Typecasting and Sarah Michelle Gellar

[Uncle Rory]

To be typecast is one of the saddest things to happen to an actor. For anyone who doesn't know, it's when the public or the powers that be in Hollywood only associate an actor with a certain role or type of character.

Al Pacino and Robert Deniro suffered from typecasting for years - every movie was another Policeman or Gangster. Deniro has kind of broken out of that but Pacino not so much.

I think that all other possible factors aside, the reason that Sarah Michelle Gellar has tried to distance herself from her Buffy persona is to try to avoid being typecast. Seems logical.

Doing the Grudge movies IMHO was a step backward, but who am I to judge.

I truly believe that if you are a real Buffy fan you will support her in anything she does because aside from 7 seasons of BLISS she really is a very good actress with a lot of depth.

I also call on all members to impliment a moratorium here or on any other forum, site or blog that they participate in, in which you state something like, "I just couldn't get into the character because I was reminded so much of her role in Buffy, blah, blah, blah, yadda yadda yadda ad nauseum"

I think it is a little disrespectful to SMG and certainly doesn't do anything to further the hopes of the majority of the members here who dream of a continuation of some kind of the Buffyverse.

Or not. Whatever!

Uncle Rory

 

[November]

I truly believe that if you are a real Buffy fan you will support her in anything she does because aside from 7 seasons of BLISS she really is a very good actress with a lot of depth.

Uncle Rory

You can still be a Buffy fan even if you arnt a fan of SMG. She isnt the only part that makes up BtVS, there are so many different aspects of the show.

But I do think she is a good actress, I just think the roles she has chosen are pretty sucky. I hope to see her in something that shows off her ability to act a bit better soon!

 

[Lindsey McDonald]

I truly believe that if you are a real Buffy fan you will support her in anything she does because aside from 7 seasons of BLISS she really is a very good actress with a lot of depth.

What? No. Not true at all. I'm not going to blindly follow her because I liked her in Buffy. I'll judge each performance on it's own merits, thanks. And some of them were just plain not good.

I also call on all members to impliment a moratorium here or on any other forum, site or blog that they participate in, in which you state something like, "I just couldn't get into the character because I was reminded so much of her role in Buffy, blah, blah, blah, yadda yadda yadda ad nauseum"

Sorry, but what do you mean by this? I don't quite understand what you mean.

I think it is a little disrespectful to SMG and certainly doesn't do anything to further the hopes of the majority of the members here who dream of a continuation of some kind of the Buffyverse.

Yes, typecasting does suck, but if the character is too similar to Buffy, the character is too similar to Buffy. It's hardly disrespectful - she chose the part after all.

 

[AndrewCrossett]

Sarah is a very good actress. I think "The Body" was the point where I really realized that.

Yes, she's chosen some pretty bad roles and turned down some pretty good ones. I hope she's starting to turn a corner now, though.

Just never refer to her as "Sarah Michelle Prinze." That's an evil omen she probably should have avoided.

 

[Sweetescape]

What? No. Not true at all. I'm not going to blindly follow her because I liked her in Buffy. I'll judge each performance on it's own merits, thanks. And some of them were just plain not good.

I follow that rule when i comes to watching SMG films. Ok she was in Buffy which i love,but i do have a brain! and she has done some rubbish films! which is partly her fault for accepting them.

On a positive note her new film "Veronika decides to die" looks promising 🙂

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

To be typecast is one of the saddest things to happen to an actor. For anyone who doesn't know, it's when the public or the powers that be in Hollywood only associate an actor with a certain role or type of character.

Al Pacino and Robert Deniro suffered from typecasting for years - every movie was another Policeman or Gangster. Deniro has kind of broken out of that but Pacino not so much.

I think that all other possible factors aside, the reason that Sarah Michelle Gellar has tried to distance herself from her Buffy persona is to try to avoid being typecast. Seems logical.

Doing the Grudge movies IMHO was a step backward, but who am I to judge.

I truly believe that if you are a real Buffy fan you will support her in anything she does because aside from 7 seasons of BLISS she really is a very good actress with a lot of depth.

I also call on all members to impliment a moratorium here or on any other forum, site or blog that they participate in, in which you state something like, "I just couldn't get into the character because I was reminded so much of her role in Buffy, blah, blah, blah, yadda yadda yadda ad nauseum"

I think it is a little disrespectful to SMG and certainly doesn't do anything to further the hopes of the majority of the members here who dream of a continuation of some kind of the Buffyverse.

Or not. Whatever!

Uncle Rory

I absolutely agree Uncle Rory!! It is very hard for actors to break away from being associated with their popular roles.

SMG is a god actress, and I've seen many other films she has been in. I never think "Oh, it's Buffy!" though, because I can differenciate between the actress and the character.

Although, I think her popularity from Buffy has been good for her if not only that her popularity with that role might inspire people to see her other films. As an example, I saw "Waitress" only because Nathan Fillon was in it (love him) but it turned out to be a very funny and touching movie.

Yay for the moratorium!

 

[Airam]

Its inevitable for her to always be associated with the Buffy character, it was her first big break in the mainstream and a character she played for 7 years. It will always be the first thing people will think of when they think of SMG. But I'm afraid since Buffy its she thats serving to typecast herself as this sort of "scream queen" by going for the horror/thriller genre again and again: Scream 2, I Know What You did last Summer, The Grudge, The Return and now Possession. I just think she needs to value diversity a little more in the roles she chooses, stop playing it safe and take a few risks because I definately feels she has the talent for it to pay off.

 

[Uncle Rory]

Its inevitable for her to always be associated with the Buffy character,

I couldn't disagree more. If you can't get over seeing an actor in different roles then your future as a television or movie viewer is going to be extremely limited. But regardless, what or who does it help, whose cause is anyone advancing by stating it?

Hey, I'm not trying to stop free speach here. I have free speach but that doesn't mean I tell my wife about my girlfriend. (hypothetical) That wouldn't be smart.

I have no doubt that marketing types, studio executives, agents, managers, etc. etc. read what is written on the internet. My point was simple - supporting Sarah's career is more likely to influence her to return to the Buffy role than typecasting her.

Like I said, OR NOT - Whatever.

Uncle Rory

 

[Spuffy78]

She'll be type-casted since she does the same type of acting.

She hasn't really browned her horizon's which she has the ability of doing so.

Robert Englund is a serious of example of Type-Casting for those who aren't Horror junkies like me he's Freddy Kreuger. He's still be in great films since then. 2001 Maniacs, Behind The Mask, Zombie Strippers, etc.

If she wasn't super-glued to her Husband she might be able to accept a role that is a bit more challenging.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

I couldn't disagree more. If you can't get over seeing an actor in different roles then your future as a television or movie viewer is going to be extremely limited. But regardless, what or who does it help, whose cause is anyone advancing by stating it?

Hey, I'm not trying to stop free speach here. I have free speach but that doesn't mean I tell my wife about my girlfriend. (hypothetical) That wouldn't be smart.

I have no doubt that marketing types, studio executives, agents, managers, etc. etc. read what is written on the internet. My point was simple - supporting Sarah's career is more likely to influence her to return to the Buffy role than typecasting her.

Like I said, OR NOT - Whatever.

Uncle Rory

I agree that is fair to say that she is often assocated with the role of Buffy - but it should not be the only role she's assoicated with, for sure.

I've love to see her use her use her talent in a more meatier role. I agree that she has been taking quote a few "safe" roles.

 

[Airam]

I couldn't disagree more. If you can't get over seeing an actor in different roles then your future as a television or movie viewer is going to be extremely limited. But regardless, what or who does it help, whose cause is anyone advancing by stating it?

Thats not what i said. Sarah Michelle Gellar will always be associated with Buffy, that's fact. That doesn't mean though that I or any other viewer out there can't see her and believe her in other roles. I've loved her in films where I didn't for a second think she was being Buffy like, Harvard Man and Cruel Intentions for example. But SMG and Buffy will always be referenced to eachother, its just how it is, nothing wrong with it, personally I feel she should embrace it, use it to further her career rather than resent it.

 

[Lindsey McDonald]

Uncle Rory disagrees: Dude, do you even read posts before you disagree? I never said "BLINDLY" which changes intention. Moratorium. Look it up in the dictionario.

You never said the word blindly, but lets see what you did say then, shall we?

I truly believe that if you are a real Buffy fan you will support her in anything she does because aside from 7 seasons of BLISS she really is a very good actress with a lot of depth.

Emphasis added. So, supporting her in anything she does, even if it is utter rubbish is different to following her blindly? How so, exactly?

And I know what the word moratorium means, I was just seriously hoping that you didn't mean that we shouldn't be allowed to say that she played a character or chose a role that either sucked, or was too similar to Buffy because it's disrespectful. If she wants to earn respect as an actress, she needs to do just that - earn it. Not have her fans sweep things under the carpet.
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Uncle Rory disagrees: I guess I am assuming a certain amount of common that you are obviously not interestid in. Did I say watch any rubbish? No! And I didn't say not allowed. I implied "Shouldn't" Again, your not reading what is writte so why bother.

Right, so what exactly is your point? Typecasting is bad? Agreed, but there's no need for a topic if that's it. You didn't say watch any rubbish, but it's precisely the "rubbish" that she tends to be typecast in. You asked me to "support her in anything she does" - that, by it's very nature, includes the rubbish. And I simply won't. If it's rubbish, and she's typecast in it, then I'm not going to respect her for it. I'm definately going to take it into consideration when I decide if I respect her as an actress or not, why wouldn't I?

You suggest sticking our fingers in our ears and not talking about the bad work she does because it's not showing her respect. Let's see what a "dictionario" actually says about the word moratorium then, shall we?

1. a suspension of activity: a moratorium on the testing of nuclear weapons.
2. a legally authorized period to delay payment of money due or the performance of some other legal obligation, as in an emergency.
3. an authorized period of delay or waiting.

From: moratorium definition | Dictionary.com


You suggested that we not talk about the times that Sarah was less than stellar. More accurately, you suggested that we don't talk about the times we thought Sarah was less than stellar. On a discussion board, no less. Well, my answer to that is - no. It's her job to convince me that she's not Buffy, not my job to convince myself. I generally don't get paid for self-delusion.

 

[PurplePoof]

If SMG were a strong enough actress outside of the Buffyverse, she'd be able to overcome the typecasting...so I don't know whether it's a lack of versatility or JUST her poor decisions that are causing her to fail in that department...but she is.

SMG REALLY needs to do something that's a stretch for her. Play a bizarre character that is nothing like herself, Buffy, or any of her film roles. She needs to play a developmentally challenged person or something...get herself an Oscar nod...and then relish.

 

[Primal Slayer]

I dont see her as typecasted since she has gotten plenty of films that havent involved being hte kickass female. She has done the romantic charecter, the bitchy charecter, the ditzy charecter, suicidal, victim, hero. Ofcourse people will always know her as Buffy Summers but they certainly dont think thats the only type of charecter she can play. Just like how Lucy Lawless will always be known as Xena but they arent expecting Xena to show up to an audtion.

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

If SMG were a strong enough actress outside of the Buffyverse, she'd be able to overcome the typecasting...so I don't know whether it's a lack of versatility or JUST her poor decisions that are causing her to fail in that department...but she is.

SMG REALLY needs to do something that's a stretch for her. Play a bizarre character that is nothing like herself, Buffy, or any of her film roles. She needs to play a developmentally challenged person or something...get herself an Oscar nod...and then relish.

Dude, I don't blame her. It's hard to get roles, there's a lot of competition. It might not just be a matter of versatility or choice; it could just be she's making the best of what she can get. She's gotta pay her bills, acting is a job like any other.

But I agree. I'd love to see her in a heavy role, where she could show her talent.

 

[Randy Giles]

It does suck when actors get typecast, although it's a little understandable. I mean, Sarah Michelle Gellar played an iconic role for seven years...when you see her you kinda just automatically think "Oh, Buffy!"

 

[Joan the Vampire Slayer]

It does suck when actors get typecast, although it's a little understandable. I mean, Sarah Michelle Gellar played an iconic role for seven years...when you see her you kinda just automatically think "Oh, Buffy!"

I guess being typecasted means you're good at one role and directors know that? So maybe it's not sa bad...they choose you knowing you'll be good in the role, I soppose.

 

[caitaintdead]

Sorry, Uncle Rory, I don't want to join in with all the disagreement exactly... I'm just not to sure what you're trying to say...

You want us to stop saying bad things about Sarah and you want her to play Buffy again? Huh? Can you please explain what you mean a little better please? I don't see how any of what you've said connects.

Again - I'm not trying to be disrespectful to your opinion. I just don't understand at all where you're coming from, or what you hope to achieve with this new thread.

 

[Uncle Rory]

Let me put it clearly
Typecasting = bad.
Buffy - Good
Contributing to Sarah's typecasting - bad
Sarah having a well rounded career - good.
Sarah being slightly disaccossiated from Buffy - Good, increases the possibility that she might revisit the role.
Peaple who "claim" to love the show and then just cut it to pieces - suck.
Uncle Rory

 

[Washburne]

Peaple who "claim" to love the show and then just cut it to pieces - suck.

I guess I have to make myself look even more stupid than normal but huh? *begging he can blame it on the language factor*

Has it anything to do with this? Because I can´t fit that in with any of the other clarifications.

I truly believe that if you are a real Buffy fan you will support her in anything she does.

Because I still don´t get why loving the show automatically means you have support the leading actress in everything else she does.