The Star Wars Universe Gets Even More Diverse Thanks to This Imperial Captain

Image from HitFix

Say hello to Ciena Ree, a member of the Imperial Navy and one of the Galactic Empire's youngest captains. French illustrator Aurore Folny brought the character to life from Claudia Gray's Star Wars novel Lost Stars. 

Here's the plot description:

This thrilling Young Adult novel gives readers a macro view of some of the most important events in the Star Wars universe, from the rise of the Rebellion to the fall of the Empire. Readers will experience these major moments through the eyes of two childhood friends--Ciena Ree and Thane Kyrell--who have grown up to become an Imperial officer and a Rebel pilot. Now on opposite sides of the war, will these two star-crossed lovers reunite, or will duty tear them--and the galaxy--apart? 

The image debuted on Lucasfilm's new 'The Star Wars Show.' They mention Ciena is the captain of the Imperial Star Destroyer "The Inflictor," a.k.a. that downed ship you saw Rey ride past on Jakku in Star Wars: The Force Awakens. 

Ciena will also be in an upcoming expansion for Star Wars Armada.

Read more at:

http://www.hitfix.com/harpy/the-star-wars-universe-gets-even-more-diverse-thanks-to-this-imperial-captain#xm8Qi5z57s5CtXqQ.99

Image and text from HitFix

Critic's Notebook: On Kanye's 'Blue' Eyes, Lupita's Alien Lives and Allowing Black Artists to Be Free

Photo from the Hollywood Reporter

Good article about the policing of black artists' roles and fashion choices in The Hollywood Reporter. I too read the Vulture article mentioned and had a similar reaction (as I've often thought before). Read an excerpt below:

Kanye West stirred controversy by wearing light contacts to the Met Ball on Monday night, but we should stop policing black artists' aesthetic and artistic choices.

Judgement of black artists' aesthetic and career choices was also a theme in an April 27 Vulture article that took issue with the recent use of black actors to play CGI-cloaked aliens or to voice animated animals. Kyle Buchanan writes, rather paternalistically, that seeing black bodies is good for the culture. "Idris, Lupita, Paula, and Zoe have faces that matter. Let us see them," he concludes.

But what if they don’t want to be seen? What if they want to focus on their equally beautiful voices, as both Idris Elba and Lupita Nyong’o were able to do in the The Jungle Book? And why are these actors’ real brown faces more important or authentic than the nuance of their real voices? 

What's best for the culture is for these brilliant actors to stretch out their talents and practice their craft in any way they damn well desire. Nyong’o has taken to defending her choices recently. On NPR program All Things Considered, she was asked by host Neda Ulaby (not a black woman) if her recent voice and motion capture work was due to the lack of starring roles for women of color. N’yongo said no. "I think subconsciously I was excited by work that was not about my body. It wasn’t about my skin or my body or its economy, whether we’re talking about slavery or we’re talking about fashion," she said, referring to the red carpet and magazine fame that came from playing a raped slave in Steve McQueen’s 12 Years a Slave. "12 Years a Slave is a lot about the economy of Patsey’s body. And then also the exposure the film gave me was a lot about my body."

She went on to elaborate on this stance yesterday in a beautiful essay in Lenny Letter, that seems to directly address the Vulture article: “I love the idea of people of color participating in mythical, magical stories, whether that’s as hero, villain, sage, or sorceress. Or all of the above!" Nyong'o wrote. "I think sometimes a singular catharsis can be found in genre storytelling — as I found when playing a thousand-year-old woman (Maz Kanata in Star Wars: The Force Awakens) and a wolf mother (Raksha in The Jungle Book). I’m able to be more engaged in roles such as those than I would be in playing 'the wife' when she is written with no motivation or singularity.”

Read the rest at:

http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/critics-notebook-kanyes-blue-eyes-890727

Photo and text from The Hollywood Reporter

New Character Banners For Paul Feig's 'Ghostbusters' and other news

Photo from Comic Book Movie

New Character Banners For Paul Feig's GHOSTBUSTERS Spotlight 3 Of Our 4 New Spook Hunters

They didn't release Melissa McCarthy's, but that's sure to come as well.

Agents of SHIELD’s Chloe Bennet: Why I Stopped Using My Chinese Last Name

Also her insights on being one of the few Asian female superheros in the game.

Rian Johnson Breaking The Mold For Star Wars: Episode VIII

I loved Looper, so this should be interesting, however the term "breaking the mode" makes me a little nervous.

Along those same lines:

The Plot Of Star Wars: Episode VIII Has Seemingly Leaked Online And It Will Make You Really, REALLY Mad

This actually doesn't make me mad the way it does some people (including the author of that post), but it would require significant (Jedi-like!) skills to pull a plot like that off. IF it's even true.

Around the interwebs...

Droids on a plane. Photo from Vanity Fair

‘Star Trek’ TV Series May Take Place Before ‘The Next Generation’
Oh yeah, can't wait for this.

S.H.I.E.L.D.'s Ming-Na Wen stands up to Hollywood whitewashing

Star Wars: J.J. Abrams discusses Rey's parents during Tribeca talk (with Chris Rock)

BB-8 Can’t Fly Anywhere Without Running into Super-Fans
This thing is just too darn cute, I'd be that guy too.

Lupita Nyong'o Confirms Return For Star Wars Episode VIII

Photo from Comic Book

Lupita Nyong'o will be reprising her role as the adorable, not to mention knowledgeable pirate Maz Kanata in the upcoming Star Wars: Episode VIII.

The talented actress appeared on Live with Kelly & Michael, and when Strahan asked her if she would be in the next Star Wars, she answered with a resounding "yes."

I think we were all pretty confident about this anyway, Maz is so clearly the new version of Yoda. Nice to hear it confirmed though.

Watch the video at Comic Book:

http://comicbook.com/2016/04/15/lupita-nyongo-confirms-return-for-star-wars-episode-viii/

Text from Comic Book

'Enough with the Canon' and other internet gems

Photo from Movie Pilot

Enough With the Canon
If anyone accuses you of being a dilettante, just remind them George R. R Martin’s admitted he needs the help of semi-professional fans to keep it all straight.

'Spider-Man: Homecoming': What Does That Title Mean, Anyway?
Clued in fans thinks it references more than the fact he's in high school.

‘Anyone Can Die?’ TV’s Recent Death Toll Says Otherwise
Scathing, but so true.

'Just Because She’s White With Brown Hair Doesn't Mean She’s My Mom!' Daisy Ridley Speaks Out About THAT 'Rogue One' Theory
Lol.

Around the interwebs...

Photo from Music Times

Equal Pay Day: 14 Horrifying Stats About Gender Inequality in Hollywood

In June, actress Zoe Saldana said she struggled to secure child care as part of her contract for "Star Trek: Beyond" -- while her male counterparts were getting high-class perks.

Confused About When Rogue One Takes Place? Here's What You Need to Know

Also has a link to the upcoming Star Wars movie release dates

Hollywood Hates to Hear From Older Actresses, Study Says

And generally women speak less than men in movies, check out the stats

The Best Sex on Television Is a Scottish Time-Travel Feminist Sci-Fi Fantasy on Starz

Interesting comparison to Game of Thrones, which I'd argue has the worst (despite being an engaging show)

Pictures From Behind the Scenes of Star Wars: Episode VIII

Mark Hamill as Instagram pro, who would have guessed?


http://www.popsugar.com/entertainment/Star-Wars-Episode-VIII-Instagram-Pictures-40889701#photo-40889701

Around the interwebs...

Photo from Variety

Ouch, with this review. I haven't seen it yet, was it really that bad? Let's give it at least another episode; many good series have started with mediocre pilots (here's looking at you Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D).

TV Review: ‘Hunters’

Also,

In The Rare Event A Hollywood Movie Features Two Black Leads, Something Remarkable Happens

Loved the infographics, and the premise is intriguing. I wish they had identified the movies though.

Rumor: There'll Be Four Major Female Roles In The Black Panther Movie

Yay!

British Muggle Spies Defended Harry Potter From the Dark Arts and Piracy
Too cute.

Daisy Ridley carrying Mark Hamill like Luke carrying Yoda just made our day
Even cuter.

How Blackness is handled

Blackness seems to be handled in three distinct ways in science fiction and fantasy (and probably in media overall). Let's explore below.

Photo from Quora* 

Blackness is Hidden


Some would argue that blackness being hidden is a negative thing. For example with Star Wars: The Force Awakens's Maz Kanata, some fans wanted to see Lupita Nyong'o as she is and not a CGI creature in her place. I tend to disagree with this line of thinking. Scifi/fantasy has a ton of non-human characters and someone has to have the privilege of playing them so why not one of us? Additionally, many of the roles are based on long standing characters that were always not human. The problem arises when there are no other depictions of people of color to go along with it, which is too often the case.

Examples: Maz Kanata, Neytri of Avatar, Gamora of Guardians of the Galaxy



Blackness is a Non-Issue


This seems to be the most popular take on blackness. Sometimes it's because the story takes place in a post (or non) racial world, sometimes it's because the book/movie/show just decided not to address it. The characters just happens to be black in these cases. I have noticed that this take on blackness tends to correspond with a different sort of division being a point of contention. Aliens versus humans, mutants versus humans, etc. Race is the least of their concerns.

Examples: Most of them frankly, but Fish of Gotham, Molly of Extant, Annie of Being Human, Storm of X-Men (in the movies at least), the list goes on.


Blackness is Part of the Story


We haven't gotten to a point where we are racially colorblind- depictions of interracial relationships are still shown as progressive and people of color as headliners are still rare. Done correctly, including race can enrich a story, give depth to characters and speak to larger universe truths. For Scifi/Fantasy that takes place in the past or in contemporaneous to present day times, it feels more honest to incorporate race in some way. It's not as though we don't notice it, and for people of color it can be a point of pride to have our cultures included.

Examples: The ladies of Sleepy Hollow, Tituba of Salem



* I don't know if race was directly addressed in The Matrix, but I do know the Oracle was awesome.