Flashing lights, flicker all around. “Over here” “Over here””Can we have a moment?” “Can I get a picture with you?’
You’ve made it. You’re famous. A celebrity at the top of the heap. It’s what you worked for, starved for, sold your entire being and soul for. So why the long face?
I see it all day long, as I post my writing, pop ups from reels, posts by agents or publicity people, the celebrity him or herself, pictures and stories by the media or the annoying paparazzi, and celebrity types of all kinds. They are giving the fan and the famous what they want, attention and a moment of fame. We all get our fifteen minutes, after all.
These now uber-famous people, as children had a dream. They held on to the dream and found ways to attain their goal. Aside from the nepotistic celebrities, that reach the top, on the backs of their famous relatives, the normal Joe, had to earn his or her place in the spotlight.
Many had to have had exceptional looks, and used that to propel them, but some had to work to prove their worth within their craft of choice. Not all are fantastic eye candy, no. Some are just so good at what they do, that who cares what they look like, really. It’s sad how superficial society is, but it’s what we have cultivated. Reap what you sow, philosophy.
Many, and in ever increasing cases, have the looks down, the body, the face, the hair, but have little to no talent. I won’t name examples, you all know at least a few celebrities, who are mind bogglingly famous, for nothing, but the way they look, in clothing or without, if that was their call to fame.
For the ones that had both talent and fantastic features, kudos. You are the whole package. I will not begrudge one dollar of your success. You worked for it, probably as a waiter in New York or California, or a gardener, a maid, a burger flipper, whatever. You suffered through societal rudeness, ate ramen, days on end, lived ten to a studio, so you could go on calls and auditions. I see no issue in hard work, and have no issue with drive.
Now, you’ve reached the peak of the mountain, you’ve shattered expectations, even in your own eyes, you are the ‘it’ celebrity in whatever thing you created. So why the sour puss?
We all have seen the early years pictures of you when you were paying dues. You looked so happy. Your smiles gleamed, you were humble, kind, and nice to everyone. Even if you had not eaten in a couple days, or if you had just had your electric shut off, so you could afford cab fair to the audition, a famous person was also attending, bringing media with them, some camera got you in an ear to ear smile.
You sought the camera, you wanted to be noticed. You posted selfie after selfie doing everything in life, except using the bathroom. No one around you was safe from your phone’s camera, as you caught every breath you took, for posterity’s sake.
So what’s the deal? You got exactly what you wanted. You needed people to see you, know you, want you. Done. So why do you look like someone dragged your dog a mile behind a moving car and you have to get to the pet E.R.?
It cannot be a shocker, that the cameras would be in your face, up your butt, and in all of your business, all of the time. You surely, grew up watching your predecessors. You wanted that too. You actually had that camera phone of yours in your own face at all hours of the day and night, too. Now, you don’t have to actually hold it in your own hand, or try to get a good shot. There are hundreds and thousands of others to do that for you. Would it hurt you to smile?
I’ve been seeing it more and more these days. Most are lacking a smile on their face. Maybe I notice because I am curious about human nature or character, or people’s reactions to their success. Either way, they do not smile. You know who is seen smiling when they are in the shot? The agent or manager are always beaming.
I understand their happiness. They have a successful client and are now in the middle of the pandemonium of success themselves. Their clients, not so much.
Maybe celebrities forgot how to smile. They went to bed one night, woke up different and had forgotten they should be overwhelmed with happiness at their success. Maybe there is something in their contracts that says they must look forlorn or unhappy, with their attention. Maybe they think it will wrinkle their money maker and make them less attractive. I can’t figure it out.
It can’t possibly be a surprise what celebrity would bring. Not in this day and age.
It would be so nice to see images of every one of them smiling, being kind, taking time to speak to the normal fans, considering they are the reason they are being bombarded by fame. They came. You invited them to see you, love you, to want to be you, and they showed up to propel you. You’re welcome.
So smile for them, smile for the cameras, talk to the people who are happy to be standing and waiting for hours, for a brief glimpse of you. They were all leaked where you’d be and when so they could fawn over you, so smile for goodness sake.
If it’s a case of buyer’s remorse, sell it back. You don’t have to keep what you bought into. If it’s a case of smiling might kill you, I promise you it will not. Medical science eradicated the Smileysaurus virus years ago, before even I walked with the dinosaurs. They killed all the dragons too. The ones they missed moved to New Zealand and are now actors and celebrities, themselves.
If you are unhappy now, with what you believed would be the end all be all of your life, do something else. No one is forcing your fame upon you. You went after it. Now that you have it all, smile. Always remember celebrity comes on the heals of public interest in you. Once they lose it, you will not longer have to worry about being caught without one.
As for all the crazy paparazzi and insane fans, calm down. Give a human some space and time to breathe. And be courteous. No one likes a brute.
I now return you to your regular, soapbox speaker…That is all.