Black Actors in Love Scenes: No Need to Apply

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=6284923

"About 15 years ago, I sat in a movie theater in Westwood, Calif., watching the trailer for the new Spike Lee movie Mo Better Blues. A slow, sensuous love scene began between Denzel Washington and a black woman.

Instead of watching the screen, I turned around and examined the audience. All of the other moviegoers were white, and I saw something fascinating:All of the women in the theater leaned forward, toward the screen. All of the men pressed away, back in their seats as if utterly repulsed."

 

Has anyone contacted Steven Barnes on any change on Black males in love scenes?

 

This topic has been discussed in one way or another on several occasions. I have noticed that "the brotha not gettin' ANY play in a movie" has become more prevalent these days. And the reaction by that audience is just old news. I've stated on here previously of the documented reaction at the time of an audience back when 100 Rifles aired, with Jim Brown/Racquel Welch's infamous sex scene, where white men literally got up and found a waste basket to throw up in signifying their outright disgust over it.

But yeah, that scene you're talking about I remember. Wasn't that Spike's sister??? Though he was juggling two sistas in that flick. That's why I love Spike Lee's films. He never seems to shy away from some type of sexual situation involving a female and a black man, sometimes subtle, other times overt. Like in Jungle Fever, where he had Wesley put Annabella on that desk to bang her. Or even recently in Inside Man, where the pretty sistah was ready to receive Denzel's character when he arrived home. Only a black man can do that. You really never see that type of commitment in flicks where it's obvious white males are producing it.

Speaking of no play, here's what they're doing these days. On The Young and the Restless (yeah I tune in. shoot me), Lilly Winters has just married Caine Ashby (Chancellor). They had an elaborate wedding, they danced, did all the fairy tale stuff. And yes, they even have bedroom scenes where she's in nothing but bra and panties. Now take the ONLY two black males on the show. Neil Winters (Christian St. John) was with Karen. I don't remember them having anything more than a kissing scene or two. If they ever had sex, it was simulated where they would go into the bedroom and next scene would emerge putting their clothes back on. That's how they do sex scenes in Hollywood now by the way. But then that fizzled out and he's now with Tyra (Eva Pigford). And they've slept together 2 or 3 times and they're NEVER shown in bed together! And then there's Devon whose been dating Roxanne (Tatyana Ali) and I don't think they've ever kissed on camera. But wouldn't you guess ALL the other males on the show (white) are having bedroom scenes with any women they choose. Again, that's Hollywood. But I have to believe it comes from the audience.

For the most part, these quotes are enough said.

 

I tivo Y&R and I know Neil had some hot hot scenes with Karen and Carmen both. You can probably go to youtube and find them. Lots of Y&R on youtube.

 

Maybe So But...

as a whole the soaps are a bad example 'cause bros get very little play from any ladies black or white. They are the exclusive domain of white males!:smt108

 

I agree soaps are a bad example, but because they have undergone come conservative writing. There is very little sex in soap operas as compared to their hey days. The characters only have sex now when it is important to a story line; ie marriage, divorce, pregnancy, etc.

ND, have you seen Zanes series on Cinemax? I am curious about it but I do not have Cinemax. I know her books have all manner of swirling and stuff. I also think it will be a good series to showcase black men as sexually desirable as she loves bm.

 

This is what is known as "glass half empty" complex. The fact that many Americans other than blacks pay to see Spike Lee Joints should be seen as a positive thing.

The behaviour you described is probably typical of any romantic movie, thus the well known term "chick flick".

 

Co-sign!

That is how Will and Denzel made it pass these hollywood
racist, the pwer of the dollar brought in my large audiences, rather
it be more white than black. As long as you are not losing your black audience completely (which by the way only way you can do that is
by not making any more black films, but I don't see that happening.)
It's all good.

 

both of these cats do bring in fat dollars, money-grip. I want to see the new one Denzel has out. Between the two tho, I think Will has the most muscle in hollywood now. He hits you with blockbuster joint like I am Legend, then flips the script and makes you think on some deep shit, with a movie like Seven Pounds.

 

Keith Hamilton Cobb did more better than Kristoff St.John in IR in soaps. His character got into a relationship with Phyllis Summers played by Michelle Stafford on Y&R. Plus, his role on All My Children with Sydney Penny made history.

 

Cobb & Penny (Noah/Julia) had such chemistry, such heat! I've never seen a couple like them on soaps since.

 

Hellspawn,

Im a little late posting but let me add to your comments above. You are correct and see this all the time on tv. What i have notice is that they always make that black guy kind of like the third wheel and i see this a lot in horror movies. I remember that movie THE BREED with Michelle Rodriquez and the brotha HILL HARPER. It was set up where two girls and three guys goe go camping but yet Hill is left out. He is ftirst tries to hook with one of the white females even gets kind of close but BAM it just stops and his character gets killed first. Kind of like what they did in the Last friday the 13th movie.

The only semi intense IR scene i have seen recently is from that INDIE film THE ISSURGENTS where Henry Rollins has a sex scene with the main white female character which was pretty good.

eblackman

 

Are you talking about Henry Simmons in The Insurgents?

 

Yea Soulthinker thanks i got the name wrong.

Eblack

 

I honestly haven't seen either of these two flicks and probably don't plan on seeing them for different reasons. "The Insurgents" I have not heard of really, but "The Breed," yeah...it's playing religiously on satellite right now. Though I didn't know my boy Hill was in that. He does good work but they set limits on him too. Nah, Michelle is the reason why I responded 'cause it goes to another point made on here numerous times. The role of the latina nowadays in flicks.

Her name is listed first in the description along with two other white people in the film. Now I understand it's customary to list the stars this way, but my point is she's one of these rising stars that Hollywood puts at the head of the class because presumably a "hot latin chick" brings in a larger audience these dayz. And maybe not in that movie, but generally a latina's love interest is a white boy and generally NOT a brotha or even a latin dude unless it's somebody like Eva Mendes. They're doing the same thing with Navi Rawat (indian chick on Numb3rs). As long as the broad isn't black, they give them a push.

I felt the need to respond because it just sickens me that these studios STILL use this same formula of putting the brotha down by the end of the first act like in the past. These slasher films and horror types are supposed to be magnets for young folks to hook up, but the black people in general consistently never get any. So why even watch at all??? I thought about it and accepted that this "transition" to a post-racial Hollywood like their trying to do should lye with Hollywood and the people who are indeed racist. Me, I'm all accepting and sick and tired of seeing the same ole same ole. Hell, I'll just watch the old movies or one's where black producers and directors are in charge.

 

"The black man is the most copied man on the planet bar none." - Paul Mooney

Enough said.

 

Of all this talk about it. Make a list of the best IR flicks where brothers get the girl. I have not seen most of them but I recommend them if I see a title. Don't hold your breath for Hollyweird to change their minds. The criteria: The couple ride to the sunset or more loving than a peck on the cheek.