Happy Introduce Yourself Weekend, my fellow actors!
It's Kay Ross, your friendly Stage 32 Community Manager, but I'm also a Writer | Producer | Actor | Director - and in preparation for my next directing project, I wanted to get a little deep here in the Acting Lounge.
You ready?
LET'S GO:
I wanted to share this recent round table discussion from The Hollywood Reporter to get y'all's insight into the magic happening around the table. Yes, clearly, they're talking about comedy, they're talking about being a female-identifying person in the industry, and they're talking collaboration - things this group of actresses can all identify with. BUT because they ALSO discuss their individual battles, there is some discussion and learning about what they are going through that they can't all identify with and how they can show up for one another.
For example, at one point, the term "Indian" is used, and Devery Jacobs (Reservation Dogs) kindly informs them that they prefer people outside the community to refer to them as "Indigenous People". So often, we only allow for this kind of learning in an academic setting, but it's so crucial to employ gentle pushback so that every encounter is a productive learning experience, and thus a productive empathetic experience.
What do you think about gentle pushback? What was YOUR big takeaway from this round table discussion?
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Ooo... lots of people "liking" but no one wants to jump into the conversation, eh? Don't be shy! We're just ruminating!
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I absolutely love this, thank you for sharing Karen "Kay" Ross! We can only learn from each other if we're having a real conversation, not skirting around one.
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Great share, @Karen "Kay" Ross. That's a talented table of actresses.
What stood out to me is how actors and actresses can express themselves and be respected for who they are on set without being abused (28:55 of the video), which probably wasn't the case in the past, and it probably isn't the case on every set. Sadly.
Another thing that stood out is how people go up to actresses (maybe actors too) and say anything (3:17 and other places in the video). I didn't know people did that. I think it's something that new actors and actresses should know so they won't be caught off guard when it happens.
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Karen "Kay" Ross Hi Kay, I was waiting for that riposte early in the video, when Devery Jacobs spoke of being recognised in 'Indian spaces'.
But yes, awareness comes through education and education through conversation. That's why I think the Stage32 model of lounge conversations really works. I've learnt more about writing and the industry through sharing ideas or content, than anywhere else.
What for me was the most important quote was "Hold on to yourself". You have to have a knowledge of your self, otherwise you get moulded into something else, that you may not like.
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Aww, thanks, y'all, for chiming in! We have the best community hugs
You're welcome, Karen "Kay" Ross. I'd love to see these actresses in an ensemble movie.
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What I loved about this video Karen "Kay" Ross is that all the actresses despite being different ages and races have similar experiences. Which is a great thing to consider, we as human beings have more similarities than differences and we are all in this together. That was my big takeaway.
As far as pushback, I think it's very important. I receive comments as a woman in a workplace that I know my male colleagues don't. Such as, "smile." Or from motorists when I'm cycling, "This is very dangerous. Does your mother know you're out here?" that I know they would not say to a male cyclist. I tell people the general rule of thumb is "If you won't say it to a man, then you shouldn't say it to a woman." I think that can be applied to what we say to people of color as well. If I wouldn't say it to a white person, don't say it to a black person. We don't need to be afraid to ask how one wants to be referred to. I have asked Native American friends, "Do you take offense at the term Indian?" Sometimes these labels are put out by who knows without actually consulting the peoples it's supposed to be referring to. Or an Asian person. I will ask if they are Chinese-Korean-Japanese etc. All black people are African heritage either which I think is why African American isn't really used that much anymore. This video showed that even the black actresses were confused. Just ask. People are always happy to answer. Everyone wants to feel that they matter.
Yes Maurice- you would be surprised at what people say to celebrities- usually the women. Like, "you are much prettier in person" or "you're smarter in real life." Surprisingly they actually think it's a compliment.
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Hi Kay. Love this but we have to remember how long it takes for real changes to be solid. The concept of calling people as a group one name or the other is something that will take a long time to turn from "historical" context to what is considered a better way to address someone. I think all groups of people should have the word human thrown in as part of the description ... "Indigenous People" should be Indigenous Humans.
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I like it @roz Wolf. It piggy backs off of what i said, that we are in this together. We are spiritual beings having a human experience. Reminding ourselves that we are all HUMAN is the first step to change.
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Glad to see that you brought in the concept of spirit Suzanne. I love the term "gentle pushback" because the word pushback implies "force" in my mind, and to add the word gentle in front of that, completely gives the idea a whole new meaning.To Roz's point about changes in society taking a long time to be solid, I think that's what she meant, society, maybe the way in which pushback is delivered is the key to bring about the change, or awareness of hurting someone/insulting someone. If we pushback gently, dare I say lovingly, in the spirit of love, that we are all part of the human family, that teaching moment is more likely to be received by one's heart. And to Geoff's point, yes I learn so much here! New terms for the day: "Hold onto myself and gentle pushback.". Totally cool!
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ZsaZsa Greenberg, I'm so glad that you and Geoff have both learned a lot and grown from spending time here in the lounges! Thats why we work so hard to make the conversations here on Stage 32 informative and resourceful, so that you have access to information that you're searching for and information that you don't even know you may need.
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Thank you Ashley! Reminds me of "I can only choose from that which I am aware of." A teacher told me that once and it stuck. So thank you all for being so unusually kind! I actually had the thought last week browsing through stuff,
"What in the world is going on here? How can people be so helpful to each other? It's not normal.". Haha