As I delve deeper into the world of these former child stars, their stories resonate profoundly with me. Their experiences, riddled with competition, isolation, and mental health struggles, mirror my own journey as an artist. The statistics they cite are alarming, yet heartbreakingly familiar – a stark reminder that fame, like a drug, can be as destructive as it is intoxicating.
Demi Lovato completed a full circle with their life’s journey, as they took on a role as co-director for the Hulu documentary titled “Child Star.
As a dedicated admirer, I delve deeper than just my idol’s personal success story, exploring the evolution of the entire child performer industry – a journey that spans from the golden age of Shirley Temple to the digital revolution of TikTok and YouTube.
Demi Lovato gathered her childhood peers Drew Barrymore, Kenan Thompson, Christina Ricci, Raven-Symoné, Alyson Stoner, and JoJo Siwa for on-camera storytelling; Raven-Symoné, Siwa, and Stoner accompanied Lovato at a special screening of the documentary, which took place at Neuehouse Hollywood on September 12. Speaking to EbMaster, Lovato expressed that discussing their shared experiences with them was incredibly significant for her.
Due to their shared experience, Lovato’s discussions stood out significantly from typical conversations with someone who hasn’t gone through the same ordeal. “There was a sense of understanding that was crucial among us,” Lovato stated. “That’s one of the reasons I chose to co-direct this film. It’s a significant aspect of my narrative, and I knew that connecting with the participants would be vital. I wanted to be the one to do it.
Absolutely, Lovato – who goes by both they/them and she/her pronouns – has quite a bit of experience with documentaries. They’ve been featured in three: “Stay Strong” (2012), “Simply Complicated” (2017) and “Dancing With the Devil” (2021). These films delved into various aspects of their life and career, including battles with mental health issues and substance abuse. Inspired by their previous collaboration on “Dancing With the Devil”, Lovato proposed the concept for “Child Star” to producer Michael D. Ratner; he was quick to express interest, along with co-director Nicola Marsh, known for her work in films like “The 12th Victim” and “Omnivore”.
Marsh noted that Demi finds it effortless to divulge her personal experiences as she’s been quite open about them. Demi is a thoughtful individual and prefers discussions that delve into the depths, rather than superficial chats like reminiscing about crushes. She seeks meaningful conversations.
Demi Lovato’s intuition proved accurate from their first interview, when Raven-Symoné recounted her guest role on Lovato’s Disney Channel series “Sonny With a Chance.” Interestingly, Lovato didn’t recall this at the time. In the documentary, they delve into Lovato’s challenging behavior on set. Raven-Symoné commented, “You weren’t always the friendliest,” to which she replied, “I understand you might have noticed I wasn’t the nicest person. Given my background in the industry and recognizing the blank stares, I didn’t blame you. Instead, I thought, ‘Something’s not quite right.’
Ratner found that moment particularly impactful. “I was quite astonished by the detachment Demi experienced while growing up,” he expressed. “We’ve discussed this briefly, but to truly grasp it and envision what it must be like to be so overworked that you can’t recall meeting people or working with them, it’s a powerful realization.
Raven-Symoné readily consented to join the documentary, expressing her view that it was crucial and vital. “There’s a variety of perspectives when discussing child stars,” she noted. “What I admire about this one is that we all managed to thrive in our unique ways at the end of the day. We’ve faced difficulties, but we’re all progressing. Moreover, we are building upon the foundations laid by child stars who haven’t had the chance to live on in recent years.
Siwa was equally enthusiastic about joining in. “When Demi reaches out, you pick up and respond with a ‘Yes.’ It’s awesome that I got this opportunity to handle the social media aspect,” she expressed. “I feel incredibly grateful that this occurred when it did because if it had happened three years ago, I would still have been considered a minor, so it feels like the ideal timing.
Since it was her initial viewing of the completed movie, Siwa was bracing herself for an emotional journey. “I’m getting ready for a tiny dose of pain that I’m not aware of yet to help me open up,” she expressed. “I believe there is something that I may have shielded my mind from acknowledging, having grown up as a child star in the spotlight. I’ve always kept it optimistic, but hearing other people’s stories might make me realize, ‘Oh dear, I can relate too.’
Stoner’s choice to join was somewhat intricate due to history with Lovato. They both acted together in Disney Channel’s “Camp Rock,” but they had drifted apart for 14 years after an altercation in 2010 where Lovato physically assaulted a backup dancer. Over the following years, Stoner has been a strong advocate for laws safeguarding child performers, which eventually led to their reunion for their initial conversation since then.
Stoner noted that it’s intriguing when you come up with an idea, and it seems unique because no one else is discussing it. You spend time researching in your room, working on projects to develop this concept, and then you notice others beginning to show interest. This reminds me of the ‘Quiet on Set’ docuseries. It gives you a sense of hope when you feel like progress is being made.
Ultimately, Stoner’s involvement in the documentary served as a “tactical” step to amplify the issue, and it unexpectedly became a therapeutic experience for the two rising celebrities.
Interestingly, during our younger days, we frequently found ourselves competing against one another. This can be quite lonely, despite the fact that we’d walk the red carpets together with smiles on our faces. Now, being able to sit beside each other and recognize shared signs in our body language – the same nervous twitches, the same apprehensions, similar mental health struggles stemming from being child actors – it can make us feel more connected in an otherwise alienating upbringing.
In the documentary, Stoner points out some troubling facts: On average, well-known individuals live about 14 years less than those not in the limelight, mainly due to the intense strain on their mental health. Additionally, famous people are four times more likely to take their own lives. Stoner suggests that fame can be as addictive as drugs. So, he questions, if fame is like a drug with potentially harmful effects on one’s brain chemistry and future growth, why do we expose children to it?
Next up, we might as well say, “Marsh’s words hint at this, but essentially, the child celebrities of yesterday serve as a warning signal for children navigating the digital world today.
Stoner opines that the entertainment sector stands at a critical juncture. They emphasized that it’s up to each of us, as individuals and collectively as a community, industry, and society, to consistently push for change in the right areas at the appropriate moments with pure intentions. They underscored that change won’t occur spontaneously.
Stoner has been crafting legislation in their home state of Ohio aimed at safeguarding child influencers. A legislator from Michigan has contacted them for assistance. The effort is a state-by-state pursuit to establish these protections. “There’s still a long road ahead, but I’m messaging representatives and suggesting we talk,” Stoner expressed.
Raven-Symoné is making an impact from within the entertainment business by creating and supervising shows on Disney Channel that star young actors. She emphasizes the importance of shifting the perception of child stars, stating, “We need to redefine the narrative about what a child star represents.” She adores every child actor she meets and aspires to establish a career foundation for them that nurtures their growth into successful industry professionals. She believes this understanding is crucial for their future success: “It’s about self-assurance, being aware, and realizing you don’t have to spend your entire life in the spotlight. There are other opportunities within the entertainment world, and it took me 38 years to realize that.
There’s speculation about whether Demi Lovato will take on more directing roles in the future, but they haven’t made up their mind yet. “If it happens,” Lovato said, “I would be working alongside someone as a co-director.” However, they are constantly pursuing new dreams, so it remains to be seen if directing might become one of those dreams again in the future.
Creating this documentary served as a catalyst for some fresh music, such as the moving song “You’ll Be OK, Kid,” which is featured at the end of the movie. In this emotionally charged piece, Lovato addresses their younger self who aspired to reach Shirley Temple’s level of fame: “The sharks in the water will help you learn to swim, the thorns on the roses will toughen your hide. People may hurt you and break their promises, but darling, I vow this truth to you, you’ll be alright, kid.
Lovato mentioned that the song carries an element of exploring one’s inner child, yet it also seems to serve as a warning. She emphasized the significance of creating this song since she knew precisely what message she wished to convey.
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2024-09-20 00:20