If you’re a struggling Caucasian actor or actress may I suggest a jaunt over to Asia? Apparently there is a growing demand in the Far East for performers who can look and act, well, white.
As I blog many corporations in China are hiring white people to play the roles of an employee, foreign dignitary or executive officer that works for an overseas company doing business in the world’s most populous nation. Apparently these companies feel it makes their organization look more upscale and important to potential investors and clients if there are Caucasians in the house. And it’s not just in China. Businesses in other Asian nations have caught white fever too.
So who are these budding stars of the Asian boardroom? Right now the talent pool is made up of unemployed actors and actresses, models, ex-pats, English language teachers and the original cast of California Dreams. But a word of warning if you’re thinking “Hey! I’m pretty white! I could do this!” There is not a lot of money or prestige in the business impersonator profession. “White” acting opportunities in Asia, however, aren’t limited to just the cubicles of commerce.
If you can speak the language you have a shot at making it onto the Asian 1080p screen. Oddly enough many white TV performers play employees, foreign dignitaries and executive officers from an overseas company. Yet there are some who have landed such plum roles as mixed-marriage spouse and tourist. H-E-Double hockey sticks, I once even saw a commercial with a Korean-speaking white dude pitching some powerful ramen noodles. And his Korean was better than mine – which really isn’t saying much. A rock could speak better Korean than I do.
You never know. One day people will pay Caucasians to act like their friends. Oh, wait. We already do that. They’re called fraternities and sororities.
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