CASTING CALL

Representation of the LGBTQIA+ can come in many forms, but merely casting our face just puts another mask on our identity

- MIA CASTRO

Storytelling is powerful and it’s one of the most important human traditions that continue to shape who we are. From our first bedtime story that taught us about big dreams and heroes to novels that put new perspectives into light, it’s a major influence on what we believe. But out of all these forms, there’s one that makes narratives as real as it could be–films. Films can create a world that would otherwise be unimaginable and with its universal language, no matter where the viewer is from or at, one can still witness the narrative being told. It’s an intensely personal form of art but modern cinema isn’t pure of Hollywood magic. Over the past year, proper queer films have gaining more traction in the mainstream media such as “Moonlight,” “Call Me By Your Name” and “Portrait of a Lady on Fire,” but as viewers are now demanding stories that deliver a greater sense of purpose and diverse representation in the cast and crew, it’s important to know the difference between tokenizing “representation” and authentic storytelling.