age, gender, race. All that matters is what's on the page.

Um, I know I'm British, so what do I know, but ... surely if a character's race is not relevant to the story why do we have to do this?

I mean .. isn't that casting?

This is not to say I don't care. But either it's important to the script and we include it or it isn't and we don't.

Can't have it both ways.

(Always happy to be provocative. Since I already know an answer to this.)

During last Sunday's #scriptchat Kevin Brown (@Dotcom30Rock) pointed out that as a large black man he usually gets auditions for Bouncer or Security Guard.
That feedback turned my RomCom's lackluster, whitebread Therapist, into a witty/compassionate Therapist doing volunteer work at a Detroit Community Center.
Mr. Brown's insight created a character that now appears throughout the script instead of just on page 1 and page 110.
Priceless!

So, um, PRECIOUS does all kinds of wonderful last year, and this guy is complaining about this year's nominees?

What was the movie he felt was robbed?

Like race or making an "ethnic quota" should ever be part of the nomination process.

I'm sorry, but this guy's opinion is b.s.

Stories like this chap my hide.

You see now next year they’ll nominate the P.O.S. Unbreakable II: Prices’ Revenge because M. Knight directed it and Samuel L. Jackson reprised his role as Price, and fall over themselves for their progressiveness. And the mainstream media will congratulate Hollywood for rising above their racism and bigotry this year. It will be a teachable moment.

And heaven forbid some minority comes out this year with a stellar award winning performance and that gets lost in the above sloppiness of an industry “redeeming itself.” How freaking sad would that be?

I’m a “minority” and you know what, I didn’t care there was a lack of minorities in movies this year. Thing is, I don’t think folks aren’t intentionally putting minorities in roles. And trust me when I say, I’m not a fan of Hollywood politics, but thing is these people aren’t racists.

Scott -- is it safe to say that if I don't specify race in my screenplay that they would be played by a white person?

@Darren: Yes.

Don't know how to feel about this when there were roles for people of Asian descent for such films as The Last Airbender and 21, only to have the cast be composed of mainly white actors because the studios wanted them. Or how about Max Minghella playing the role of a dark Indian man when he is only of an ambiguously mixed Asian descent? Is there really a shortage of talented minority actors?

I find it funny though. You don't mention the ethnicity of a character, people assume they're white.

You mention it and unless it's relevant towards the story, they say "well, it's up to the casting director". What's a writer to do in such an instance?

What happens when a writer gets into a meeting and a producer asks "Why is this main character a certain race?", and their only answer is "just because"? Do nonwhite characters have to be justified in their inclusion in a script?

Just food for thought.

I never specify ethnicity for my characters if I can absolutely help it. The only exception was for my steampunk assassins piece, where I had to distinguish the South Asian and White British characters for the plot to make sense.

I much prefer a colourblind casting.

But British TV is generally really good for that - for example, Merlin. It's fantasy drama set in a nebulous "medieval period" and has an actor of colour playing Guinevere.

TBH, quite a few characters in my TV shows could be genderblind cast as well.

@Rosie: Funny you mention gender-bending. I'm teaching a Screenwriting Master Class course right now called Core I: Structure and Concept. And I just posted a lecture on Genre Bending and Gender Bending. It's a great way to brainstorm and generate new story ideas. Plus, as I noted in the OP, you can use it while developing characters to give them a different persona.

In my nascent filmmaking career I refuse to specify the races of my characters (although as a writer/director I plan to cast a black female protagonist). It doesn't make sense to me that whiteness should be the "default race". Sadly enough, it might even be to my advantage to not address the races of my characters in my screenplays.

And in case many of you missed the point of the article (which, of course, being the fortunate benefactors of white privilege that many of you are: you probably did): the point was this: there are very few, if any leading or supporting roles of quality for non white actors. We need more: period. This isn't about pre-existing films being robbed! Open your eyes.

The only way this is likely going to happen is if more of us non white writers/filmmakers create quality material.

Sundance was "blacker" than it's ever been this year. The Academy can take some cues from independent cinema. Nary a black ballerina in BLACK SWAN? You mean to tell me there were no latino or black kids at Harvard at the time FACEBOOK was being created? psh.

The Oscars maintain and support an archaic white patriarchal system that will soon be trumped by Indie Cinema. That, my friends, is the future. Be afraid...be very afraid.

The problem isn't that there isn't minority actors to fill out these Awards spots, it's that the powers that be don't give the same opportunities to minority writers/directors/actors.

There are millions of tales of studio heads telling writers to recast minority characters to white because it won't sell with audiences. And before you cite Will Smith/Denzel Washington, check their ages and then name me 5 African-American/Spanish/Asian/Native American male stars age 25-35 on the come up. You can't. Is it because a lack of talent? No. It's because of a lack of opportunity.

Until minority actors are allowed to fail as their white counterparts, I am sort of cynical to Scott's "all that matters is what's on the page" mantra. If that's true, why does Allen Loeb have a job?

Yet more reasons why we (non white/non male) HAVE to create our own opportunities and hope that "the powers that be" take notice (which they are: slowly but surely).

Two of the 4 features at Sundance Written and Directed by Black Filmmakers and starring black leads were picked up by major studios, namely FOCUS FEATURES! This is no small feat.

The Oscar® winning character Foley in "Officer and a Gentleman" was not written for a person of color. Louis Gossett won the role and the award for his talent... although future opportunities to excel were limited. Hmm... maybe one DOES need to specify race.

But I remember getting notes from a producer that he didn't like my script because the black sidekick drove a BMW and the white hero drove a Mustang... he felt the white guy should have a cooler car.

What is cooler than a classic 'stang?

Hollywood's Ruleing (JEWS) Minority does not want the Competition.. !!! and Spanish Speaking Javier Bardem is Most Likely Jewish.