celebrity: it's much more fake then you realize (repost from 2013)
yes, i am fascinated by the world of celebrity
why?
it's my business. i know how this shit works. the more famous you get, the more people to handle your life.
it starts with an agent, and if you are american (or want to move there) then a manager. everyone gets a slice of your pie (15% to 2% usually, btw, sometimes per person. agents also make deals with each other: if you have an agent in canada and the USA, sometimes whomever gets you the job gives a small cut to the other agent, 1% or 2% of say a 10% commission)
when your first big project hits, you need a publicist to teach you how to talk to the media, work the media. i love spotting the people who have publicists sweating somewhere, who are running their mouths to the media (or i wonder if they were told to do that). remember, these people are ACTORS, they get paid to ACT.
next: hair, makeup and a stylist. at first they are just daily people, the more big time you get, the more likely they will become your "team". entry to gifting suites for some product placement (and some vouchers for discounted plastic surgery are helpful too). personal assistants, fitness trainers, nutritionists they are in there too. vocal coaches, acting coaches as well. maybe a membership in scientology if you are business saavy or secretly gay.
if you are a young girl, you've already got: a nose job, hair extensions, fake nails, and fake boobs. or even, ass implants. guys, it's pec implants, steroids to work out with, nose jobs and mani/pedi's.
so basically, i am fascinated by the growth and downfall of many celebs, but i also have this weird fascination with picking out the unreal and planted moments in the press & media.
out of all of the media outlets, TMZ is pretty solid. they have a good track record of reporting on things that are actually true, but they also have a great sense of humour and make fun of crazy situations. i'm not too fond of their racism and their sexism, but i actually respect harvey levin. he is working his brand, and he's doing a great job of it. he's usually laughing, he rarely yells (on camera at least), and he seems like a cool dude to work for.
i keep on ruining my families suspense of disbelief, by pointing out things that they don't even see. i've tried to make a few people understand just how much "spin" is on many stories in the media, and how much work goes into dealing with a media shit storm.
i do believe that press is press, no matter if it's good or bad. lohan hasn't done a film worth mentioning in awhile (though i do want to see the canyons). but, you see lohan in the media daily. she's calling the papz on herself. she makes money off of it. and it's keeping her relevant, train wreck status or not, she loves being famous. you can see it. it's insane. (as for james deen, look at how adorable he is. now, never watch any of his porn. LOL) (this is also a MUST READ - amazing journalism)
i hate that people know who i am sometimes, drives me nuts. i would much rather fly under the radar, and just create behind the camera, but i know how my business works. i have to have press to succeed, people measure that against your resume, your body of work (including awards & noms), and your references.
there is a huge media machine at work in the world. media influences people to watch films and television, and that in turn makes big corporations a lot of money. i've had some very positive experiences working for some big companies. but in film, it always comes down to money. how much will this cost? how much will it make?
the whole profit loss scenario. studios pay accountants to run the numbers to figure out if something will make a profit. if the script passes the test, and they can get "bankable stars" they green light the picture.
doesn't matter if the director can't direct, the story is crap. all that matters is if your box office numbers come in at half of the production costs, especially on the 1st weekend.
it's been statistically proven that if you make a film for say, $50m, and it makes $25m in the first weekend, it will make back it's costs (and make a profit) in the theatre, video on demand, netflix, iTunes and/or DVD/blueray sales.
you know how i know this stuff? a major producer taught me about it. i absorb knowledge. i always want to continue learning. i get bored easily.
i am seriously interested in making films for canadians, that canadians actually will enjoy watching. if other people buy the film in other countries, that's just a bonus.
i'm not alone in how i feel, a lot of my close business friends feel the same way. actors too.
in closing i would like to say that i have met a lot of very normal real celebrities and they make up for the random chaos celebs i have met. i don't get blinded by actors anymore (and i haven't since i worked at TIFF as a volunteer captain at the uptown theatre 1999, 2000, 2011, 2002 - it ruined me...i met everyone. LOL).
celebs. they poop too
why?
it's my business. i know how this shit works. the more famous you get, the more people to handle your life.
it starts with an agent, and if you are american (or want to move there) then a manager. everyone gets a slice of your pie (15% to 2% usually, btw, sometimes per person. agents also make deals with each other: if you have an agent in canada and the USA, sometimes whomever gets you the job gives a small cut to the other agent, 1% or 2% of say a 10% commission)
when your first big project hits, you need a publicist to teach you how to talk to the media, work the media. i love spotting the people who have publicists sweating somewhere, who are running their mouths to the media (or i wonder if they were told to do that). remember, these people are ACTORS, they get paid to ACT.
next: hair, makeup and a stylist. at first they are just daily people, the more big time you get, the more likely they will become your "team". entry to gifting suites for some product placement (and some vouchers for discounted plastic surgery are helpful too). personal assistants, fitness trainers, nutritionists they are in there too. vocal coaches, acting coaches as well. maybe a membership in scientology if you are business saavy or secretly gay.
if you are a young girl, you've already got: a nose job, hair extensions, fake nails, and fake boobs. or even, ass implants. guys, it's pec implants, steroids to work out with, nose jobs and mani/pedi's.
so basically, i am fascinated by the growth and downfall of many celebs, but i also have this weird fascination with picking out the unreal and planted moments in the press & media.
out of all of the media outlets, TMZ is pretty solid. they have a good track record of reporting on things that are actually true, but they also have a great sense of humour and make fun of crazy situations. i'm not too fond of their racism and their sexism, but i actually respect harvey levin. he is working his brand, and he's doing a great job of it. he's usually laughing, he rarely yells (on camera at least), and he seems like a cool dude to work for.
i keep on ruining my families suspense of disbelief, by pointing out things that they don't even see. i've tried to make a few people understand just how much "spin" is on many stories in the media, and how much work goes into dealing with a media shit storm.
i do believe that press is press, no matter if it's good or bad. lohan hasn't done a film worth mentioning in awhile (though i do want to see the canyons). but, you see lohan in the media daily. she's calling the papz on herself. she makes money off of it. and it's keeping her relevant, train wreck status or not, she loves being famous. you can see it. it's insane. (as for james deen, look at how adorable he is. now, never watch any of his porn. LOL) (this is also a MUST READ - amazing journalism)
i hate that people know who i am sometimes, drives me nuts. i would much rather fly under the radar, and just create behind the camera, but i know how my business works. i have to have press to succeed, people measure that against your resume, your body of work (including awards & noms), and your references.
there is a huge media machine at work in the world. media influences people to watch films and television, and that in turn makes big corporations a lot of money. i've had some very positive experiences working for some big companies. but in film, it always comes down to money. how much will this cost? how much will it make?
the whole profit loss scenario. studios pay accountants to run the numbers to figure out if something will make a profit. if the script passes the test, and they can get "bankable stars" they green light the picture.
doesn't matter if the director can't direct, the story is crap. all that matters is if your box office numbers come in at half of the production costs, especially on the 1st weekend.
it's been statistically proven that if you make a film for say, $50m, and it makes $25m in the first weekend, it will make back it's costs (and make a profit) in the theatre, video on demand, netflix, iTunes and/or DVD/blueray sales.
you know how i know this stuff? a major producer taught me about it. i absorb knowledge. i always want to continue learning. i get bored easily.
i am seriously interested in making films for canadians, that canadians actually will enjoy watching. if other people buy the film in other countries, that's just a bonus.
i'm not alone in how i feel, a lot of my close business friends feel the same way. actors too.
in closing i would like to say that i have met a lot of very normal real celebrities and they make up for the random chaos celebs i have met. i don't get blinded by actors anymore (and i haven't since i worked at TIFF as a volunteer captain at the uptown theatre 1999, 2000, 2011, 2002 - it ruined me...i met everyone. LOL).
celebs. they poop too
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