Board Thread:General Discussion/@comment-6588773-20150519235327/@comment-24674051-20150527141811

Raelizflo wrote:

Eskaver wrote:

Actors can play many roles, but they are usually known to be good at certain roles and that's why they are casted.

Once does have comedic relief, but it isn't a comedy. It's an action-adventure/ fairytale drama, so it should never become a sitcom or medical drama or horror or whatever else. What you just explained is called typecasting. And that's just the same as stereotyping, And I have very little tolerance for it.

Also, I am not suggesting Once become a sitcom, or medical drama or whatever. I am saying regardless of where main/supporting actors of the show came from before (such as sitcoms, medical dramas, etc), that the show doesn't magically become those things, like Nakis91 was suggesting.

Nakis91 wrote:

Nick Offerman? Aubrey Plaza? Aziz Ansari? In OUAT? Are we watching the same OUAT? Nick Offerman as Merlin???? It's a fantasy / drama show not a sitcom. Guess who I just saw in Tomorrowland, defined in IMDB as an "Action, Adventure, Mystery" movie? Funnyman of Key & Peele, and Parks and Rec: Keegan-Michael Key, and also funnywoman of Parks and Rec: Kathryn Hahn. I'd say don't underestimate the Parks and Rec actors. I will have to disagree on one point. Typecasting is not the same as stereotyping. Stereotypeing is applying the same general attribute(s) across a broad part of a set, without regard for any individuality. For example, the stereotype that all police officers sit in their car eating doughnuts and drinking coffee. That one is relatively harmless as stereotypes go, but generally stereotypes carry strong connotations (both positive and negative, though usually just negative) that simply are not true of the majority that receive that stereotype.

Typecasting, on the other hand, is specific to Acting, and it is directed at individuals. A particular actor handles a particular role (say, a con man, or a sleezy defense attorney) extremely well once, and does that role for a while. Soon, the industry starts to see that actor in terms of that one role, and only offer them roles that fit that general category. If not addressed early, Typecasting can ruin an actors career. But also keep in mind that the actor also has a say in accepting or rejecting the roles offered.

Now, there is a loose relationship between these two, and that is that the ROLE being cast is generally stereotyped (as a poor means of simplifying the definition of the character), which is why typecasting happens as often as it does. So, for example, a show calls for a role that is a female sorceress that is powerful and can shapeshift into a mythical creature. This could easily get stereotyped down to being just a "Scary Dragon Bitch", and then the casting directors look for someone that plays that type of role.

Or you do what Once is really good at. Find an actor that is good at developing characters, give that actor the role with just the original general guidelines, and watch the character come to life. That's how we get Regina, Rumple, Snow, Emma, Maleficent, Cruella (who, though misused, was still nicely developed, imo) etc. Is Regina the stereotypical evil witch queen? is Snow really the stereotypical damsel in distress/fairytale princess? No to both.

Ok, I've rambled on enough. Carry on with the original thread.