Musings on celebrities, opinions and the fourth wall…

There’s always a lot of talk about whether celebrities should or should not share their opinions on politics, and those discussions reach a climax in an election year. People seem to get really offended by celebrities who feel they have a right to throw their opinions into the mix and expect people to listen.

I was thinking about this the other day and I realized that the whole issue just goes to show how personal politics really are. After all, we’re okay with celebrities sharing their opinion in other areas…advertisers bet on it. We look to celebrities to tell us what cars to drive, what clothes to wear, what to name our babies. But when it comes to how to cast our vote, well, that’s just too far.

I’m not saying I think celebrities should share their political opinions, but you can see how they’d get confused. We can’t expect them to take it very well when we invite them into our lives and fawn all over them, then draw a line in sand they didn’t know they were standing in. It just seems so random.

I was reading Jude Cole’s recent blog and he complains about the fourth wall being broken when celebrities share their personal opinions. But does the fourth wall even exist anymore? With tabloids and paparazzi and E! True Hollywood Stories, is it possible to watch an actor on screen and not think about the intimate details of that person’s off-screen life? As I write, The Bachelor and the Bobby Soxer is playing on TV. Watching Cary Grant and Myrna Loy, I’m reminded that movie stars aren’t what they used to be. There was a time when an actor’s personal life was kept private in order to preserve their persona. In a way, I think more is required of actors these days because we do know so much about them. If an actor can make you forget about everything else and really believe them in whatever role they’re playing, that’s quite an accomplishment.

In the current cultural landscape, I just don’t see it as a big deal when celebrities want to share their personal opinions. I think it’s okay to share mine with the world (even if it’s just a small corner of it here on this blog), so why shouldn’t they share theirs in whatever way they’re able?

Peace. Out.

Jesus People in the news…

Check it out.

Peace. Out.

Online today…

- If you’ve ever wondered what’s going through the mind of a big-shot television writer, here’s your chance to find out. Chuck Lorre (The Big Bang Theory, Two and a Half Men) puts a “vanity card” at the end of each episode of his current shows. He’s been doing this for years and some of them are pretty funny.

- Taylor Swift is my hero. Other than the slightly creepy feeling I got when Joe Elliot looked right at her and sang “You’re all I want/My fantasy,” this performance is pretty envy-inducing! On a side note, what’s up with Joe’s hair? Eek!

- Two Clint Eastwood movies coming up! Changeling, which he directed, and Gran Torino, in which he stars and directs. I think Clint Eastwood is one of the finest directors of our time and it makes me so excited to get two movies from him this season.

- Wow! At over six minutes, this French “Thriller” video may set some sort of record for impressively lengthy tracking shots. I’m impressed at the planning and blocking this must have taken!

Peace. Out.

City of Angels, Recap 2…

After an absolutely wonderful three weeks, I’m (finally) back home and trying to settle back into my real life. I have to say, it was absolutely wonderful to sleep in my own bed last night! I was right back to work bright and early this morning, so I haven’t had much time to recuperate or unpack, but I’m happy to be home.

Picking up where I left off with the previous recap…

The first weekend after Paul got to LA, we stayed with our friends Shirley and Lucas, who were so welcoming and accomodating to us. We had a blast seeing a little bit of North Hollywood and hanging out with them. Friday night of that weekend, Paul, Shirley and I saw an improv play featuring one of the Jesus People cast, Edi Patterson. The play was “Jane Austen: Unscripted” and was hilarious. We saw it on opening night, so I’m sure it’s only gotten funnier over the last few weeks!

Paul and I were scheduled to fly out of LA on Saturday, October 11, but we found out that the final days of shooting were going to be done the following weekend. We weighed our options and decided to just stay out on the West Coast to see the project through to the end. Yay! We hung out with Shirley and Lucas on Saturday, went to my friend Jason’s church (Venice Beach Fellowship) Sunday morning and Shirley’s church (Mosaic) Sunday night (yeah, it’s been a while since I’ve been to TWO Sunday services!!). The churches were very different, but each really awesome in its own way.

Between the services, Shirley and I appeared as extras in a short film her church was doing for a new sermon series. We got all dressed up and danced in a nightclub with no music playing for about three hours! It was pretty fun and we got to meet some great people.

With almost a whole week ahead of us and no work to be done until Friday, Paul and I decided to hit Vegas for a few days! We headed out on Monday and stayed about a half-mile off the Strip at our recently opened vacation club. We had such a blast! We weren’t really prepared to “do Vegas” since it was a last-minute trip, but we still had so much fun. We were totally those people walking around the hotels going “Wow, they even have the ceiling painted like the sky, can you believe that!?!” So cheesy. I would love to go back when we can really do it right – see some shows, eat at the best restaurants, visit some clubs. But it was a great introduction to the city. And it was really nice to be on our own for a few days.

We got back into town Thursday night and Friday morning I went with the cast to a dance rehearsal. The group would be performing in a scene the next day, so they were learning their choreography. I was there for moral support and to record some behind-the-scenes footage. It was great! They were really nervous since none of them are “dancers,” but they ended up figuring it out and doing really well.

Saturday was our final shoot day. We recorded several scenes at a house in the morning and then were back at the studio location for the rest of the day. The first thing we shot in the afternoon was Cross My Heart’s performance. They did so great! I felt just like a stage mom, doing the moves along with them off the side of the stage and reminding them to sing and smile.

We didn’t really have an official “wrap party” planned, but a big group of us went out after we were done shooting to a place on the West side called “Baby Blue’s BBQ.” They actually had Carolina-style BBQ with all the fixin’s (creamed spinach, mashed sweet potatoes, homemade mac’n'cheese…mmmm!). It was delicious and we had so much fun just hanging out together.

Sunday and Monday, Paul and I took it pretty easy. Sunday afternoon we went out to Venice Beach and window-shopped along the boardwalk. What a great place to people watch and find treasures! Sunday night we went out with friends Jason and Angela and Shirley and Damon. Ate at a great little place in Venice called C&O Trattoria, then walked out on the pier and chatted after dinner.

Monday, we had some errands to run in the morning, then drove up the Pacific Coast Highway to Malibu. Wow! Talk about gorgeous places!! We were amazed at how beautiful that coast is. We got out at a random beach and hiked down the mountain to the rocky shore. It was so great to just relax and enjoy the sunshine for a bit.

Monday night, we had dinner with our friend Jenna and a potential business associate, then crashed on the couch to catch up on Gossip Girl! We packed up and headed to the airport at 5 a.m. Tuesday morning and here we are.

This experience of working with such wonderful people on a film I love has been one of the most gratifying of my life. I had so much fun, laughed so hard, and made such wonderful friends. I look forward to the next project we can all work on together!

Peace. Out.

Obama…

I don’t generally get too involved, especially here on the blog, in political discussions. I’ve especially avoided them this year because I’ve been a secret supporter of Barack Obama. “Secret” because most people I know and regularly interact with believe he’s (a) the antichrist, (b) a terrorist plant, or (c) generally evil because he’s a Democrat.

I’ve supported him, though, because I’m more of a Democrat myself these days, and I agree with a lot of what he’s said. I read two articles this week, however, that are really making me pause in that support.

I’d rather not get into my personal opinion on abortion here, because it’s a complicated issue and I feel like complicated issues are best discussed in person over several hours rather than in short, pithy sentences that can be very easily misunderstood. But what’s not complicated is that I value people. And “people” to me – at the very least – includes any living thing outside the womb. It’s sad that I can’t say for sure if Obama agrees with that position.

So, what’s a girl to do? More than anything, I find myself leaning toward the camp that asks,  “Does all of this politics stuff really matter?” Especially to Christians? Our call, our mission as individuals and as the Church doesn’t change, no matter what the political landscape looks like. I know my American value system says the right to vote comes with a responsibility to vote. I just don’t know if – given all of the information – my Christian value system supports that. Or has anything to do with it at all.

Peace. Out.