It looks as though production is under way for Universal Studio's N.W.A biopic Straight Outta Compton. Last month it was announced that former group member Ice Cube is producing the movie with fellow member Dr. Dre and Eazy-E’s widow, Tomica Woods-Wright. Director of the film F. Gary Gray described the script as a “dramatic story that encompasses hip-hop, dope dealing, Reaganomics, AIDS, LAPD, rap feuds, FBI, PMRC, the parental advisory stickers on the records … all of it.”
One of the film’s biggest casting announcements was that Ice Cube’s son O’Shea Jackson Jr. would portray his father. But that casting news aside, casting of the extras can only be described as racist. According to Gawker, this is what was posted on the Sande Alessi Casting company’s Facebook page, and then deleted:
SAG OR NON UNION CASTING NOTICE FOR FEMALES-ALL ETHNICITIES- from the late 80's. Shoots on "Straight Outta Compton". Shoot date TBD. We are pulling photos for the director of featured extras. VERY IMPORTANT – You MUST live in the Los Angeles area (Orange County is fine too) to work on this show. DO NOT SUBMIT if you live out of the area. Nobody is going to be flying into LA to do extra work on this show - and don't tell me you are willing to fly in.
SAG OR NON UNION FEMALES - PLEASE SEE BELOW FOR SPECIFIC BREAKDOWN. DO NOT EMAIL IN FOR MORE THAN ONE CATEGORY:
A GIRLS: These are the hottest of the hottest. Models. MUST have real hair - no extensions, very classy looking, great bodies. You can be black, white, asian, hispanic, mid eastern, or mixed race too. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: A GIRLS
B GIRLS: These are fine girls, long natural hair, really nice bodies. Small waists, nice hips. You should be light-skinned. Beyonce is a prototype here. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: B GIRLS
C GIRLS: These are African American girls, medium to light skinned with a weave. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: C GIRLS
D GIRLS: These are African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone. Character types. Age 18-30. Please email a current color photo, your name, Union status, height/weight, age, city in which you live and phone number to: SandeAlessiCasting@gmail.com subject line should read: D GIRLS
Men, you’re in luck, too. The company is casting for male extras as well, but please make sure you’re an “African American street thug” or a "big, huge African American guy.”
For anyone not familiar with casting and the categories used, in the above post the letters A, B, C, and D are used to rank the extras. “A” means the “better-looking” extras, and “D” stands for the undesirables, who have been characterized as “African American girls. Poor, not in good shape. Medium to dark skin tone.”
It would be interesting to see the women and “thuggy” men who show up to this casting call and don’t quite fit A, B, C or D. What would the casting director say: “Sorry, you’re not an A but more like a D”?
Gotta love Hollywood and its constant perpetuation of stereotypes.
Yesha Callahan is editor of The Grapevine and a staff writer at The Root. Follow her on Twitter.
Like The Root on Facebook. Follow us on Twitter.