I have been reading Brett Easton Ellis’s book “White“, which is purportedly about social media, freedom of speech and likability. After a few chapters, I gave up. What I liked about the book was that Brett and I are both Gen-X kids so his cultural references to movies, being a latchkey kid, independence, school etc. are the same as mine. In his first few chapters he wrote about movie theaters, American Gigolo, biking everywhere and running around unsupervised while his mother worked.
The reason I stopped reading was the book’s focus on actors, TV and film. Brett is a prolific writer with dozens of books, plus a few movies including American Psycho. He wrote about his meetings with actors, his interviews with actors, the personas actors put on to appear likable, the insecurities of actors and that actors are always playing a “role”.
Boring.
I have zero interest in actors, the industry or it’s idiosyncrasies.
I also have no sympathy for actors who complain about the industry.
They chose their career. They could have chosen any number of other jobs that provided more stability, better/more consistent income, more security etc.
We always hear about the few who have made it to the top, earning unimaginable wealth, privilege and lifestyles.
Whatever. They are the lucky few.
Just like in every industry, there are a few people, who through luck, birthright, talent (maybe) and timing rise to extraordinary heights.
I find their advice, lives and opinions to be completely unrelatedly to mine. So I place successful actors into the the same category as superstar athletes and wealthy CEOs. I ignore them all.