The Real Story Behind Growing Up in Hollywood
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VOICE OVER: Phoebe de Jeu
WRITTEN BY: George Pacheco
It may be a hard knock life, but what's it really like when youth and opportunity meet in the movie industry? Today we're going to be talking about The Real Story Behind Growing Up in Hollywood.
The Real Story Behind Growing Up in Hollywood
It may be a hard knock life, but what's it really like when youth and opportunity meet in the movie industry? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're going to be talking about The Real Story Behind Growing Up in Hollywood.
There's an old entertainer's saying attributed to W.C. Fields that states, "never work with animals or children." Although this tongue-in-cheek statement refers generally to unpredictability, the truth is that child actors can quickly find themselves at the center of a Hollywood machine they know little to nothing about.
This is particularly true if you're a young performer at the center of an influential or lucrative property. We can all imagine a favorite television show or movie where one child or a cast of kids are clearly the stars, and there can be a lot of pressure resulting from this heavy responsibility. Here, adult actors and crew members are essentially beholden to their young co-stars: their performance and behavior all dictate whether or not those people continue to receive a paycheck.
Unfortunately, the cliché of child stars cracking under these sorts of pressures is something that's become all too common within the world of entertainment; cautionary tales and potholes on the road to fame and fortune. Names like Corey Haim, Gary Coleman, Dana Plato, and Erin Moran sadly become known more for their self-medication and bad behavior than any of the wonderful performances they gave over the course of their shortened careers. The nature of enabling isn't exclusive to the movie industry, but there have certainly been plenty of instances where those in charge feel that it's easier to feed a young celebrity's addictions in order to keep the money flowing, rather, than confront what's going on.
"Matilda" star Mara Wilson wrote an insightful article on the subject for Cracked in 2013, where she highlights specifics about her time as a child actor, as well as the dangers she saw growing up in Hollywood. The article mentions how important boundaries are for young performers, boundaries hopefully set up by loving and thoughtful parents behind the scenes. Working around so many adults can be challenging for a kid trying to enjoy their adolescence, so if normal activities such as school are put into the mix, it makes the adjustment between work and the real world just a little easier.
It may seem as if we keep going back to the negative with this article, but that not's the intention. Sadly, however, not every guardian has their child's best interest at heart, and this has become a cliché of its own in the form of the typical "Hollywood Parent." It could be the misuse of that child's funds or the simple pressure of overworking them to the point where it’s unhealthy; it all goes back to being that cash cow, upon which the livelihood of a film or T.V. show rests.
So notorious is this sort of parent that there's actually a law on the books in California that attempts to protect children from this sort of abuse. It's the California Child Actor's Bill, also known as the Coogan Act, and it's named for actor Jackie Coogan, who's best known for playing Uncle Fester on the original "Addams Family." Coogan had enjoyed tons of success as a child actor, but saw all of his money squandered by his mother and stepfather. The bill that's in his name requires those who employ child actors to place fifteen percent of what they earn into a trust, while also ensuring that those actors don't work too many hours in the day, and are allowed time off for school and family.
Another side of growing up in Hollywood deals with the children of famous celebrities, and how they react to living their lives in the public eye. Having a sense of self can prove challenging when an average family structure gets turned upside down by throwing fame into the mix. Some celebrities cast a large shadow on their children, bringing with it the pressure to live up to expectations to enter the business. This pressure may come from within, or be projected by the media, and depression can easily set in for those who may try and fail to walk in the footsteps of their parents. Today's kids have the pressures of social media tacked on top of it all, adding more eyes to a public that watches every move they make. How can a Hollywood kid ever know who their friends truly are?
Thankfully, there have also been plenty of child actors who have made it through dark periods to lead fruitful lives, regardless of whether or not they continued to act. Drew Barrymore, Jason Bateman, Wil Wheaton, and Shirley Temple Black all managed to buck the trend of being a victim of child acting. Mara Wilson is another who can be added to that list, despite the fact that she decided not to continue acting into adulthood, save a small role here and there. This isn't to say that she didn't have plenty of criticisms about some of the things she saw around her, especially when it came to how some adults dealt with children.
Wilson mentions a specifically awkward memory from the "Nine Months" premiere where she was asked about the prostitution bust of Hugh Grant. Sometimes, even the best-intentioned parents are unable to control every situation or interaction with their child, especially when that child is part of a huge Hollywood machine. It isn't just Hollywood that's out to exploit child actors, either, as Wilson recalls another, even more serious memory about finding images of her on a foot fetish website when she was just twelve years old. Immoralities and illegalities aside, it's a slippery slope from the public eye to a private life. Fame can be one hell of a drug, and it can be difficult to adjust if it fades or disappears completely.
Because what is there to do? Some child actors or celebrity families feel like they have to work in the entertainment industry because that's all they know how to do. Sometimes there's a public meltdown, followed by rehab and the inevitable forgiveness by a public that's awaiting the next reality show reunion. It can be a vicious cycle, which is why Mara Wilson decided to focus on writing, but not every child star story has that sort of ending. Hopefully, however, we as a society can use the knowledge gained from experiences such as hers to help future child stars from falling into the same, self-destructive patterns. And in today's ultra-connected world, reaching out for help may be just a little bit easier for those in the limelight who truly need it.
It may be a hard knock life, but what's it really like when youth and opportunity meet in the movie industry? Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we're going to be talking about The Real Story Behind Growing Up in Hollywood.
There's an old entertainer's saying attributed to W.C. Fields that states, "never work with animals or children." Although this tongue-in-cheek statement refers generally to unpredictability, the truth is that child actors can quickly find themselves at the center of a Hollywood machine they know little to nothing about.
This is particularly true if you're a young performer at the center of an influential or lucrative property. We can all imagine a favorite television show or movie where one child or a cast of kids are clearly the stars, and there can be a lot of pressure resulting from this heavy responsibility. Here, adult actors and crew members are essentially beholden to their young co-stars: their performance and behavior all dictate whether or not those people continue to receive a paycheck.
Unfortunately, the cliché of child stars cracking under these sorts of pressures is something that's become all too common within the world of entertainment; cautionary tales and potholes on the road to fame and fortune. Names like Corey Haim, Gary Coleman, Dana Plato, and Erin Moran sadly become known more for their self-medication and bad behavior than any of the wonderful performances they gave over the course of their shortened careers. The nature of enabling isn't exclusive to the movie industry, but there have certainly been plenty of instances where those in charge feel that it's easier to feed a young celebrity's addictions in order to keep the money flowing, rather, than confront what's going on.
"Matilda" star Mara Wilson wrote an insightful article on the subject for Cracked in 2013, where she highlights specifics about her time as a child actor, as well as the dangers she saw growing up in Hollywood. The article mentions how important boundaries are for young performers, boundaries hopefully set up by loving and thoughtful parents behind the scenes. Working around so many adults can be challenging for a kid trying to enjoy their adolescence, so if normal activities such as school are put into the mix, it makes the adjustment between work and the real world just a little easier.
It may seem as if we keep going back to the negative with this article, but that not's the intention. Sadly, however, not every guardian has their child's best interest at heart, and this has become a cliché of its own in the form of the typical "Hollywood Parent." It could be the misuse of that child's funds or the simple pressure of overworking them to the point where it’s unhealthy; it all goes back to being that cash cow, upon which the livelihood of a film or T.V. show rests.
So notorious is this sort of parent that there's actually a law on the books in California that attempts to protect children from this sort of abuse. It's the California Child Actor's Bill, also known as the Coogan Act, and it's named for actor Jackie Coogan, who's best known for playing Uncle Fester on the original "Addams Family." Coogan had enjoyed tons of success as a child actor, but saw all of his money squandered by his mother and stepfather. The bill that's in his name requires those who employ child actors to place fifteen percent of what they earn into a trust, while also ensuring that those actors don't work too many hours in the day, and are allowed time off for school and family.
Another side of growing up in Hollywood deals with the children of famous celebrities, and how they react to living their lives in the public eye. Having a sense of self can prove challenging when an average family structure gets turned upside down by throwing fame into the mix. Some celebrities cast a large shadow on their children, bringing with it the pressure to live up to expectations to enter the business. This pressure may come from within, or be projected by the media, and depression can easily set in for those who may try and fail to walk in the footsteps of their parents. Today's kids have the pressures of social media tacked on top of it all, adding more eyes to a public that watches every move they make. How can a Hollywood kid ever know who their friends truly are?
Thankfully, there have also been plenty of child actors who have made it through dark periods to lead fruitful lives, regardless of whether or not they continued to act. Drew Barrymore, Jason Bateman, Wil Wheaton, and Shirley Temple Black all managed to buck the trend of being a victim of child acting. Mara Wilson is another who can be added to that list, despite the fact that she decided not to continue acting into adulthood, save a small role here and there. This isn't to say that she didn't have plenty of criticisms about some of the things she saw around her, especially when it came to how some adults dealt with children.
Wilson mentions a specifically awkward memory from the "Nine Months" premiere where she was asked about the prostitution bust of Hugh Grant. Sometimes, even the best-intentioned parents are unable to control every situation or interaction with their child, especially when that child is part of a huge Hollywood machine. It isn't just Hollywood that's out to exploit child actors, either, as Wilson recalls another, even more serious memory about finding images of her on a foot fetish website when she was just twelve years old. Immoralities and illegalities aside, it's a slippery slope from the public eye to a private life. Fame can be one hell of a drug, and it can be difficult to adjust if it fades or disappears completely.
Because what is there to do? Some child actors or celebrity families feel like they have to work in the entertainment industry because that's all they know how to do. Sometimes there's a public meltdown, followed by rehab and the inevitable forgiveness by a public that's awaiting the next reality show reunion. It can be a vicious cycle, which is why Mara Wilson decided to focus on writing, but not every child star story has that sort of ending. Hopefully, however, we as a society can use the knowledge gained from experiences such as hers to help future child stars from falling into the same, self-destructive patterns. And in today's ultra-connected world, reaching out for help may be just a little bit easier for those in the limelight who truly need it.
