hex-len:xenoi-doing-bs:therkalexander:xenoi-doing-bs:If Receiver of Many by Rachel Alexander...

hex-len:

xenoi-doing-bs:

therkalexander:

xenoi-doing-bs:

If Receiver of Many by Rachel Alexander becomes adapted to a movie, we want it to have Greek representation above all! And we want more than one Greek token character - that’s how close the American movie industry has come to bringing Greeks into the set of Greek mythology movies. We are tired of being pushed aside while Americans profit from our myths (myths which are often told inaccurately). And no more of telling Greeks actors they don’t look “Greek enough” for the set. @therkalexander consider this a proposal for the cast of RoM. The Greek community is here, it’s watching what’s happening with adaptations of Greek mythology and it’s angry. Please be mindful of that. You have an important chance to make a difference. Good luck with your books and movies!

Believe me when I tell you I hear everything you’re saying.

I only used translations by Greek translators (primarily Athanassakis), when it came to adding in Greek language, I consulted primarily with someone who is Greek and living in Greece, and when I delved into the religion I read the works of and consulted with actual Hellenic polytheists.

My drive to make Receiver of Many as authentic as possible was foremost in my mind (except for purposeful seasonal and climatic discrepancies which were geared for an anglophone audience).

Though I am always lobbying for creative control in this, I can only do so much as I’m not personally a casting director.

I and my producer are more than open to suggestions for actors to play the roles in my books.

The best way to be heard is to tweet @summerhelene and let her know who and what you want to see when Receiver of Many comes to the screen.

EDIT: BUT ONE MORE THING

There will be people of color in any work I participate in. Period, paragraph. I am not going to work with a lily white cast, and neither will my books.

I am reblogging to comment on the edit:

POC in speaking roles are great! We advocate for more POC roles in the US movie industry as well as good representation! And we would be happy to see poc in RoM!

Now, when it comes to the Greek gods, Greeks want their gods as our ancestors depicted them - that means Caucasian and with beige skin (as revealed by color study on sculptures). We too are Caucasians with beige/white skin and we haven’t changed much since ancient times - as ancient mosaics and paintings reveal. In our communities that is common knowledge. It is how our ancestors saw them and how we see them today. We see ancient art everywhere in different areas and we are well informed. You wouldn’t seek an ethnically Chinese person to depict a Hindu god or a White one to play an Aztec god. Be respectful to the Greek gods in a similar fashion. It’s shocking how many people don’t understand Greek gods came from a particular culture that still lives today in connection to the past.

Please don’t fall into the American trap “one type of skin color is one culture”. Ethnically Greek people usually don’t look like poc but you will still have representation for the culture if you include them. Americans don’t accept us in Greek roles because we are “too white” for them. Ignoring the fact that this is what we actually look like. POC who identify as Greeks are a rare case but if you find them, more power to you!

If you have concerns about this, seek books for ancient Greek art by scholars. I would be happy to recommend some.

I, by no means want POC voices to be silenced. Nor I believe an ethnicity or skin color is above any other. My intention is never to block poc from entering the scene! But I also don’t want Greek voices to be erased once more. I express the complaints of many people around me who don’t have a Tumblr account to address the issue here.

Again, thank you for listening and for fighting for representation for all sides!

…I hope the author and the other users understand Greek mythology IS a Lily White mythology. We don’t want another Greek erasure in the name of “wokeness”. Ofc there can be some POC in the series, but I have a sense most of important Greek gods - and Persephone - are gonna be erased