The Other Side of Stardom

Do you remember the days of old when school was out and reruns were the highlight of the summer? I was thinking of this while watching one of my favorite shows, Burn Notice. 

It made me think about how much the entertainment industry has grown.  I remember that there used to be a classic look expected in the entertainment industry and as far as I believe this is when spin-doctors began to emerge.  Everyone wanted to live the glamorous life, to be like those frequently photographed, never considering what their lives might be like when the cameras turn off.

Let’s face it; many of us pursuing careers in the entertainment industry do so because we have a strong, driving passion for this industry.  This industry has grown rapidly, many of us grew up watching Sesame Street and The Electric Company; and it is this generation, which is   the driving force behind the new entertainment industry, the likes of  J.J. Abrams, Matt Nix and Mark Schwahn, just to name a few.  These three have all had successful shows, with almost cult-like followings; Alias, Burn Notice, One Tree Hill, respectively.

By now, you’ve probably determined  that these are some of my favorite shows and I am one of the cult members.  I cannot tell you the number of times I’ve watched each of these shows, really I can’t, but it’s more than 10 times for each.  Therefore, as I’ve watched each of these shows, I’ve come to appreciate even more the journey of which I’m embarking.  Each of these men are not just creators of their respective shows, but also served as writers and executive producers.  They’ve also pushed the envelope as to how television is viewed.  Gone is my grandmother’s television, where she enjoyed and still enjoys watching Westerns and my mother’s soap operas.

Today, we can enjoy more realistic television, barring the reality shows, we can watch television drama unfold with real –life events (One Tree Hill) or get lost in the fantasy of being a super spy (Burn Notice and Alias), a sign of the changing times.  The entertainment industry has changed so much now, that people don’t even think about being THE STAR, it’s about telling a story, it’s about getting the audience so engaged in what’s on the screen that they forget about their reality for those 60 minutes or so. 

Though it seems as though television and movies have been around forever, it’s really only been a true element since my generation (Generation X) and has grown by leaps and bounds since.  This generation has redefined entertainment to inconceivable levels and it’s exciting to see how further it will go.  The task seems daunting but it’s also thrilling.  Would you be willing to withstand the test?  No matter the job is in the entertainment industry, like everything else in life, there is rejection but also rewards.  All it ever takes is drive and determination.

As always I will close with my running theme, what price are you willing to pay to become a celebrity?


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