Is the Field of Media prerogative of the good-looking people?

11th September, 2009

“ The colour of the skin matters.”

“The Colour of the skin matters boss, for sure.”, stressed he for the second time as we started sipping our coffee.If you haven’t got a hang of the thing I’m talking about, I don’t blame you for we too were perplexed when the above-mentioned statements were uttered.
For those who are trying to find or establish some kind of racism angle to the uttered statements, let me tell you that you are in for a disappointment. So, let me apprise you of the real meaning and context of that statement.

The two statements in question were uttered by one of my classmates from my Video Production Class at Kalindi College, DU. What he intended to say was that in the field of media, the fairer sex,i.e., female always have better and more chances of getting breakthroughs and making it big in he field of media, particularly broadcast media. Among females too, only those blessed with fair-skin(‘milky white’ in his words) stand a chance to get a foot in the door and reach the pinnacle of success in the field of media quicker than others. How wierd, isn't it?

I didn’t second him on any of ‘findings’ or ‘facts’ whatever u like it. What matters is one's attitude, passion and talent. Being good looking may give you some advantage but in the longer run, your talent is what will count and be the strongest driving force as far as reaching the pinnacle of success in the media profession is concerned. Am I living in a fool's paradise?

I was tempted to ask him “ Then what about the males?” or to put it more specifically “What about the not-so-good-looking guys?”
But I stopped short of contradicting and get into an argument with him in public as a similar attempt by one of my classmates had proved to be an exercise in futility.

There were times during our conversation over coffee that I got a feeling that his statements were directed towards me as both times when he uttered his theories, he was literally staring me in my face. Was he trying to say that media is not the apt profession for an average-looking guy like me?

Whatever! But I feel I’m into the right profession and will surely reach where I want to some day.

Anyways, today’s class was not only more productive but I interacted with a few of my classmates also. It was really nice getting to know their career plans; their varied but interesting views on subjects ranging from the inside story of IIPM, a private management institute to the difference or rather the presumed difference between the Indian and American education system/scenario, their present occupation etc.

On the work front, I need to buck up and show some urgency as the first draft of my script, which I want to be made into a short film and send it to a short-film making competition before 30th September, 2009, is still far from completion.

So wish me luck.

More later……………