You ever thought about there are thousands of gay films with gay actors portraying gay characters that never make it to the big screen? But at the same time, you have gay films with straight actors playing gay characters and they actually become quite popular at the box office and among critics, e.g., "Brokeback Mountain", "The Hours", "Cruising", "The Talented Mr. Ripley", etc...

I think it's sad and a bit unfair that writers/directors/producers/film studios prefer to cast straight actors (ppl who most likely can't even relate to their character in that sense) over gay actors.

Is there a fear of having the gays take over Hollywood? (They probably already have)
Is it just that the idea of straight men kissing each other sells more?

Any thoughts?

Gays already own Hollywood, and they run companies, and etc....

Hm, how to put this.

In general, you're right, I would much rather that gay actors got the roles.

But I think right now, the sad fact is there are not many openly gay actors. And for big gay movies to get national exposure, you need a big actor's name attached. Brokeback Mountain would not have made the waves it did if the two actors were gay unknowns. I don't know of any openly gay actors that could have handled Milk the way Sean Penn did.

In the future, as gay actors become more common, of course there will be better gay roles for them.

THREAD OF THE WEEK 2BQH





i think it is a ****ing outrage. all these Hollywood actors get praise for pushing themselves to play gay characters when there is more than enough struggling gay actors who could play the part better - but noone would be interested if it was a gay actor, only if it is a heterosexual playing a homosexual for the sake of his "art"

If you're referring to the nobodies who appear in those cheap gay-interest movies, then I will choose Sean Penn or Heath Ledger every time. When I watch a movie, I want to see people who actually know how to act.

I don't think that has to be an issue at all. Besides, talking about your sexuality is part of someone's personal life. Personal life and professional life are two completely different things.

If you are great and extremely talented in what you are doing, nothing, nothing will defeat you, whether you are men or women, gay or straight, etc. What I want to see on a movie, on a theater, is actors giving us a great performance, that's it.

I want Robert Downey Jr to play more black guys in films

my fantasy came true

It's not that these actors are straight its that they're already established as stars. The out gay actors that are already established as stars are far and few between and I don't think Nathan Lane or Chris Colfer could play a cowboy as well as Heath Ledger or Jake Gylenhaal.

Actors are actors, who cares honestly. As long as they are convincing. You have Neil Patrick Harris and Jane Lynch playing straight characters on TV and they do a good job at it. Both of those actors are gay and there are not struggling in Hollywood. There is also Chris Colfer who is actually a gay actor playing a gay character on TV and he is well known. Actors should play whatever sexual orientation as long as they are comfortable playing the part.