Native Americans Protest Twilight Casting of HSM Star Vanessa Hudgens Because She’s Filipino
Spokesperson for Native Americans Lydia Ponce decries the casting choices for the Twilight series.
The Twilight Series is one of few commercial films, a script, and a story with Native American roles. It is a sad day to see that the big power agents are marketing Filipino and Asian celebrity actors to play Native Americans. How can we accept that Filipinos and other ethnic groups, talented or not, are being packaged and sold to us as the redefined and new and improved Native American image?
These are such rare opportunities. When films like Twilight knowingly and willfully select non-Native American actors to play Native roles, it sends the message that we’re not good enough to represent ourselves.
Mentioning the Filipino race refers to the unconfirmed casting of High School Musical star Vanessa Hudgens for the role of Leah Clearwater, a shape shifter member of the wolf pack in the Eclipse and Breaking Dawn films.
Vanessa Hudgens is half-Filipino through her mother, Gina Guangco, who grew up in Manila Philippines and who later married Greg Hudgens. Ironically, Wikipedia reports that Vanessa Hudgens does have Native American ancestry, courtesy of her father Greg Hudgens, who has both Irish and Native American roots.
Twilight scriptwriter Melissa Rosenberg has confirmed that Vanessa Hudgens is up for one of the two coveted female roles for Native Americans, “I’m not sure about [final] casting but I had heard Vanessa Hudgens was going up for the part of Leah [Clearwater, a werewolf], but at the moment, the part of Leah doesn’t happen until the third movie.”
The second film, New Moon, is set to open on 20 November 2009, while the third film will be released in 2010. Both the New Moon and Eclipse films are scheduled to be shot simultaneously in 2009.
Vanessa rose to fame during Disney’s High School Musical series in the role of Gabriella Montez, which partnered her with reel and real life sweetheart Zac Efron.
Related Posts
High School Musical 3 Senior Year Opens in the Philippines
High School Musical 2 and the Movie Musical
High School Musical Reality Series Auditions
High School Musical The Ice Tour Breaking Free Video
Stages and Trumpets Playshop Production of Disney’s High School Musical
September 2nd, 2010 at 10:17 pm
She looks native to me… aye! I believe there should’ve been a native acting this part, but she looks just like this Pawnee girl i know so i’ll just pretend its her.
August 2nd, 2010 at 6:24 am
look, like jack said, its acting for christ sake, thats what actors do! they act! it would defeat the object of there job if they didnt! but i wouldnt like to see vanessa hudgens in the thrd one, only coz shes from hsm, i think it would be a real shame if they brought disney to the twilight saga.plus, i dont like vanessas voice, but not because of her ethnicity. look, im full english, 1/2 german, 1/8 jamican and am scottish and spanish,i lok like i could play all most any race, and im glad, as thats what acting is about! im an aspirign actress and would hate to get this much scrutinty of race. back off. im most defintley not a vanessa fan, anything but, but there is more important things going on in the world guys, comone get a grip guys! btw, does anyone know anyone who comes fromt the places i do, i have light tanned skin, like (jessica alba) green eyes, dark blonde hair, small nose (lool)i lok more english, but that dont matter.
thanks, and guys..she dont play the part of leah clearwater, seen the third one, muhaha (just lettign ya’ll know… 
)
April 2nd, 2010 at 6:36 am
No one complains when Brad Pitt throws on an accent and plays an Irish in the NRA. Or when he’s playing
that whatever the hell in the movie Snatch…It’s called acting for a reason. I’m 1/2 Flip 1/4 Mohegan 1/4 German. I don’t give a
fuckwhat race a person is as long as the movie is good. Getting worked up over a fantasy movie is the least of the worlds problems. How about worrying about what REALLY mattersdouche bags.Except for the DBZ movie…that was ridiculous. Why couldn’t they get a real saiyan?
wtf?February 15th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
blame the management…
I’m Filipino. I’d want to see our countrymen getting roles portaying our own ethnicity not another’s just for the sake of exposure.
And I want exactly the same for Native Americans to get the correct roles and to be increasingly visible in showbiz.
I am not fond of the twilight series but the presence of Native Americans & backstory actually got my attention and made me take a second look.
October 29th, 2009 at 5:19 pm
i’m half filipino too..as much as i would love to see more more asians in the entertainment business, casting vanessa hudgens as a native american is way too offensive for the native american comunity who have many talented actors..i get pissed when they need filipino actors and they get a random chinese dude because “we all look the same”..and besides..it’s vanessa hudgens…
October 28th, 2009 at 11:52 am
I would not like Vanessa on the 3rd movie..
What is this world coming too!!
Filipino she Is.. Not Native
Im native American and it hurts to see someone other lady play a role she is not..
Im actually Full Native, and to see that
URRRRGH!!!!!!!!!
July 4th, 2009 at 7:38 pm
why does some people can’t accept ASIANS in hollywood????????????
why do you freakin’ fuss about it????
there’s no big deal..
and we can’t deny the fact that she’s really talented enough to play the role..
LEAVE HER ALONE…
May 15th, 2009 at 12:02 pm
Ok she is filipina right?
ok so its ok for her to play a latina
on hsm but its not ok for her to play
a native american girl on twilight???
April 29th, 2009 at 12:35 am
NO SHE SHOULD NOT BE ANYWHERE NEAR TWILIGHT!
People are gonna be like OMG look it’s Gabriellea Montez!
Her voice drives me insane. Hate it. Yeah she’s pretty but i just don’t see her as Leah. Sorry.
No Disney in Twilight.
Just no.
April 24th, 2009 at 10:34 am
i know there are alot of native americans that they could possibly cast for the role! look it up… i thought we were past casting white people with make up on as “INDIANS” wasnt that back in the 40 or 50’s get over it we are a proud race with talented people call some of them or look them up!
February 18th, 2009 at 4:33 am
AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH….
If I see Vanessa Hudgens in New Moon I will cry!!!!!! I will start selling T-shirts that say:
“DISNEY CHANNEL KILLED THE TWILIGHT SAGA”
“VANESSA HUDGENS: WANTED FOR MURDERING NEW MOON”
“ANTI DEPRESSANTS FOR SEEING VANESSA HUDGENS IN NEW MOON: SOLD HERE!”
February 14th, 2009 at 8:05 pm
Does She have a cdib. That what we native American
have, because are tribal Member. Not Want be.
cdib, certified Indian Blood.
February 9th, 2009 at 3:42 am
don’t let [New Moon] be HSMified! it will ruin it all
GET HER OFF!!!