Last Monday a landmark trial between an actress, IMDB and its parent company Amazon began. Junie Hoang (real name Huong Hoang) claimed that IMDB (Internet Movie Data Base) had published her age (allegedly got from confidential credit card details when she signed up for a pro IMDB account) against her wishes. In doing so, she claimed to have lost work because of the ageism that exists in Hollywood (Hoang is 42). The case first came to light in October 2011, when she filled the suit anonymously. However in December of the same year, a judge decided to dismiss the case due to the actress’s anonymity, but said that the lawsuit could be re filed under her real name. There was much speculation as to who the actress was and it would be over a year before the world found out. In January of this year Junie refilled the lawsuit and it went to trial on the 9th of April. The trial lasted two days and on Thursday a jury came back with a verdict in favour of IMDB. [1]
Many famous actresses (and even some actors) have found it hard to find work once they turn a certain age. With Junie, and other actress still trying to make it in the industry, it’s even harder. However, many are now fighting back (Meryl Streep [2] and Kristin Scott Thomas [3]are just two of many). They are also backed by two of the biggest unions, SAG-AFTRA, who released a statement just after Junie first filled in October of 2011. They stated that “An actor’s actual age is irrelevant to casting. What matters is the age range that an actor can portray… When their actual ages then become known to casting personnel, the 10+ year age range that many of them can portray suddenly shrinks, and so do their opportunities to work… We are disappointed that IMDB has rejected the efforts of Screen Actors Guild, AFTRA and other entertainment industry unions, and workers to work together to reach a solution to this problem.” The full statement can be viewed here.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Junie_Hoang
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/2013/apr/12/imdb-age-lawsuit-junie-hoang
[2] http://www.agingwatch.com/?p=121
[3] http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/film/starsandstories/9959989/Kristin-Scott-Thomas-The-French-are-less-afraid-of-older-women.html
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parisienne
littlebells
Lurker
ozzie20
Open Book
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linkedinhollywood.com 
Ozzie,
Great article! No one should have to publish their age on anything if they do not wish to, imo. Personally, I know someone that has an age range from 24-35. She sometimes gets stopped by people asking her what grade she is in. She also gets carted everywhere she goes. LOL! I think she’ll enjoy looking younger than her actual age as she gets older.
However, a person’s actual age should not stop them from getting work in the industry. Age is irrelevant to talent. Plus makeup and clothing can make you look younger or older depending on what the scene calls for.
Here’s the SAG-AFTRA website.
http://www.sagaftra.org/
Thanks Paris! I agree with your view point. I mean they have kids in their late 20’s playing teenagers on Glee, why should that stop playing a younger role once you hit 40. If you look the age and have the talent, go for it, in my view!
Great job Ozzie,
Despite their genius in other things, everytime I have seen the Junie
Hoang discussion in regard to IMBD’s distribution of her age, I
shudder for the web site’s insensitivity. I assumed they knew better
Thanks CR! I thought too that they’d be sensitive in certain areas and work with actors. I knew that anybody could add anything but if a celebrity asked them to remove it they would. Maybe that only works if you have a well known name.
Ozzie-
Wonderful job and topic to discuss. I have to agree with Paris. Talent should be the overriding factor not age.
Thank you OB! I agree also.
Ozzie-What inspired u write about this topic?
Well it’s a hot topic right now with the trial taking place last week and I was curious about it. I’d heard about it before but never taken the time to catch up on all of it. I’m all for equal rights and the end of discrimination as well so it inspired me on that level too.
Do u think the ageism problem suffers from the lack of female directors and writers who write material for mature actors?
I briefly came across an article that talked about ageism amoung writers but I can’t remember where I saw it, so I can’t check it. But if ageism exists, sexism would too as well as other -isms! So your question is probably true.
I just think it starts at conception. I mean if u have nothing but 20 something, sex pot, no brain roles being written for women. What do u expect. However, I don’t think women are the only ones who can write for women. It helps but I’ve read male writers able to write without marginalizing women.
That’s a good point!
Of course a person’s values play a big part in writing empowering roles for women.
Do u think women have internalized sexism more negatively than men? Look at 50 shades and Twilight as an example?
I think that women have been looked upon negatively in a sexual manner more so than men. IMO, this is still “The Boy’s World” and women don’t really fit in except as playthings.
So by your answer I would assume u think women have internalized sexism more negatively than men? My point is if a women don’t respect themselves then they won’t write empowering roles for women. Would u agree or disagree?
I agree. I think respect for oneself plays a huge part in what is written by women and men. You can always tell when a man doesn’t have respect for women.
I’d agree with that.
Hi Everyone!
Hi Paris! How are you?
I’m good. how are you?
I’m good too! 🙂
Hi Paris & Ozzie!
Hi OB! How are you?
Wonderful!
That’s good to hear too! 🙂
This question is for everyone.
Why do u think actors like Bette Davis, Barbara Stanwyck and Joan Crawford were so popular? Was it their age, the characters they played or talent?
It was their talent. If you have talent (believeability) you can play any age.
Good question! I’m sure there are many answers. I think before the internet existed, information could be withhold. Studios could pay for problems to go away. Of course that still tends to go on but actors aren’t contracted to one studio so they aren’t as invested in them like they used to be. Plus today information can be easily found. Paying off one source doesn’t mean the threat is gone. Someone else could hack their way into the information. I hope that makes sense!
Yes it does. Thank u both.
Ozzie- Do u know if both women and men actors suffer from ageism in Hollywood after 40 or is it more women than men? What are the stats?
I think men have lower stats compared to women but it still exists. Pierce Brosnan talked about being dropped from Bond because of his age.
http://commanderbond.net/2994/brosnan-bares-all-for-playboy.html Not sure if that links is safe for work! It does contain some naughty words, that much I know, but I have an blocker on and sometimes it blocks photos. I don’t think there are any naughty photos but it’s better to be safe than sorry!
This is so sad to read. Our values really need a facelift.
I agree.
The thing with IMDB is age has nothing to do with anything. That’s why actors have age ranges. As I mentioned in a previous post I have a friend that has an age range from 24-35.
In all honesty, Sophia was a year younger than Dorothy on The Golden Girls but Estelle and Bea managed to pull off an extremely convincing mother daughter relationship.
Yup! Talent is the key for most if not all cases.
That’s interesting I didn’t know that about Estelle & Bea.
Given expression is pretty important when conveying a characters emotions. How do u feel about plastic surgery and botox to stay competitive?
Personally if it’s done very subtly it’s ok. Anything else is a no no for me. Facial expressions are important. It’s part of how we communicate. Besides people are supposed to have wrinkles and flaws!
ITA if its subtle its o.k. However, I would go for good nutrition before resorting to drastic measures like surgery. I think people are way too obsessed with getting surgery and taking pills for quick fixes. When all they need to do is stop smoking pot and eat an apple instead. Its sad!
I’m giggling at the last part! I agree, surgery should be a last resort and if surgery is still needed it should look natural to the person who is having it.
Well it true. People will try to erase bad eating habits, smoking and who knows what else with surgery instead of changing their lifestyle. Meaning they get surgery and botox to cover up their bad habits. That’s why actors go overboard with surgery IMO.
Oh come on…..we all know some good hemp doesn’t hurt. lol
Hahaha! well whatever gets u through. Who am I to judge how people choose to handle and cope with stress?
I’ve never done it but I’ve seen people who have and they are messed up. Then again I have heard there are different potencies of weed. So I guess you pick your own poison.
Yeah, I’ve never done it myself but If I could without coughing up lung then I’m sure I would have. I’m a curious person so I know I would have. LOL!
I’ve never done them either. I’ve been curious but I keep thinking that it will probably mess badly with my health and the medicine I already need to take.
LOL me too. Just once I would want to try. I’m curious.
I did watch a documentary on the BBC once on weed and how it affects the human body. It honestly does kill your brain cells.
Well in that case forget it. I need all my brain cells. It’s a full time job to be me. Hahaha!
We must have watched the same thing, lol! I saw another one just recently about legal highs. It was very interesting. I’m not touching those either.
The Body Shop does a hemp skin care line (well they did a few years ago, I haven’t been in one for years).
BTW my pot? Skittles. They are the worse. I have now replaced them with Goji Berries. Hahaha!
High five for Skittles! I’ve never tasted Goji Berries but I had a skin cream that had them in as the main ingrediant and it smelled lovely!
Oh! They are delicious. They are tart with a little sweetness to them. They are like dried cranberries but not as sweet. I love them. They are a bit pricey but they are a great superfood for snacking.
Oh! I should say Goji Berries only taste sweet if u don’t eat processed and refined sugars.
I’ll try to remember that. I don’t see my supermarket getting them in soon though. 😦
NO! Jean-Claude Van Damme had plastic surgery and I couldn’t wait for him to die or get off the screen. His face freaked me out.
Ahhhhhh! *hides* That’s too far in my opinion!
I was rooting for him to be killed just so i didn’t have to look at him on screen.
LOL! I don’t like him so I’m right there with you!
I love drawing mature people they have the best expressions and character IMO.
NO! O.k. what’s wrong with people. Come on now. Why do people go overboard?
because they are told/feel that its what they should do.
Ozzie,
In regards to the article that you posted, I was reading the sites that you cited for your work. The SAGAFTRA article you posted says that IMDB has rejected the efforts of SAGAFTRA and others to work toward a solution. What reason has IMDB given for not wanting to be a “team player”?
As far as I know they haven’t. Their lawyer said the trial was a search for truth, which I found funny because they allow all sorts to go on there, both on the information part and the discussion boards.
I agree. I’ve been to an actor’s IMDB discussion board and wanted to throw up after reading it.
Don’t visit her page then. There were 3 pages of topics that were mostly to do with the court case. The majority of those were negative. It wasn’t just stating that they disagree with it, it was venomous attacks.
I wasn’t talking about her. 🙂
Oh I know! I know exactly who you were talking about too! One deserves it because like attracts like, the other should never have been caught up in it.
Ozzie,
I’m on YM if you wanna chat.
Logging on now! 🙂
Everyone-
I have to go. Ozzie great discussion and topic. I had a nice time.
TC!
Night OB! I’ve had fun too.