Fandom: Tin ear, much?

[nebroadwe]

From the local student newspaper, an utterly dismaying remark by a member of the production staff for the live-action Avatar: The Last Airbender film:

Deedee Rickets, the casting director for the film, said she is looking to cast men and women ages 18 to 65 and children ages six to 15. Casting officials are seeking candidates with military or martial arts experience, athletes, gymnasts and people of various races and cultures.

"We want you to dress in traditional cultural ethnic attire," she said. "If you're Korean, wear a kimono. If you're from Belgium, wear lederhosen."

I'm torn between the impulse to [headdesk] and the impulse to heave the desk at Ms. Rickets. The depth of cluelessness revealed by this remark is simply staggering. Time to give in and write that letter of complaint to Paramount, I guess.