Actors that are championing diversity in a very real way.

  These are two actors I admire Harry Shum jr and Matthew Daddario, that have both received well deserved awards for the work they are doing both on an off screen. I got talking to a friend about them and it was a interesting conversation as  when you talk to people about these two actors only a few hiccups' they have had in there acting careers, and even then they where caused by there colleagues not  themselves. 

I know that Harry Shum jr has a interview's  where he says that he isn't in the industry for the fame he is in it to make a difference, he certainly has done this both on and off screen. 

It reminded me that it takes very  little to make a difference and how much having a realistic attitude to what you can achieve is amazing. This is key in the disablity community being real and not setting yourself up for major disappointment. As what you can achieve with a disablity can be different to what an able bodied person can.  

  He has also managed to champion minority actors and is pushing back in writers rooms to change stereotypes of minority actors and have independent production companies highlighted by big distributors and having stories that wouldn't be told otherwise seen. 

It shows me that it honestly takes very little and a lot at the same time to navigate the arts as he has been able to stay away from serious media controversy, and be able to educate and mentor other actors about options beyond acting in the arts and entainment media.  

Things like this short that was done from a drone he has talked about it at live events that  making connections, choosing to wake up and smile, and this seems simple but is very practical advice, as the arts can be a very volatile business and he has also done a great deal in being an ambassador for several guilds and organization's. 

Harry Shum Jr. | Bali x Sunset x Drone | IG January 11th, 2018 - YouTube

He has also been very gracious in dealing with "shipping videos," when he took on the role of Magnus bane in the TV adaption of Shadowhunter's.  His colleagues have even encouraged edited videos of the show and encouraged the fan art and even though the TV show  has wrapped up,  the still attend the Comic cons and events and have been very vocal about getting off line and having a life, and if this revolves around cos play and fan art, they often during live streams they would highlight the art and fan fiction.  

Given the role he plays he has had to remind people that it doesn't reflect his reality and this has been an interesting conversation to follow and I am not versed enough in the issues to see what needs to happen, as there has been conversations around that Gay and Bisexual actors should play these roles, yet within this conversation is well what happens if the actor is only chosen on  diversity and not merit. 

This is the same as having people with disabilities play disabled parts it relegates them to disabled roles and often it is people with neurodiversity that are able to play into roles really well, or able bodies actors that are able to cope with the demands of being on a set, the noise the constant retakes, the unpredictable hours. 

So these actors both off and on the screen are champion in a real way the art and inclusion I will right more about Matthew and the things that he has championed in his own way and the heartbreaking way the social media has influenced his life and mental health. 

Shumdario - Cheap Thrills - YouTube