This right here. It has nothing to do with intelligence. It’s about relative privilege, how hope means different things depending on how much you need hope.

To quote myself: “Yes, I knew it was a joke/game, but I STILL secretly wanted it to be true.” Reading - such an art, isn’t it?

Also, (I said this in another comment), even if it was an acting exercise, they are KIDS. They don’t really have the mental maturity to really understand what that means, even if you tell them that. Kids don’t think the same way as adults. Not that kids aren’t smart and very perceptive, it’s just that their brains are…

I have met several children from orphanages and slums in my third world country. If you show them a wad of cash and tell them to pretend to take it, they will hope they get to keep it.

Yeah, it’s weird that people aren’t getting that.

That’s valid but I think the larger point is that it’s not about what these kids understand intellectually, it’s that they were impoverished children being intentionally emotionally exploited with a scenario that was more meaningful to them than Jolie can seem to wrap her mind around, or at least be accountable for.

Agreed. It’s kinda fucked up either way. Since it doesn’t take that much by our standards, I’d feel more OK with it if she/the production company did something for the families of all the kids who auditioned. All the kids who didn’t get the part got a glimpse or a taste of something more, but then just got sent back…

Yeah It’s really gross, but it is actually common for acting studios and schools to do these kinds of things. I had a friend at Tisch who had to basically relive her sexual assault in front of a lot of strangers for the sake of “method acting” or something. It’s just, as you said, really fucking weird that Jolie…

Yeah, I still think it’s messed up though. Even having it fully explained, imagine playing a game that involved you taking and having to give back money that might save a sick relative, or just relieve the pain your shitty shoes are giving your feet.

I think you’ve hit the nail on the head. I’m sure some, maybe most, of the kids, did get that this was pretend. But I’m equally sure that deep down, many of them had a desperate hope that they were going to get to keep that money, money their families really needed and money that would’ve made a difference in their…

I used to be friends with this really rich kid whose mum would always “joke” that since I was so much better behaved than her daughter she’d love to take me to all their fancy vacations instead of her. Yes, I knew it was a joke/game, but I STILL secretly wanted it to be true, because my parents were too poor for…

But 7 year old kids from developing countries don’t have the same world view as 7 year old kids from California/the US. They aren’t au fait with Hollywood filmmaking in the way a western child would be. This precisely the problem. You are judging them by Western norms and expecting them to react similarly to Western…

I think you’re the one being disingenuous here. These are not savvy children from a first world country. They are not wannabe actors. The kids were culled from slums and orphanages so, no, I don’t think they have the same relationship to pretend situations as other kids. It states in the article that the eventual…

Then why does she say, “AJ: And I think, I mean they didn’t know.” As far as the argument that it was maybe explained to the kids- by who? Did they have Khmer interpreters who were able to explain what was going on to the small kids because I’m sure the casting directors doing the ‘exercise’ didn’t speak that level of…

Which is why ‘gotcher nose’ is such an eye-rolling bore to young children. These are small children growing up in total poverty and possibly without any education. Jolie says they didn’t know what was happening- they were just presented with money and told to take it to see their reaction- of course they thought they…

They’re kids! They don’t have the same grasp on complex emotional matters that adults do!

Yup. Also, why not just give the damn kids the money or the cookie at the end???!!!!! It’s not like they auditioned 5 billion kids! She can well afford it.

I thought Katharine was kind of adorable and fun with her Warhol portraits and ski-injury hospital parties. And how uncool was Harrison Ford’s character, he just seemed so indecisive, like if you don’t like Katharine just break up with her, you weenie! She’ll be fine—“I am, after all, me.” LOL, damn straight lady! And…

I’m team Katherine too! I mean, yeah, it was a little bitchy to steal someone’s idea but she didn’t have to lose her job and fiancé over it!

Angelina and the casting directors knew what was going on. A bunch poor children, who have literally known nothing but a life of poverty and hunger, most likely did not even if it was explained to them. They’re kids! They don’t have the same grasp on complex emotional matters that adults do!