Final answer:
The over-casting of white actors in roles meant for other races is called whitewashing, a sign of the larger representation issues in the film industry, which has been historically white and male-dominated. Option a is the correct answer.
Step-by-step explanation:
The tendency to over-cast white actors in film and onstage is known as whitewashing. This practice involves casting white actors in roles historically represented by other races, thereby leading to a lack of diversity and misrepresentation of different cultures.
Whitewashing is a manifestation of the broader issue of representation in Hollywood, where there is an ongoing conversation about which stories are told and who gets to tell them.
Despite some advancements, Hollywood has been criticised for its historical pattern of predominantly showcasing white narratives through a white male-dominated industry. Efforts to increase representation in terms of race, gender, sexual orientation, and other identities in the film and television industry have been increasing, though many argue there is still a significant way to go.