MovieChat Forums > Nothing Is Private (2008) Discussion > DVD extra : panel discussion

DVD extra : panel discussion

posted 14 years ago by SharpiePen
7 replies | jump to latest

i couldnt help but notice a couple of ironic things during the discussions.

1.behind all the culturally polite and sensitive discussion was the movie poster, a movie about a lebanese girl, her father, a black teen, and their white neibors and heres the deal: the poster listed the stars as follows: mention of (white) producer at top, then white star eckhardt, white star collette, white star bello, THEN indic actor, indic main star of film, and no mention of af-american guy, who did a great job by the way.

2. many times the Sikh would be shown upclose and the title TOWELHEAD would be over his right shoulder. unfortunately for him that is, i bet he sure took note of that when he saw it. for anyone walking into the room cold, they saw the turban ed guy with TOWELHEAD in big letters behind him.

anyone else notice?

[–] rjgbeaver 13 years ago

Just watched the panel discussions this morning. On yoru first point, I agree it was ridiculous that they bill all the white stars and then the father and lead of the film at the bottom. However, that's marketing. More people are apt to turn heads when they see the names of well known stars. You want ridiculous posters, look at Drew Barrymore front and center on the Scream movie cover and posters...then count how many minutes she's in the film.

Concerning your second point, I saw the title Towelhead behind all three not just the Sikh, but yes I can understand the irony when interpreted but no, I didn't notice that at first glance.

I kill threads

[–] rjgbeaver 13 years ago

What I found interesting was the fact that there were two panel discussions around the title, which I can understand is offensive to many and should be discussed openly.

But why no discussion about the graphic depiction of child abuse? I have to agree with what a lot of critics have voiced concern about misleading the audience with a title that implies a film dealing with racism when in reality it's 2nd or 3rd to the more blatant theme of child abuse.

I kill threads

[–] bumperdropper 10 years ago

But why no discussion about the graphic depiction of child abuse? I have to agree with what a lot of critics have voiced concern about misleading the audience with a title that implies a film dealing with racism when in reality it's 2nd or 3rd to the more blatant theme of child abuse.

Totally agree. It totally hijacks a profoundly sensitive topic of ethnic xenophobia, and it mangles it with a sensationalized almost kinky look at adolescent female sexuality.

And as the original commenter of this thread said, it's even more absurd given the entire cast and Production crew are White Males. But that's Hollywood for ya. Perverting everything.

[–] bootblack987 11 years ago

..the poster listed the stars as follows: mention of (white) producer at top, then white star eckhardt, white star collette, white star bello, THEN indic actor, indic main star of film...

It's standard procedure with movies that stars get billing according to their fame. It's written into the contract before filming begins. It usually comes down to...whose name is going to get people into theatres? You might not be surprised, because in your post, you name the three white actors by name, but you didn't add the names of Peter Macdissie and Summer Bishil. Instead you list them as the generic terms of "indic actor" and "indic main star..."

anyone else notice?

Sorry, I didn't notice the placement of the poster at all. I was drawn into the conversation and didn't look at the visuals I have to admit.

[–] monroea3 10 years ago

Bravo! Great post!

[–] xvzz02 11 years ago

Stars get top billing. Get paid top dollar. Tough for the lead if she's an unknown, but it's not racism.

Anyway, I was pretty disappointed with the DVD extras, nothing but a long, long discussion about the title.
Seems it was a load of hand wringing to pre-empt complaints on that issue. Yeah, it's offensive. Yeah, everybody KNOWS THAT. That was the POINT.

I would much rather have had some features about the making of the film, interviews with the author, stars etc.

[–] slipcat555 8 years ago

Good observation, though it's not so much racist as agist. They often give adults higher billing that child actors. Think of True Grit, where the lead actress, Hailee Steinfeld, was listed below Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon and Josh Brolin. And that's not Hollywood, it's an independent film! Shame on my favorite directors, the Coen Brothers.

http://www.imdb.com/media/rm3393815552/tt1403865?ref_=tt_ov_i