Being a star...Springsteen and what we can learn from him

I have worked on a number of small very low budget short films (and one full length but that’s a story all of its own) and have been always struck by how hopeful and nice the actors are- this has generally been young things donating their time in the hope of making it big, but it does include a few moderate stars of Aussie cinema, including the grand old man of Australian cop shows Bud Tingwell’s last movie. He was well into his eighties and donated his time to help the students. In the film he played an elderly father in a nursing home (it’s been on ABC a few times) and between takes he wandered around into the kitchen (where I was the caterer) and had a chat. The actress who played his daughter was equally as charming.
One hears stories of getting to Hollywood changing you. The Russell Crowe tantrums. But you do also hear of the stars who work hard to keep their feet on the ground.
In general I think Rock Stars don’t succeed as well, or maybe just the young ones don’t- if you survive the youth then you mellow. Last night I saw Bruce Springsteen who must be the role model for the gracious survivor. The concert was stunning. Three solid hours and he was on stage the whole time and looked like he enjoyed every minute. The audience certainly did! He took the whole band (minus drummer and keyboard players) on a tour and came within touching distance. He has a lot of charisma.
Unfortunately not all the audience was as gracious, and I was a bit taken aback by the dotting fans (average age 50-55 I would say!) getting so carried away they had to touch him and at one stage put an arm around him and almost stopping he moving (this was a guy- the girl he danced with was reluctant but more appropriate in finally letting him go!). It struck me that this is the price of stardom- people loosing perspective about you, and not just teenagers. The obsessive fans that went through Dylan’s bins were not that young either.
He gets well paid, he enjoys his job. But in the end he is just a singer (albeit a great one and a great entertainer) just as actors are just doing a job. We really should remember this- not just for them but to keep our own lives in perspective and not dream too much about being rich and famous. I look at the best seller list and dream of my name there. But if it was I guess I would be wishing it was first rather than tenth or that it was the NY best seller list. For the moment I’ll content myself with obscurity and get back to dreams… and edits….