ABC finally picks up on the Billy Sing debacle

It seems the ABC has finally picked up the story.  Took them long enough though,  even the BBC beat them to it.


ABC Article

Radio Australia Interview with Henry Makeham


A television casting decision in Australia has upset a group of Chinese-Australians. Billy Sing was a Chinese-Australian soldier known as the "Gallipoli assassin" in World War One. The son of a Chinese man and an English woman, Billy Sing became a hero of the Australian forces, after killing more than 200 enemy troops. His memory is cherished within the Chinese-Australian community but now a new TV drama based on Billy Sing's life has cast the lead character as a caucasian because film producers say they couldn't find a Chinese actor to play him. The Chinese-Australian community has descibed the casting decision as a betrayal of their heritage.

Presenter: Sen Lam
Speakers: Henry Makeham, National President of the Australian China Youth Association

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LAM: Henry first of all, tell us why you're disappointed by this casting decision?

MAKEHAM: Well, I guess firstly this is an opportunity to really showcase the role that ethnic Australians, particularly of Chinese origin played in the nationbuilding program in Australia and I think quite often through the historical examination of Australia, it tends to be viewed for very Caucasian men.

LAM: Have you appraoched the tv producers?

MAKEHAM: No, we have not directly, but I guess by virtue of the fact that we've had this media attention and that this story has been brought to the public attention, that in itself has been an approached form.

LAM: Well, the producers say the could not find a 60 year-old Chinese actor to play the role. Do you think they did not look hard enough?

MAKEHAM: I think it is a fairly dubious claim that they were not able to find a 60 year-old Chinese-Australian actor. To answer your question I would say yes, I do not think they did look hard enough. There certainly is enough Chinese-Australian actors out there to fill such an amazing opportunity.

LAM: Has anyone actually stepped up to the plate, as it were, and told the producers, hey look, I'm an actor, I'm Asian, I'm available?

MAKEHAM: Well it's interesting, to my direct knowledge no, but reading a lot of the blog comments and a lot of the feedback from people on the internet after seeing the article, there have been a lot of Chinese-Australian actors that have actually said I would have done this role for free. It's a great opportunity to represent ethnic Chinese-Australia in a fantastic story that should be told to the mainstream public.

LAM: And Henry, do you think the producers might be pandering to popular taste - after all, there aren't that many asians on Australian television?

MAKEHAM: Yeah, and that is one of the problems that has sprung to mind when I first heard this story, that there is potentially a stereo type of the classic ANZAC hero and I think there is a risk here that could be perceived, that this opportunity was lost in that sense that the pandered to the stereo type and that it was somewhat of an easy option out and perhaps there is also the thought that perhaps they thought they would get greater ratings by having a Caucasian actor there.

LAM: And of course the Caucasian ANZAC hero is an Aussie icon. Have you made any representation to the RSL, the Returned Services League that looks after former soldiers interests?

MAKEHAM: No we haven't, but this is something that we look forward to following up.

LAM: And do you think the producers are disrespecting true Chinese-Australian hero by casting a Caucasian in the role?

MAKEHAM: Mmm, yes, I think disrespecting is quite a strong word. I suppose firstly I want to emphasis that I do not think they are being racist or there is any malice involved, but there has been somewhat a lack of consideration with respect to the casting and I think what makes the issue somewhat more dubious, is that the director used his son, Josh, to be the lead character and I think that has tended to stimulate a bit of discussion as to whether there was somewhat nepotism involved, so I think that makes the whole situation a bit muddier.

LAM: And what message do you think this casting decision sends out to young people in multicultural Australia?

MAKEHAM: It's disappointing. I think there is a feeling that here was a great opportunity to highlight the role of ethnic Australians and the Australian nation building process, particularly a moment that is sensitive and is sacred in the Australian psyche as Gallipoli and the ANZAC spirit. So I think it sends a message of disappointment that to an extent there is a neglect of the acknowledgment of the role that we have played in Australia's nation building process.