Thank you Robin Wright Penn for trying to remind the public that your job is an actor not celebrity. These days athletes, politicians, chefs, reality show personalities, and the like achieve the status of celebrity. The public obsesses over their lives wanting to know every intimate detail. The entertainment shows and even national news shows feed the people’s need to know. As Penn points out in a CBC interview, “Do we know these people? Lindsay Lohan? Angelina and Brad? Are we in their f----g bedroom? No, we’re not. Do we hear their conversations? No, we don’t. It’s the most insidious thing in the world. [For actors,] it’s like being a prisoner. The only difference is someone in prison committed a crime. Where did we f--- up? We’re doing art. It’s bizarre.”
I used to love watching the show “Inside the Actors Studio” until I noticed the show started interviewing actors in conjunction with the release of their latest movie and the actors work didn’t contain necessarily a high quality body of work (Jennifer Lopez, Martin Lawrence, and Tim Allen). I liked watching the interviews because I was hearing the actor talk passionately about their craft and how they decided to portray a particular role. They aren’t discussing their personal lives. When Penn states, “I love acting,” and further into the interview states, “We’re all tortured in some way, actors. There’s something that needs to be exposed, and that exposure is a sharing. I’m kind of a shy person. I’m not bold, and it’s an outlet. Hopefully, I touch people and get them to relate to each other, because ultimately, that’s what we’re in this life for, to relate. Otherwise, we’re just whirling-dervish silliness.” She’s talking about her craft as an actor not her celebrity, it makes for a more interesting story to me.
This past weeks reading we read about the media and first amendment right protections and ethics. I am unable to comprehend why it’s necessary or pertinent information to cover the life of someone to the point their stories transcends them to celebrity.
Why do we forget that an actor is just an actor, a athlete is just an athlete, and etc? Why can’t we recognize them as everyday human beings? Why do we place them on the pedestal and continue to support the media’s pursuance of celebrity stories?
http://www.cbc.ca/arts/film/robin_wright_penn.html
6 comments:
I took Introduction to Hollywood Film online last year and it described how the 'hollywood spot light' was felt as early as 1910. The "Studio Style" was developed in 1910's and 1920's and remainded strong until the 1940's. Actors and actresses were bound by a strict contracts with one particular movie studio which included regulations on their personal behaviors and off-screen appearances. And stars think they have it bad now!
One reason the public forgets that these people are just actors etc. is that they get paid insane amounts of money for contributing very little to the betterment of society. Their pedestals are made of multi-millions. Do I blame them for wanting to making as much money as possible? Absolutely not. Do I care about any aspect of their personal lives? Not in the least. But so many people feel they have a right to know about their personal dirt, and dirt pays. That's life, now. If an actor is only concerned with art and sharing, they belong in theatre. Don't get me wrong, I totally agree with you. This national obsession with celebrity is pitiful, but that's what the masses want, apparently, not art.
I think the women outght to get out of acting if she doesn't want the intrusion. Either that or she should go into theatre just as Garcia said. I don't think it's so much that the general population "wants" to know, it's more to do with fascination, and the inherent (for some) desire for that life style. Personally, I don't really think actors have any right to bitch about it at all - you know what you're getting into if you want to be a star - and she certainly does, as she continues to do interviews to promote her movies. It's a part of the lifestyle you get if you want to be an actor. Just as if you were a doctor, you get to be solicited by friends and family about ailments. Or if you're an employee at the UW who works with world renown researchers and doctors - I get every question under the sun, and many times do research for people. Yes, it can be a hassle, and no there is no personal invasion of my life like that of an actor, but, that's just part of an actor's life they have to deal with.
I think that they are put up on that pedestal because of the wanting that people have to live the same kind of 'glorious' life. Our society puts a ton of money into movies that makes these stars rich, so I think that people almost feel like they have a right to know about their lives to the full extent. I agree with the previous comments, actors know the life style they are getting themselves into when they decide to become a star. It may not be fair, but that's the way our society has become...
I won't disagree actors know these days when they get into the business to expect a loss of privacy as the spinning begins. I think Robin Wright Penn has completely shed the spot light and the partying life that's why we don't hear anything about her. We only hear about her partner (Sean Penn) when he's out protesting a war or knocking down the paparazzi and to their credit Hollywood living is a bore for them.
You're right studios controlled their artist back in the old days and I recall that Jack Lemon agreed with that type of system. Now stars have a whole entourage to deal with thier imperfections. In some ways, it was easier to make the studios pay those cost.
Why should acting be only limited to the medium of theatre? Are we saying that people who act on film aren't actors? Granted some of them are really bad...
Also, the studio system generally request that actors promote their movies by doing press junkets in which they sit in a room and answer the same questions over and over. They know this is a part of the job. Stars are what the public and the media makes actors, not that someone won't use the guise of an actor to become a star.
Yes, studio put in lots of money to produce a film and a cost of producing is paying the actors, the actors in turn pay their account, the publicist, the manager, the tax man and etc... Hence why they sometimes resort to making bad movies.
Why is it so innate to knock someone who points out that celebrity is not the job of an actor?
I agree with M. Garcia’s comment. I feel that sometimes money gives people their worth in life. When it comes to celebrities and Athletes and the incredible salaries they are paid it makes it easy to put them up on a pedestals. Celebrities must be important if someone pays them 5 million a year. You can not look over the fact that our lives are set up to be driven by money and material objects. Those people who have it and are just handed it have the golden dream to some. Those who believe take comfort in the pictures of cellulite and mug shots knowing that those are they ways they can relate to celebrities. It's sad but true story and not so hard to believe when stop denying your any part of it.
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