Slumdog Insufficiency
Category Entertainment News, Current Events
The most talked-about film today has something fishy going on that’s not worth mentioning at all. Golden-Globe’s “Best Drama Film” winner “Slumdog Millionaire” --- it’s producers to be particular --- has apparently left some of its heroes out in the cold, especially the kids that the filmmakers had plucked out of the Calcutta slums to play important roles in the British-made film that portrays and focuses on the lives of three young kids, growing up in filthy streets amidst the virulent political turbulence in India that had occurred some time ago, specifically about the harsh and often-bloody confrontation between the Hindus and Muslims there, where one of them kids had gained the chance to become a millionaire when he grew up, that is, in the most unusual way --- winning India’s version of “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?”.
I’ve seen trailers of the herein-mentioned film and I can appreciate how it had garnered many accolades so far and in fact it remains as the top bet to win top honors in the upcoming Oscars awards night on Monday. British film director Danny Boyle ( Trainspotting, Sunshine) has certainly achieved some cinematic milestone with this recent work of his.
But then, this controversy; the child actors and actresses employed in the film were merely paid paltry sums and remain to be living in squalid habitats still, as they were before, even if “Slumdog Millionaire” had already surpassed $100 Million in gross ticket sales. Now that’s a lot of money to be talking about and it’s nearly criminal that these adorable kids don’t get as much as they should be getting. They should get to live in mansions from now on if you ask me and be driven in limousines everyday of their lives. That’s what they deserved.
I can sense some lawsuit brewing hereat. A sharp and snooping lawyer could surely spot some goldmine of a lawsuit and I have no problem with that whatsoever.
That's very unfortunate and that's speaks of the exploitative way we do business in the eastern world. I know of someone who here who was an agent of a talent agency that recruits extras for movie productions. Anyone who applies as an extra has to be part of a union and wages are regulated, depending on one's role. Anyone with a speaking role in the film is to be paid way more than just someone who fills in the gaps for the silver screen.
As for Slumdog Millionaire, I bought the bootleg DVD last weekend and it is on queue on my screening schedule this week
Comment by bw — February 19, 2009 @ 2:45 am
To BW: As i understand in the news story bout this controversy, the kids were hired as extras, paid minimum and regulation wages as per Bollywood standards. However, in actuality, the kids were more than extras in the film, as they played more than half of the movie and were excellent actors at that that I could not believe myself that they were real kids from the slums. Maybe this could be some hoax, them being slum kids, to maximize PR for the movie...
Comment by Major Tom — February 19, 2009 @ 9:02 am
I was going to blog about this film and mention that article. I saw the film a few weeks ago and I liked it.
Comment by Wil — February 19, 2009 @ 8:23 pm
Now I'm curious about the movie. I hope these kids get what they're due... and perhaps, a break by having offers in the movie industry.
Comment by Toe — February 21, 2009 @ 1:25 pm
It's disgusting to hijack the images of the new actors just to promote movies. Is it maybe because they are not in the category of Brad Pitt or Tom Cruise? Their greediness has no limits and that's what is all about. These young actors/actresses merit a maximum attention !
Comment by haze — February 22, 2009 @ 5:47 pm
To Wil; it's a rare feat Will, reminds me so much of "The City of God"...
Comment by Major Tom — February 25, 2009 @ 3:10 pm
To Toe: Now that the film was a smash in the recent Oscars, the kids and other actors there should be receiving lots of attention by now.
Comment by Major Tom — February 25, 2009 @ 3:11 pm
To Haze: You said so Haze, I hope that the producers would respond responsibly to this situation.
Comment by Major Tom — February 25, 2009 @ 3:14 pm