Melody Cooper
I just found a letter I wrote when I was a kid to Mr. Steven Spielberg c/o Columbia Pictures: “I have been impressed and thrilled by your films beauty, craftsmanship and sensitivity, and by your ability to create worlds I can escape into. There is only one strong criticism I have… I’ve seen every major film you have made, and not once can I recall seeing a major character being played by a Black actor or actress. I thought I’d appeal to you to use ethnic actors.“
Oh, yes I did.
Nov 28, 2022 at 2:32amWeb
Show threadThe Febrile MuseNov 28, 2022
@MelodyCooper Did he write back?
Show threadMelody CooperNov 28, 2022
@CMDoran Ha! No. I doubt he ever saw it.
Show threadBenjamin HallNov 28, 2022
@MelodyCooper Clap!
Show threadCarlos SaltosNov 28, 2022
@MelodyCooper 🙏🌞❤️🕊
Show threadlobsterNov 28, 2022
@csaltos @MelodyCooper you was kid. you seem more mature than I am as adult … 🤭🦞
Show threadRimi B. ChatterjeeNov 28, 2022
@MelodyCooper Well done! Represent!
Although considering how he treated a certain famous filmmaker from my country, chances were slim I guess.
Show threadPamela EhnNov 28, 2022
@MelodyCooper the fact that some filmmakers like Tim Burton refuse to use black characters in their films piss me off. I took Shonda Rhimes Masterclass and she said when casting, don’t let race limit you, so when I cast my project, I opened it to all ethnicities. Best. Decision. Ever. Two characters that I had written as white (default) ended up being black because two black actresses came in to audition and they were so much better than everyone else.
Show threadPiper CarterDec 1, 2022
@MelodyCooper was it hand written & you saved it? Or did you email it?
Show threadMelody CooperDec 1, 2022
@pipercarter Painstakingly typed out. And mailed.
Show threadCsepp 🌢Dec 2, 2022
@MelodyCooper Did you actually send that?
Show threadMelody CooperDec 2, 2022
@csepp I did!
Show threadCsepp 🌢Dec 2, 2022
@MelodyCooper Heck ye. UwU
Any idea if he saw it?
Show threadMelody CooperDec 2, 2022
@csepp No idea. Though he did make The Color Purple after I sent it!
Show threadMattDec 2, 2022
@MelodyCooper Great letter. Did you get a reply?
Show threadMelody CooperDec 4, 2022
@matt I did not.
Show threadDoc Edward Morbius ⭕​Dec 4, 2022

@MelodyCooper Does Amistad count for anything, in the sense of a reply?

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Amistad_(film)

@matt

Amistad (film) - Wikipedia

Show threadDoc Edward Morbius ⭕​Dec 4, 2022

@MelodyCooper More relevant to your letter, he wrote Black roles into West Side Story, despite that not being focused on a Black topic specifically, or having Blacks in the original Jerome Robbins script.

(And FWIW, the original Broadway and West End casting was notably short on Latinx actors.)

https://www.cnn.com/2020/08/19/entertainment/steven-spielberg-black-characters-west-side-story-curtiss-cook-intl-scli/index.html

You may have had an influence?

@matt

Show threadMelody CooperDec 4, 2022
@dredmorbius @matt Probably not (but it was before The Color Purple!) Yes, that was good to see Afro Latinos in West Side Story. To note: Spielberg made 29 films before WSS. The films I was most surprised he continued to leave major black characters out of: Jurassic Park, AI, Minority Report, War of the Worlds. We’re in the Jim Crow and slavery films. Or in small roles otherwise.
Show threadDoc Edward Morbius ⭕​Dec 4, 2022

@MelodyCooper Oh, I hear you.

I'm just noting that he did seem to change his ways, at some point.

I suspect due to having that matter brought to his attention.

@matt

Show threadMelody CooperDec 4, 2022
@dredmorbius @matt And also Color Purple out his 31 films, yes. What I think has important impact is when there is a work that is not centered specifically on Blackness but is inclusive and casts a lead or major character who happens to be Black (or Indigenous, Latino, Asian). Like maybe one of the scientists in Jurassic Park. Or one Elliott’s friends. To be recognized for who you are and also included as part of the mainstream is a powerful thing.
Show threadDoc Edward Morbius ⭕​Dec 4, 2022

@MelodyCooper Right, yeah, I get that.

@matt

Show threadRuTempleDec 2, 2022
@MelodyCooper I love you for writing this letter as a kid!