Hollywood and Pressures of Fame

Hollywood and Pressures of Fame: What’s beyond the Screen? By Shannon Alfonso

When people think about Hollywood, one’s mind is filled with images of the endless red carpet, waiting for limbos to park at the curb, followed by special entrances. They think of the intense flash of cameras, the paparazzi chanting A-listers’ names, urging them to sign posters with their face plastered on it, the black ink melting in the hot, California sun. They think of celebrities such as Kim Kardashian, Zendaya, Johnny Depp, Leonardo DiCaprio, those who are prominent in the industry. This is the idealized version of Hollywood that the public is meant to see. However, what is beyond this vision? Is it really a colorful place, sprouting with fruitful opportunities or is it colorless, where dreams die? These questions will be answered in the following article.

The growth of Hollywood

Hollywood’s peak was during the roaring 20’s, a time where the economy was flourishing, leading to the rise of the middle and upper class. With the increased wealth that they began to enjoy, cinema became a common leisure activity. This had a lasting influence on American culture in particular, which stimulated the production of movies. As a result, cinema was taking the country by storm. Soon, the public began to idolize certain actors/ actresses, creating fan bases and plummeting them to fame.

Idealization of Hollywood vs reality

Many people think that Hollywood is a place where dreams come true, but what they fail to recognize is that the same experiences that one person has in the industry can be completely the opposite from another. On screen, we see the actors and actresses seamlessly absorbing their roles, like cinematic chameleons. Which brings on an aspect that is not often looked at: the impact on child actors. Often, kids are told to put on a fake smile or are taken advantage of by adults, because they are considered to be naive and vulnerable. They are taught to “obey” and listen to adult’s wishes, even if they have bad intentions for them. Brooke Shields is a prime example of this. During the late 70’s and more into the 80’s, she was labeled as the most beautiful girl at age twelve, and reportedly said that she was sexualized as a kid. When she was eleven years old, she signed up to do a movie titled ‘Pretty Baby’ (1978) in which she plays a child prostitute. For the role, she was told to kiss her co-star who was 27, at the time. She states that she felt disgusted and she didn’t know how she got through it. Brooke also said that during the 80’s exploiting kids was “normalized,” if it had happened today sexualization would not go so far as she experienced it.

If you wish to hear Brooke Shields’ story more in detail, you can watch her documentary titled: Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields, on Hulu.

Here is the trailer:

https://youtu.be/7K1h1QYzpgA?si=QhN4CtA52YnU24gY

Pressures of fame

Hollywood’s idea of glamorizing celebrities' lives, portraying them as perfect human beings to evoke a certain feeling or to maintain a “good image” in the public eye, is a huge problem. For the longest time, people have assumed that celebrities are happy and enjoy their job. However, during the 1980s and 1990s, many have exposed how isolated, alone, and desperate they were to seek a “normal” life. For example, Michael Jackson has stated that he would disguise himself and hide from the paparazzi. He described how harrowing and difficult his life was growing up in the spotlight at a young age. Britney Spears is also a victim of exploitation in the industry. She was forced to sing in a high-pitched “baby” voice to sell more albums. This idea did work, and made her the pop star that she is today. Although, this has hindered Britney from showing her authentic singing talents and range. This was also believed to keep her “teen image.”

The idea that celebrities need to be a perfect role model and be presentable on screen, offers many unrealistic expectations. Many actresses are told to go on a diet, dye their hair, wear heavy makeup, etc against their own will. It often goes beyond appearances and can influence relationships, especially romantic ones. Some celebrities don't come out to the public about who they are dating, to maintain a clean or childlike image. This is why celebrities crave to have a normal life, where they are in control of little things like this.

My playlist

My playlist will focus on the demands and pressures that many celebrities or people in the industry have to face on a daily basis. Through my song selection, I hope to have created the tense and suffocating atmosphere of Hollywood. I want people to recognize the fact that celebrities are human beings as well, and that it’s not okay to treat them like they are supernatural beings or objects.

Listen here! https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0x6qHylvpy0KD0IOHboihB?si=ax1vkI96TSagfSyosoOHkw&pi=u-REv6MRgARemU