So for a while now I've been wanting to say something about triple threats in the entertainment industry. I had an opinion before this but when Nia Long made her comments last November (you can read them here: http://www.theinsider.com/news/2515555_Nia_Long_Rides_On_Beyonce), I had even more to say. Now you can tell from the link that Nia Long's comments were directed at Beyonce. Basically, Nia said that acting isn't about how talented you are anymore and that people who sing should sing, rappers should rap, etc. She did, however, applaud Jamie Foxx as a great example of someone who "developed their craft" and is a great singer and actor.
Now, while I do agree that the entertainment industry has prioritized profitability over talent, I have major issues with Nia's comments. First, the magazine she was interviewing with provoked these comments by asking her what she thought of the movie, Obsessed; she replied that she hadn't seen the movie but then proceeded to go on a rant implying things about Beyonce's acting. Since she hadn't seen the movie, she could've left it at that. There was no need to take the time to be critical of others. So, that's the first issue I have with her statements.
Second, I've already admitted that the entertainment industry could be more prudent about the message it sends concerning who's talented and what it means to be talented. But, this is certainly not a new phenomenon so for Nia to say, "it's not about talent anymore" -- where has she been? We can run down the list of people who are extremely wealthy because they've taken advantage of an opportunity, whether there was someone more talented than them or not. Think rappers.... for example, I think Birdman may be one of the worst rappers ever, and there are many, but he is extremely wealthy because he is behind rappers that most people agree are more skillful than he is. Now, Nia also said that singers and rappers should "stay in their lanes".... again, she was thinking of Beyonce when she said this. How do I know? Because if she had been thinking about her own career, she would have rephrased it or not said it all. Where's my proof? Well, let's look at her career!
Nia's most successful movies and most recognizable television acting gigs are directly tied to someone who didn't "stay in their lane". Nia has worked with Ice Cube, Will Smith, Vanessa Williams, LL Cool J, Jamie Foxx, Ben Younger, Martin Lawrence, Queen Latifah, Brandy, Bobby Canavale, George Clooney, Chloe Sevigny, and Ellen Degeneres, to name a few. She has worked with many of these people on more than one, two or even three occasions. All of the people I mentioned are people that received no formal acting training and started out in a completely different aspect of the entertainment industry entirely, whether it be comedy, rap, modeling... whatever. I should also mention that most of these people got their big acting breaks, and were able to give Nia Long an acting gig, because they were bankable stars in their other pursuits. If they had stayed in their lanes, Nia may not even be relevant today, if you can say that she is.
Now, I think I've made my point about performers that dare to enter other industries but I have a bit more to say so indulge me. I am a fan of Nia's. I know who she's worked with because I watch her movies and the TV shows she's on. I think she's talented. However, there are a lot of stars that have made significant contributions to the acting craft that wouldn't have done so if they listened to her advice. Jamie Foxx isn't the only one, although it's funny that he started off as a comedian, landed his own show, and then went on to eventually get an Oscar. I'm glad Nia's not bitter about that but, truth be told, he did exactly the opposite of what she's saying and his career has gone much farther than hers. Having said that, I did see the movie, Obsessed, and most of the movies that Beyonce has starred in because I'm a fan of her music. Obsessed is the first role Beyonce has played where she was not a singer, yes, the first. I'll wait while you go through the list in your mind to double-check. So, I wanted to see the movie to see if she could really act -- most singers do poorly in movies where they portray characters that are close to who they are in real-life (Glitter) but some are able to make you suspend your disbelief enough to enjoy the movie (The Bodyguard). I didn't feel that Beyonce was completely convincing in her role but I felt that, as her true debut, she did okay. I know she's been taking acting classes but she needs to work harder at or play a dramatic role where she isn't glamorous before she'll be believable.
Bottom line: Nia Long was dead wrong for what she said. She answered a question that no one asked and, if she had given more thought to what she was saying and her own career, she wouldn't have contradicted herself the way that she did. Some of the greatest entertainers we've ever seen jumped lanes and showed that they had raw talent in acting -- after all, I only named the ones Nia has worked with. Many, if not all, of the major actors and actresses we have today did not receive formal training in acting; instead, the actors and actresses with said training portray supporting roles. And before I close, just what kind of training does Nia have? Nia hasn't attended any schools that specialized in the arts nor has she attended any higher education institutions to perfect her craft. And you know what? That's perfectly fine because she's talented. However, it does mean that she should be more careful about how she measures herself against others in her field. Say what you want about Beyonce (everyone does anyway) but recognize when you're really just being a hater because making outrageous claims like Nia did -- unacceptable. Nia could've started her own show or produced her own movie, by now, but she hasn't; she has, ironically, directed a few music videos -- yes, a further self-contradiction. And what's she doing now? I guess she's waiting on someone else to "jump lanes" and give her agent a call.
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