Lostthe problematic behind the scenes of the series
Broadcast between 2004 and 2010, Lost it will have been an important series of its time and of the ABC chain. Created by Jeffrey Lieber, JJ Abrams e Damon Lindelofthe show featured crash survivors on a mysterious island. A simple basis of survival to which the writers have added a part of fantasy allowing to keep the attention of viewers throughout the seasons, while developing complex characters in depth.
In 2020, years after the end of LostDamon Lindelof admitted he wants to break the series much earlier. But ABC had made it clear to the writers that as the show was a success, it needed to run as long as possible. Why Lindelof and his colleagues had to stretch their narrative adding mysteries without being able to solve them all. This led to criticism from the public, although some adhered to the end.
However, more revelations have just been made about the production of Lost. And these are much more problematic rather than a battle between writers and channel over the number of seasons. In the book Burn It Down, power, complicity and a call for change in Hollywood by journalist Maureen Ryan, whose passages were revealed by Vanity Fair, Damon Lindelof and producer Carlton Cuse are directly cast. they would participate a toxic environment where they were heard racist comments.
Harold Perrineau attacks Damon Lindelof
Among the testimonies, there is that of the actor Harold Perrineau. Michael Dawson’s interpreter explains in the book the reason for his departure from Lost after season 2. The comedian would first express his concerns about his character arc. It was problematic for him that his character didn’t react anymore after the kidnapping of his son, Walt. It was for the actor proof that “nobody cares about black boys, or even black fathers“.
Harold Perrineau would have tried talking to Damon Lindelof about it. But the showrunner would have been on the defensive before making Michael “disappear”, however, who returns in seasons 4 and 6.
As soon as you mention race, everyone fires up and exclaims, “I’m not a racist!” But just because I say I’m black doesn’t mean I call you a racist. I’m talking to you from my point of view. I make it clear that I am not trying to deal with my trauma, but that I am trying to talk to you about how I feel. We can do it? Can we just have this conversation?
According to other testimonies, Damon Lindelof would later declare in front of his team: “He called me a racist, so I fired himA comment that would have made the whole room laugh, except for Monica Owusu-Breen, who also talks about the problems during the production of Lost.
A bunch of “racist shit”
Scriptwriter of the third season of LostMonica Owusu-Breen tells in Maureen Ryan’s book that her wish was “writing really great episodes for a great show“. But the reality would have been quite different with racist jokes and comments. According to her, one of the main problems is that thinking heads “I didn’t really like their black charactersHe then recalls that Damon Lindelof’s sentence following the firing of Harold Perrineau is stated:
There was so much shit, and so much racist shit, and then laughter. It was terrible. I was like, “I don’t know if they take this as a joke or if they really mean it.” But it wasn’t funny. It was awful to say. (…) I said to myself: “When you’re done talking crap about black people, I’ll be back.”
In addition to the actors, some screenwriters also reportedly fell victim to racist comments. According to Monica Owusu-Breen, the only Asian-American screenwriter was called the “Korean”. It is therefore not only Damon Lindelof who is targeted, but a group of people who served under him and those of producer and screenwriter Carlton Cuse. The showrunner also reacted directly in Maureen Ryan’s book. By not denying the facts, she did his my fault putting it to lack of experience.
My level of fundamental inexperience as a manager and boss, my role of having to create an atmosphere of creative danger, risk taking, ensuring safety and comfort within this process… I didn’t succeed at that level.
The response of Damon Lindelof and Carlton Cuse
For Damon Lindelof, it was necessary to push the writers to the limit for creative purpose. But that would have overwhelmed him. He also returns to write the character played by Harold Perrineau and he admits he has regrets Today.
Harold was absolutely right to point this out. This is one of the things I have deeply regretted over the past two decades. I think Harold legitimately and professionally expressed his concerns about his character and the importance of the fact that Michael and Walt—with the exception of Rose—were really the only black characters on the show.
He goes on to say that this experience described by Harold “break your heart“before returning to a line Carlton Cuse allegedly had at the time of writing the death of Mr. Eko, performed by Adewale Akinnuoye-Agbaje. The screenwriter allegedly said he wanted “hang him on the tallest tree“. Before adding: “Ah, if only we could cut off his cock and shove it down his throat“.
Damon Lindelof says he has no memory of these remarks although he regrets that they may have been made. For his part, Carlton Cuse apologized in a press release (via Huffington Post):
I deeply regret that anyone involved in Lost had to listen to them. They are insensitive, inappropriate and offensive. Listening to them breaks my heart. Knowing that people have had such bad experiences upsets me enormously. (…) No one has ever complained to me or to ABC Studios. I would have preferred to know. I would have done what I could to change it.
Source: Cine Serie
Ray Ortiz is a journalist at Gossipify, known for his coverage of trending news and current events. He is committed to providing readers with accurate and unbiased reporting, and is respected for his ability to keep readers informed on the latest news and issues.
