Battle Raging Over Age Listings on IMDb

[Brian in Mesa]

Battle Raging Over Age Listings on IMDb

http://www.thewrap.com/movies/article/exclusive-battle-raging-over-age-listings-imdb-18458?page=1,0

One of the biggest movie sites in the world, IMDb.com, is facing a hornet's nest of controversy over its policy of publishing the ages of actors and writers who say it leads to ageism, TheWrap has learned.

The Writers Guild of America, West, is leading an effort to convince the massive database -- used by virtually everyone in Hollywood and far beyond -- to permit people to remove their birth dates from the site.

"The Guild has a contract with IMDb to provide credits information and does not release information on age," Neal Sacharow, a spokesperson for the WGA, told TheWrap. "We have raised our concerns with IMDb about its listing of ages."

 

[Dback Jon]

What are they, Chinese Gymnasts?

 

[Jersey Girl]

What are they, Chinese Gymnasts?

LOL.

 

[Bert]

Wow dumbest thing I've ever heard. Do they realize that there is this thing called the internet and it takes all of 3 seconds to google "How old is Julia Roberts?" and get 5,700,000 hits?? IMDB isn't even the first hit you get on that search. Are they going to censor the entire internet?

They act like if IMDB removes the birthdates it will all go back to being a secret.

Seriously, how stupid can someone possibly be? Hang on a second I'll google that too.....

 

[MigratingOsprey]

i don't think the issue is on well known actors/actresses, but other members where the information may not be well known

However, it does seem like the film industry is pointing at the information provider instead of the ones using the information.

It's not the fault of IMDB if the film industry has an issue with ageism. It's the film industries.

It's also their responsibility to handle it. In some instances it's even illegal.

The information isn't being provided in a way to "out" them or to cause discrimination or create a black list effect.

It's a database of basic information.

Spend more time policing your industry and then it wouldn't matter if all the birthdates were out there

 

[Chaplin]

Make no mistake, age is a BIG deal in Hollywood. Especially for actresses.

 

[MigratingOsprey]

Not saying it isn't ..... just saying it's not the responsibility of a data source

 

[Gaddabout]

What are they, Chinese Gymnasts?

5/5

 

[Gaddabout]

Make no mistake, age is a BIG deal in Hollywood. Especially for actresses.

I'll agree with this. It's really weird when you're watching a movie and the actress playing a mother isn't even 15 years older than the actress playing her daughter. Hollywood has never had a problem casting 40 year old male leads with 20 year old female love interests, but to do the reverse requires self-awareness and becomes the driving issue in the movie.

Just not sure how passionate I am about it. It's awkward, but it's not an issue I feel ANGRY about.

 

[LoyaltyisaCurse]

Its crazy, I thought Sean Connerey was like 42 unitl I scrolled down to his movie history and saw he starred in Disney's Darby O'Gill and the Little People in 1959. Dayum Banshees!

Stupid move by SAG...

 

[Jersey Girl]

Make no mistake, age is a BIG deal in Hollywood. Especially for actresses.

No doubt.

Men get distinguished when they get older. Women just get old. Not my opinion, just something I've always heard.