Posts

Posted on

Is it hypocritical that Taylor Swift did not speak out all or use her influence during the election, but tweeted that she supports the Women’s March?

Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities reading magazines at the supermarket checkout

It is not Hypocritical at all. Everyone has a moment when they feel the need to participate in causes they feel strongly about. Figures who are in the public eye often gloss over many public events, so they don’t potentially alienate their fans.
Taylor Swift on Feminism
Ms. Swift is very open about her ability to influence people, and restrains from political controversy intentionally; She does not want to exert undue influence on an election, or have her fans change their opinions because they want to vote like her, and not on issues.
Some fans “called her out” on this tweet, Stating that “you don’t get to pick and choose only when feminism benefits you”.
Despite fans and tabloids clamoring for more Taylor Swift, it is commendable that she tries to keep a sense of propriety and privacy on public issues, after all, she is a top shelf entertainer, and not a political hack.
Thank you for reading my blog!  Feel free to like, upvote, and share!

Edited and expanded from my answer to this question on Quora.

 
Posted on

Do you know stories about famous actors / actresses rejected by acting schools, auditions, etc.?

Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.

I love insightful questions like this, because the answers are genuine and compelling (but it’s not all actors and actresses):
All actors need to be able to deal with rejection, and it almost always is leaked to the press or paparazzi as they feed on the emotion and drama of the event.  Past failures are newsworthy stories. Publicists, PR hacks, studios, and reporters clamor for any “news”, good or bad, to feed to the hungry fans. 
The important takeaway is that rejection is part of life, and in the acting profession, a “Thick Skin” is necessary armor for those moments when you have to deal with not getting the job, or when horrible photos of you get hated on in the media, or your clothing off-set is found amusing or repugnant by critics.  Rebounding, brushing it off, and moving on are required skills in a profession that judges and often manipulates all the time.  Actors and celebrities know and live the meaning of “laughing on the outside, crying on the inside”.
And for us “non-Celebrities”: Don’t Take It Personally: The Art of Dealing with Rejection – from Amazon Books.
SO, – Enjoy the Show!
Thank you for reading my blog!  Feel free to share!
 
Edited and expanded from my answer to this question on Quora.
Posted on

Do actors become jealous of each other?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.
 
Yes and no – While jealousy exists in the acting world, it is frequently “Acting”.  Sometimes it is a ploy to get more play in the tabloids!  I have done some copious searching on the web, and came up with some very relevant posts and some good reading.  I will leave it to you as to what is real and what is Hollywood! Enjoy.
Sometimes actors have “hated” on each other and it makes them more famous – The Complete Video History of the Jimmy Kimmel-Matt Damon Feud – Time.  This feud lives on today, as Jimmy Kimmel ends each show with regrets to Matt Damon, they ran out of time for him to appear on the show!
Even if you are jealous, remember you are an actor, control your emotions, and be gracious and supportive. My mother always taught me that you get more bees with honey than vinegar.  Yet we know that these feuds, like the Matt Damon – Jimmy Kimmel fiasco, are staged hollywood spectacles, and not raging hostility.
Professional Jealousy – The Struggling actress
Thanks for reading my blog!  Feel free to like, upvote, and Share!
Edited and expanded from my answer on Quora
Posted on

How do they make actors/actresses look so good?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.
From Makeup to Camera angle, making actors look good/younger/better is the magic of the makeup artist and the director.  
Movie stars are frequently caught without makeup (by naughty paparazzi, clearly without makeup and any primping).  A movie star’s look is the magic of Hollywood.  FYI, the Paparazzi will try and catch a movie star unprepared and enjoying his/her right not to wear makeup, etc., and the tabloids may have even photoshopped the photos to make a movie star look even more disheveled.  

 Marilyn Monroe can even make a potato sack look Good! – Amazon

You can see that makeup artists enhance a person’s look and refine it for the camera, erasing blemishes, highlighting eyes and cheekbones, and  making  their appearance alluring for the camera.  I hope my comments and references give you the answer you seek!
 
Thanks for reading my blog – feel free to share, upvote, and like!
Edited and expanded from my answer on Quora
Posted on

Why do famous people only date famous people?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.
First of all, Famous people (aka Celebrities) don’t all date famous people. We hear more about celebrities dating each other when their publicists and the media and the paparazzi cover their dating habits. Many well known people work hard at keeping their private lives private, especially their personal relationships.  Here are some links that go both ways on this topic:
It is usually more stressful on the non-celebrity who is dating a celebrity; they sometimes have a lot of difficulty adapting to the onslaught of press and paparazzi – and may have friends gossiping about them to the tabloids!
I hope your eyes have been opened on this, and you look beyond the fleeting fame and see that celebrities have the need for both famous dates and normal lives. Keeping them in perspective, well, that is a challenge.
Thanks for reading my blog!  Feel free to like, upvote, and share.
Edited and expanded  from my answer on Quora.
 
Posted on

Can Robert Downey Jr. or Chris Evans get enough time outside MCU to work on other movies which requires time to get into character?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.
 
Both actors have enough time to work other projects, as the other answers attest. Many productions work around the actors availability, because of their cost per day of being in production, and contract demands.
It’s also smart to consider that these actors need the blockbuster films, for both fame and income – so that their brand will pull more fans into lesser-known productions. Both Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Evans mention this, and discuss being typecast as super-heroes:

Chris Evans – Bio on IMDB; Autographed memorabilia (Amazon), and Films to stream or buy. (Amazon).
Both actors have talked about retiring from their blockbuster superhero roles, but this may be a negotiating ploy (for more money or control over scripts/production schedules).[1] [2]
Note this observation:
Not every actor is Scarlett Johansson, who is under contract from Marvel while also appearing in three to four other movies a year. But even she admits, “It can feel like a gilded cage at times… it’s something that obviously allows you the opportunity to do things like go and direct your first feature and have a built-in audience for that. At the same time, at the end of the job, there’s always a super suit in your future.” [3]
Actors also have a time constraint; Age, injury, and possible loss of audience/Fan base compel them to make as much work output as possible while they are at the top of their game.  As an example, Drugs and a prison sentence sidelined Robert Downey Jr. to the point where he was considered out of the business. He has since paid his debt to society, and that adds to his attraction as a “Comeback” Kid:
In all probability, we will see both of these Blockbuster actors in front of, and behind, the camera for years to come. Thanks for reading my Blog!  Feel free to share!
Footnotes

 

Edited and expanded from my answer in Quora. 
Posted on

If someone has a potential to become an actor, what’s the best way to start his/her journey?

Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.

We all have potential. Even if you feel you don’t have any, acting skills will help you find your way.  If your potential and desire is in the acting field, Learn to ACT!
Take classes. Audition for everything. Learn passages from works that you can memorize and use (at a moments notice) for impromptu auditions.  Stand up and perform at a moments notice – lose your fear of public speaking,  thrill your friends with impersonations, spontaneous displays of a “character” you are working on, and OWN IT.
Build an acting resume.  get a good black and white headshot, and use those as your calling cards.
Develop a thick skin. Learn to value criticism, and use it to improve your abilities.  Practice will often trump talent.  No one is “born” an actor – the skill must be practiced and rehearsed until you are a “natural”.
Find mentors and seek out an agent.  Acting jobs, fame, and fortune may not seek you out – you have to go forth, with all the acting chops you can muster, to find your breakout roles!
Break a leg!
Thank you for reading my blog!  Feel free to like, upvote, and share!

 

Expanded from my answer to this question on Quora.
Posted on

Did old school actresses like Joan Crawford really have their molars removed? And if yes, why?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.
While it is no secret that stars did some serious dental work to maintain their famous smiles, I found some good background on this:
Joan Crawford, image from Pixabay
Joan Crawford’s Painful Legacy
Legendary Hollywood beauty Joan Crawford was plagued with dental problems. Undergoing a similar procedure as Dietrich and having teeth removed to accentuate her cheeks had left Crawford with ongoing problems. After the extraction, her front teeth were spaced out and filled with dentist’s cement before being filed down to be fitted with caps. This painful treatment left her uncomfortable and ultimately led to her gums becoming infected. Her whole mouth swelled up as a result of the infection and left her with a large upper lip which never returned to its normal size. She was pleased with this one side-effect and subsequently became known for her full and distinctive lips. Crawford enjoyed one of the longest and most successful careers Hollywood has ever seen but suffered with dental issues for the rest of her life. In her late 60s major dental surgery left her requiring round-the-clock medical care.[1][2] (Footnotes contain information on other actors too; I highlighted the quote as it directly answered the Joan Crawford part of the question).
The all-powerful studios of Hollywood were uncompromising in their quest for the perfect star. Many young actors and actresses were groomed, enhanced and tweaked beyond all recognition to ensure they fitted in with the studio executive’s idea of beauty. Some stars were expected to go further than others and Marlene Dietrich is believed to have had several molars removed to enhance her looks.[3]
As to why, that is very clear – the prettiest smiles can get the best roles and the biggest box office. Although one film stands out – Tom Hanks in “Cast Away”. (No spoiler, you should watch it as to why I included it).  
May your smile never give you the troubles these stars have had!
Thanks for reading my blog! Feel free to share!
Footnotes

 

UPDATE:

(Honorable Mention) Mike Myers as Austin Powers wore a set of bad teeth, and John Turturro wore a set of terrible redneck teeth in “Oh Brother Where art Thou”.

 

Mike Myers as Austin Powers
John Turturro as “Pete” in  “Oh Brother Where art Thou”.
Thanks for reading my blog!  Feel free to like, upvote, and share.
Edited  and expanded from my answer in Quora.
Posted on

What acting technique can I learn in one month?

By Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.
First off, you’re in SCHOOL. Actors are always learning. You are allowed to stumble, and learn, and get back up and keep going! Fight your fear, nervousness, and insecurity. How? Stand up at lunch and recite a paragraph from a book, or a passage from a popular song, or a political speech that inspired you.
Do it more than once.  Try to inspire.  Ask your friends to be critical, and suggest ways to improve your delivery, posture, or expressions.
Find a buddy to work with, do some acting drills:
If you are nervous about asking someone to help you – look at 5 Ways to Conquer Fear and Ask for Help[1] and Asking For Help Reveals Strength, Not Weakness[2]
Work it, Practice it, Bring it. You have a month – use it wisely!
There is something else to consider; after a month, you are not “done”.  Acting and performing are skills which go weak over time.  You must constantly practice, learn, ask for feedback, find new lines, and stretch your limits.  Acting will expand your horizons and abilities.  You will be more at ease when speaking in public, discussing job possibilities, interviewing, and even improving your interpersonal relationships.
Don’t stop after a month.  Don’t give up.
Posted on

Do child actors (eg Sunny from A Series Of Unfortunate Events) remember acting after they’ve grown up?

Alan Chenkin, Learned about celebrities by reading the tabloids in the checkout aisle.

Most child actors under the age of six or seven have a limited memory of events, (It varies with the child),  – and most child actors have visual records (Movies or film images) that refresh and renew their memories of acting events.[1][2]
Here are some reminisces:
You may remember this child star from the Harry Potter films:
Daniel Radcliffe is enjoying a strong career in acting as an adult, where he has been in many films and even on Broadway.  Emma Watson, also of Harry Potter fame, enjoys a strong career and is a strong voice for feminism.
Neil Patrick Harris, Child star and successful performer today!
Neil Patrick Harris movies and more are available on Amazon, and eBay.
Here is some more information on Presley Smith, who played Sunny Baudelaire, in the NetFlix TV adaptation of “a series of unfortunate events“
Presley Smith, born June 28, 2015, is a Canadian child actor and obviously too young to be asked to reminisce about her role.  Her family is keeping her private life  out of the spotlight, hoping to avoid any spectacle resulting from her acting work.  You can find the series on Netflix, and tie-in DVD’s on Amazon.
Here’s hoping that all the child stars have bright careers and futures, without the glare of spotlights and armies of paparazzi following them!  Having a good upbringing is the best defense against the tragedies of many child stars, who may not be in the limelight – but try to live a normal and productive life.
Thanks for reading my blog!  Feel free to like, upvote, and share.
This post is expanded from my answer in Quora.
Footnotes