Film Problems

The film industry is in no large state of decline.  In a country that is in a heavy state of economic decline, hollywood has managed to do more than just stay afloat, but rather, to thrive.  There is no doubt that hollywood has created it's own area, both in the United states, but seeming to exist in it's own world.  But my question is, what effect does the movie industry have on the kids involved in it?

For the sake of this I'll mash television and movie industries together to have a broader pool of examples to pull from.  The times today give us a wide variety of names to pull from, for hollywood potential, gone terribly awry.  While adult starts have had their fair share of extravagant behavior perhaps to be blamed on hollywood, child stars have had an incredibly unique experience of growing up in this world.  Does this effect their behavior in the future?

Take for instance Amanda Bynes.  She was a breakout actor and comedian by the time she attended a comedy camp and started acting at the age of 7.  By the age of thirteen she had an incredibly popular kid show The Amanda show.  After nickelodeon had fostered her talent by giving her a self titled show, she started a big movie career beyond the small screen.  In 2011 Bynes announced that she would be taking time off.  A surprise to many people who thought her movie stardom was just reaching it's peak.  However, the young starlet spiraled out of control within the next few years.  Currently Bynes has been in a mental facility for a matter of months after a slew of inexplicable odd behavior, often illegal and obviously attention seeking.  The question becomes, is this latent behavior present beforehand?  Or is the hollywood lifestyle affecting stars, and effectually changing what their behavior would have been.

Remember the nineties show Full House?  Who could forget the lovable child character played by Mary Kate, and Ashley Olsen, as well as Jodie Sweetin and Candice Cameron.  This show provides the perfect side by side analysis of how Hollywood MAY have an effect on how children grow up.  Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen got their start on Full House form the time they were babies to their early years.  Spring boarding from Full House, they had individual movie lines, complete clothing lines, toy lines, a full merchandising suite.  These two stars were massively successful, and while they had their times dealing with personal issues, there was never any illegal or illicit activity.  Jody Sweetin on the other hand was nowhere near as successful, but still had the problem of growing up in the spotlight.  She had her fair share of success, but like Candice Cameron at a certain point distanced herself from the Hollywood industry.  While there has been no scandal for Candice, Jody has had repeated bouts of drug use and supposedly underage illicit activity.

While others might have a clear case of behavior turned extremely exhibitionist and unstable, some stars use their crazy behavior as nothing more than a publicity stunt.  Take for instance, Miley Cyrus.  It is currently being argued by many that hollywood or even disney in particular have effectually "ruined" her.  While these statements may or may not have any validity, unlike many other child stars, Miley Cyrus is not doing anything certifiably insane, nor illegal.  Stars such as Amanda Bynes, Lindsey Lohan, and Britney Spears, have exhibited behavior that puts both themselves, and others in danger, Miley Cyrus has only asked for attention.  The argument that people are making, is that hollywood MADE her do this, it made her who she is.  While very little research one can find out that Miley was a bit the rebel before Disney ever got it's claws into her.  As a child Miley Cyrus was repeatedly kicked out of private schools, and remember those provocative and inappropriate pics when she was underage?  That was all her decisions, outside of the hollywood limelight.  I think that at times Hollywood gives a stage and a voice to people, whether or not those people are extravagant is due to the person, not the industry in which they work in.

The end all question that is being asked is age old, is it nature or nurture?  Are these people who have been highlighted and spotlighted from a very young age being affected by the film industry?  Or are these children being  spotlighted, already having a predisposition to  rebellious and or mentally unsound decisions?  Perhaps we will never know, but the number of stars that have turned out unhealthy, makes one question if perhaps, the film industry may be to blame.