‘World Trade Center’ omits Black soldier

[KingFlorez]

Ridiculous

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/articlelive/articles/35730/1/World-Trade-Center-omits-Black-soldier/WTC-movies-unsung-hero.htm

The World Trade Center movie tells the story of the rescues of New York Port Authority police officers John McLoughlin and Will Jimeno from Ground Zero, as well as that of the men who rescued them. In real life, the officers were rescued by sergeants Karnes and Thomas. In the film, however, they were rescued by Karnes and PFC Dave Thomas; a composite character, played by William Mapother, a white actor, who is meant to represent Thomas.

World Trade Center producer Michael Shamberg said that they knew about Sgt. Thomas’s role in the rescue, but were unable to find him when creating the film. He said producers didn’t discover Thomas was a Black man until after they had started the movie. He also said that in spite of the fact that the film was co-written by McLoughlin and Jimeno was consulted for authenticity, no one ever asked them for a physical description of the man who helped save their lives.

“Frankly, we goofed--we learned when we were filming that he was an African-American,” said Shamberg. “We would change it if we could. I actually called him and apologized, and he said he didn’t mind. He was very gracious about it.”

Shamberg also apologized for another African-American officer, Bruce Reynolds, who was also portrayed as white in the movie.

Thomas, meanwhile, didn’t learn the film was about his story until he saw the unmistakable image of two marines peering into a whole at Ground Zero during a commercial for the movie. He said that while he wasn’t angry about how the film turned out, he does wish it could have been more realistic.

[uppityperson]

1. oh my goodness.

:rofl: in ironic laughter. This is bad. oops :rofl:

[Catherine Vincent]

2. That's how it is when you assume...

n/t

[Dhalgren]

3. Right. And the assumption seems to be that all heros are white...

:eyes:

This just doesn't sound like Oliver Stone, does it? Or does it?

[Toots]

6. I think the opposite

I think the question never came up because it wasn't important. What difference does it make what color a person is. The question should never be asked. I am quite certain it was not a deliberate omission just that the question never came up because it was not important. I get steamed every time I receive a questionaire that asks for my race. I is human race :) anyway just my $.02 worth

[Dhalgren]

9. So it would have been ok if the character played by

Nicholas Cage were played by Denzel Washington? The race of the individual makes no difference, even if it is supposed to reflect an historical event? Right? Maybe a new movie about LBJ starring Danny Glover as LBJ? Or how about a biopic of Lena Horne starring Reba McIntyre? It matters what a person's race is if it is supposed to be true...it matters...

[DoYouEverWonder]

10. Because if this is supposed to be a story about what happened to the guy

you would think they would have at least talked to him before they made the movie. If they had, they might have noticed he was black.

[-..__...]

4. Whatever happened with the WTC flag raising memorial?

The statue that was to represent the firefighters raising the flag at the wreckage and the plans for the sculpture had one of the firefighters depicted as being black.

[JI7]

5. is it based on real life ?

if so i don't see why they wouldn't try harder to find him rather than just assume as the other respond said. even if it wasn't about finding his race, wouldn't they want to know about him in order to include facts in the movie concerning his life ?

[chimpymustgo]

8. Gotta wonder. For the sheer sake of accuracy, why not try a tad harder

to find the guy?

[warrior1]

7. based on real life

means you assume the rescuers are always white. Bad Oliver, very bad.

[BlooInBloo]

11. It's not about race! It's about class!

:rofl: