Child Stars?

[TheEpitome1920]

I watched a special on VH1 about the lives of child stars. It's soooo sad the things they have to go through for money hungry parents! Would you put your child in show business?

[Intense1920]

IF my kids wanted to do it and they were enjoying themselves. There is no need to push a kid to do something like that if they don't want to do it.

[decadence]

'Tis an interesting topic.

It didn't do someone like Shirley Temple any harm, she was an icon and in later years some sort of ambassador for her country.

On pushy parents, that often where the problem lies e.g. Kit Culkin. Some producers or agencies just refuse to work with a child if the parent seems pushy; it's too much hassle.

There's also the aspect of what happens later. When the limelight fades or the stresses of fame become too much. Though there's always comebacks.
Jennifer Capriati, Drew Barrymore etc.

Sometimes it's innocuous, The Little Rascals (series of films about some lil' scamps - had an alternative title too but I can't be bothered to look on imdb.com : o )). They would just be asked, say, 'run over there' or do such and such; it was great fun for them... and so gradually the film got made without too much hassle.

[justamom]

I think I'd steer them to areas where they could get their feet wet. Like school programs or, as in our community, children's theater. I guess if I was one of those RARE parents who saw something unique in my child , I might consider an audition in a more competative venue.

IF I could be 100% certain that my child could maintain the essence of childhood and do the work, I would be more accepting.
The kids interviewed for Daddy Day Care seemed to have had a blast. Then I look at the child in Sixth Sense and wonder if those darker roles will have an effect later in life.
Lots of "ifs".

You're only a child once.
Edited-Oh darn-Is it "effect" or "affect"?
There are four distinct words here. When “affect” is accented on the final syllable (a-FECT), it is a verb meaning “have an influence on“: “The million-dollar donation from the industrialist did not affect my vote against the Clean Air Act.” A much rarer meaning is indicated when the word is accented on the first syllable (AFF-ect), meaning “emotion.” In this case the word is used mostly by psychiatrists and social scientists— people who normally know how to spell it. The real problem arises when people confuse the first spelling with the second: “effect.” This too can be two different words. The more common one is a noun: “When I left the stove on, the effect was that the house filled with smoke.” When you affect a situation, you have an effect on it. The less common is a verb meaning “to create“: “I’m trying to effect a change in the way we purchase widgets.” No wonder people are confused. Note especially that the proper expression is not “take affect” but “take effect”—become effective. Hey, nobody ever said English was logical: just memorize it and get on with your life

[GPhiLlama]

The alternate title to "Little Rascals" is "Our Gang."

Anyway, since I've done a lot of children's theater, I run in to plenty of stage moms who think that little Suzy is the strongest actor, singer, and dancer up there, and should get every lead role, when in reality, the kid's awful. Mothers have come up to mine and yelled at her when their kid didn't get a good role, when in fact they've shown in previous ones that they can't do it. I was doing sound for one show, and I had a mother come up to me and scream at me for ten minutes about how no one could hear her daughter.

The music was on an extremely low level. She couldn't accept the fact that her kid couldn't project!

Stage moms make me !

[33girl]

If the kid wants to do it and no one is using a cent of that money, that's great. The parents should be able to fully support the kid if they stop performing tomorrow. When the kid is supporting the parents is where things get really messed up.

[BetteDavisEyes]

This just in: Former child star of Full House, Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie) admits to meth use.


Full House Star Admits To Being A Meth Addict

Former Child Star Central

[PiKA2001]

Originally posted by BetteDavisEyes
This just in: Former child star of Full House, Jodie Sweetin (Stephanie) admits to meth use.


Full House Star Admits To Being A Meth Addict

Stephies in rehab, Michelle's anorexic, does anybody think that we have an awesome Full House reunion show story on our hands or what!

[Rudey]

Originally posted by PiKA2001
Stephies in rehab, Michelle's anorexic, does anybody think that we have an awesome Full House reunion show story on our hands or what!

There's no such thing as too thin.

-Rudey

[FSUZeta]

or too rich! to quote wallace simpson, for whom a king abdicated his thone.

[AGDee]

Only half of Michelle is anorexic...

[AGDLynn]

Thanks, I needed that laugh.