A study in homophobic media
Benedict Cumberbatch is in a good place. He is in demand, working almost non-stop and repeatedly names his job “an embarrassment of riches”. Which it is when you’re friends with Harvey Weinstein and put in front line of next year’s Academy Awards with Alan Turing drama “The Imitation Game” (UK cinecast Oct. 8th, UK release Nov. 14th, US release Nov. 21st). He is a one-man boy band of talent, loved by the lense and a devoted, mostly female, following. The man with “the eyes on the prize” is not yet off the market, as they say, but more importantly: He is straight.
You thought the film industry is about the talent, the look, the money, the story-telling? Far from there. Like in any other profession, really, bullying does exist and being “openly gay” can cost you your job if in the wrong hands. But homophobic tendencies in the business aren’t a taboo that isn’t talked about. A recent study initiated by the Williams Institute and funded by SAG-Producers Industry Advancement and Cooperative Fund is a reminder to not forget. A number of 5.700 SAG-AFTRA members were asked to participate. Following are a few aspects the LGBT study showed:
53% of LGBT respondents believed that directors and producers are biased against LGBT performers.” A third of non-LGBT performers thought the same thing. More than a quarter of heterosexual respondents have heard crew, producers, and directors make anti-gay comments at some point,” and that number soars to over 50% if the performer identifies as gay or lesbian. 45% of LG respondents strongly believed that producers and studio executives think LG performers are less marketable.” 27% of bisexual respondents believed the same, as did 15% of heterosexual respondents.
The study points out that gay men are more likely to experience such harassment and discrimination than actors from the female gender.
Participants said: “I’ve seen gay men read for straight roles and when they left the room, the casting director indicated that they would not be taken seriously in the straight role because they were gay“ or „An openly gay extra was fired because the lead character felt uncomfortable having him around. In fact, two were fired a week apart for the same reason“.
However, the study’s results also informed the film industry as a whole heads in the „right direction“ where the sexual orientation of a performer didn’t affect his or her career and that they were indeed „equal or better“ in terms of preparation etc.
At the Toronto International Film Festival earlier in September Cumberbatch’s, or rather Turing’s, sexuality was a well-discussed subject and later the press complained about a lack of explicit gay (sex) scenes. „If you need to see that to understand that he’s gay, then all is lost for any kind of subtle storytelling,“ responded the 38-year-old actor during his press junket. Personally, I agree. Firstly it is very disrespectful to speculate about a dead man’s intimate life and let’s be honest if you wanted to see explicit content, you know where to find it. But secondly, on social media it’s been discussed and I agree when one asks „Hetero-sexual tension is almost always shownin production, why exclude the homosexual?“ As the film isn’t open to the general public yet, it remains to be watched if Turing’s sexuality is anyhow expressed by, for example, a look. Come on, don’t be like those anti-gay laws where homosexuality and intercourse are equal and there’s nothing in between. Towards the end of the press conference at TIFF, a lovely lady from BBC News asked why a gay actor wasn’t cast in the lead role instead of Cumberbatch. To which a startled Morten Tyldum thankfully made clear he isn’t one of those homophobic directors as mentioned above in the study. Right. Why not cast a junkie in a junkie’s role? Why not cast an anorexic in a size 000 role? They would be so much more convincing. That was sarcasm.
It is to be hoped that that lady is replaced by someone else at tomorrow’s BFI London Film Festival opening and maybe more thought-through questions will be asked and answered. Maybe about mathematics. Bring it on!
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