Reality vs. Fantasy - Diverse Manhattan
As a screenwriter i value the privilege of creating my own universe inhabited by beings of my imagination; however, fantasy notwithstanding, if you're going to base a project in an actual location, e.g. a boro as diverse as NYC's Manhattan you owe your audience the respect of realism. It is so disappointing that the artists did not depict any Black, Brown or Asian human characters in this little film to accurately reflect our fair city; The Seinfeld Life of Pets would have been a more apt title.
East side, west side, all around the town our sidewalks, dog parks, pet shops, etc. pulse with dog owners and walkers of every hue and ethnicity, but White is the default in TSLoP. Yes, the naysayers will retaliate: "It's a children's movie, why bring up race?" But do children of color not go to the movies? Do their parents not buy and rent films for their youngsters? Is it fair to children of any race for the filmmakers to mischaracterize the greatest city in the world as homogenous in this day and age?
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You know it was a good day if you did not have to bite anyone.
Gus B., mini dachshund