Happy Monday!
As a celebrity studies scholar, I was often asked about film stars in the media but what other working actors?
Unfortunately, not all viewers get to learn about a diverse range of working actors in celebrity culture.
And I want to change that.
Do you think all working actors, and not just film stars, need to be well represented in the media. If so, how?
Comment - I want to hear from you and wish all a wonderful start to the week!
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Hey, Dr Samita Nandy! SUCH a great question! I think this is precisely why the unions are so important, they are the ones representing the interests of working actors, and I'm all for representation for working actors.
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I’m not sure what you mean? But I’m intrigued by the question. In your mind, what are some ways they would be represented?
Matthew Cornwell I am thinking increasing journalistic representation of work actors (e.g. interviews of working actors) and instead of just relying on tabloids, giving an exclusive voice to A-list stars. Unions are definitely important in the representation of the work of actors Karen "Kay" Ross - must consider them further. Thank you so much for sharing!!
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Yes. Most of US are not STARS even if we think we are. And YES we most all of us want to heard and be a voice bellowing out into the Wilderness. Yes we want to heard in the Media as Craft used for Entertainment and sometimes nothing else. Thank you
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In my opinion, my union supports my needs in 'public'. Is this what you mean by 'in the media' ?
Steve James excellent question and well pointed out. In my view, union is a necessary part of larger public relations that protect the labor of media artists (e.g., https://www.sagawards.org/sag-aftra) and further enable the artists to be in / represented by the media (e.g., journalism as in entertainment news, newspaper columns, magazine articles, podcasts and blogs). So the media is related to the union but can extend beyond union mandates. As an actor, researcher, and former journalist, my experience and observation show that journalism outlets (and its audience including scholars) often focus more on A-list stars than other working actors. I have huge regard for the craft of working actors and really hope their work receives more attention - it is something I am contributing to
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@Dr Samita Great you think this way, “contributing” to all actors having an even playing field in gaining attention. Celebrity culture is a double edge sword, popular stars hog the media but we equally see them on magazine covers with a poxy headline. EG “Jane leaves house without makeup”. Or “John cheats in pizza parlour with wife of politician.” I cannot comment on SAG union but my experience of actors union in UK was pretty bizarre, albeit back 90s. Talking about Equity Union and actors. In every other job in the world you qualify and then apply for job and then join union. I applied to join Equity with degree in arts, gold medal acting and numerous other scholarships only to be told I already had to have had an “acting job”. Yet you could not get an acting job without being in union. This bizarre situation caused hundreds of thousands of qualified artists being unable to get a foot in the door and keep up the hub of closed shop cronyism. I humbled myself to become the back end of a camel in theatre for provisional membership however now in 2020 young actors have internet media representation and acting opportunities available on multiple platforms. I support your cause!
Debbie Croysdale thank you so much for sharing - your views need to be heard. The Internet has opened up connections and representation for independent and diverse productions that actors could not access earlier. I trust further dialogues and critical actions can open up more spaces for more working actors that deserve to be recognized on equal platforms. Sometimes it starts with peers celebrating each other - would be happy to contribute more on this.