Thoughts on Rupert - Comedy

[Steve]

I'm generally prone to worry, even about things that I
have no control over and that don't affect me. I worry
about the various actors in the HP movies. 

For example, Devon Murray/Seamus; he was working on an 
acting career before he got the Harry Potter part. 
Notably, he was in "Angela's Ashes" as well as "This is
my Father" and "Yesterday's Children". But what is he
doing now to make sure his career will have some staying
power? 

Naturally, Dan Radcliffe's successful performance in 
'Equus' has gotten me thinking about this.

Next, Tom Felton; he has certainly established himself as
an actor, and I would say a talented one. He had a major
role in the big budget Hollywood movie 'Anna and the 
King' in which he played Jodie Foster's (Anna Leonowens)
son. They don't just give those roles away. I think he 
is a brilliant actor with the potential for a fine 
career. Yet was is he doing to ensure that career?

I'm aware that Tom is more into fishing than acting, but
acting can buy him the time to freely spend fishing.
Actors generally get a huge pile of money for a short
period of intense work. Then they are free to wander
until the next project comes along. I think Tom has
potential for TV, Movies, and Stage acting.

My point is, he could be doing more to insure himself,
which is exactly what I see Dan doing, insuring his
future. He could be using his 'celebrity' to endorse
Fishing tours around the world. That would give him
all the free fishing he could hope for, and provide
a nice income. He could use his 'celebrity' to endorse 
fishing products; rods, reels, lures, boats, etc,
and make a nice income off of that, as well as making
a name for himself in fishing circles. 

Now to the central character and subject of this 
post - Rupert Grint. Perhaps Rupert is just having
a fun time and enjoying the moment; enjoying being
young, rich (moderately so) and famous. Nothing 
wrong with that, but the potential is very high
for him to be one of those child actors who never
makes it into the realm of adult actors. I've even
heard comments that after the Potter Series is over
he will probable end up flipping burgers some where.
That would certainly be a shame.

Yet, it is not going to work for him to be a mirror
of Dan; Dan does the stage, so Rupert does the stage.
Dan makes a war movie, so Rupert makes a war movie.
That simply isn't going to work. He needs to find
his own path in life, and it is clear from his 
earlier comments that he wants that path to be in
the field of acting. So why don't we see Rupert 
doing more to keep himself in the public mind? To
support various charities more openly. To try
new projects, etc.... 

Now I think Rupert did well in 'Driving Lessons',
but just as with the Harry Potter movies, his
performance was limited by the material he was
given to work with and the direction he was given.
An actor can never be better than his material.
None the less, I think it was a good showcase for
him.

So, what should Rupert do to showcase himself and
his talent, that will also not distract from his
role in the up-coming moives? All the actors that
work with him say he is immensely funny with near
perfect comic timing. So, why not try a hand at
comedy. There must be a few stages in Britain
that have Open-Mic Comedy Nights. If Rupert got an
act together he could start with open mic nights,
and after he honed his material, if the response
was positive, he could move on to paid jobs.
Perhaps even appearing on TV Variety or talk shows.

I have to wonder about the people handling Rupert,
his management team; agent, publicist, etc.... They
don't seem to be doing much for him. On one hand,
it could be the Rupert is just enjoying being a kid.
Nothing wrong with that, but already having a public
profile that is greatly colored by Harry Potter, it
is important to make a distinction between Ron and
Rupert.

I really don't think the HP movies are a showcase 
for anyone's talent; they are just cut too thin. So,
if any of these actors has a hope of a future as an
adult actor, each in their own unique way, they are
going to have to create an identity that is separate
from Harry Potter. It is that alternate identity
that is going to carry them into the future. That is
exactly what I see Dan wisely and successfully doing. 

So - Rupert Grint - Stand-up Comedian ... what say
you all?

Just ranting and raving.

Steve/bboyminn