Now Dan ( Was: Thoughts on Rupert - Comedy)

[Steve]

---  "Geoff Bannister" <gbannister10 at ...> wrote:
>
> ---  "Steve" <bboyminn@> wrote:
> 
> > Found an interesting article that is somewhat related
> > to what we are discussing. 
> > 
> >
http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117939202.html?categoryid=25&cs=1&query=Daniel+Radcliffe
> > 
> > Jack Wild, the actor appeared who in the movie musical
> > "Oliver!" died March 1 in England after a battle with 
> > mouth cancer. He was 53.
> > 
> > ... and wrote an open letter to "Harry Potter" star
> > Daniel Radcliffe cautioning against the risks of 
> > young stardom.
> > 
> > - - - - end - - - -

> Geoff:
> 
> I think that Daniel has his head screwed on right and
> will avoid the pitfalls that some child stars have run
> into. I have seen that he mentioned Jack Wild  in one 
> of his interviews.
> 

bboyminn:

Actually I agree, he does have his head on straight, but
he does live in a world of quicksand. When you are rich,
who can you trust? How do you know if someone is scamming
you, or if they really are friends and honest business 
associates? 

There are many child stars who trusted others to deal 
with problems for them, parents, agents, etc..., and
they go royally screwed. Gary Coleman was virtually 
broke when his series ended. His parents squandered all
his money. A few years later, he was working as a
security guard at one of the minor studios. Some actors
lose the boyish cuteness, and that is the end for them.
Other like Macually Culkin, never lose there boyish
cute and therefore can never be taken seriously as an
adult actor. It's not just a matter of talent, sometimes
fates just screws you.

Wealth, while is solves some problems, is a curse; you've
got it and everyone else wants a piece of it. 

I think Dan will do well, but it IS a jungle out there. 

For those who are interested, here is a link to the open
letter that Jack Wild wrote to Dan -

http://www.minorcon.org/harrypotter.html



> Geoff continues:
> ...
> 
> I'm not sure the original link still works (and it may 
> be for Mac only) but the following should work:
> 
> Go to http://observer.guardian.co.uk
> 
> ...
> 
> My only criticism of the article is the silly title 
> which may put some readers off.
>

bboyminn:

Yes, that is a good article/interview with Dan. At least
the interviewer didn't focus on the same old tired light-
weight 'fan' questions that all the other interviews are
asking. It brought out Dan, because rather that creating
sound bites, the interview seemed genuinely interested.

But, her is a link to another article in the Daily Mail
about Dan. Though I should note, that I don't consider
the Faily Mail the most reputable paper out there.

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/pages/live/articles/news/news.html?in_article_id=433552&in_page_id=1770

Here are a few quotes that probably aren't true, but
they still paint a dark and dangerous picture for Dan.

"Certainly, as an attempt to rid himself of the yoke of
his famous alter ego, taking the role of a deranged stable
lad ...could not be more dramatic or - dare one say - 
cynical."

Cynical? Really?

"Apparently, the actor (and, more importantly, his highly
ambitious parents) are now keen to distance him from the 
screen role which turned him into a multi-millionaire and
household name at the age of 12.

His parents - Alan, a literary agent, and Marcia, a 
casting director - are keen to establish Daniel as a 
leading man in the mould of Leonardo DiCaprio or Brad 
Pitt."

So, his 'highly ambitious parents' are 'keen to establish
Dan as a leading man'. They want to establish Dan as a 
leading man, but what does Dan want? I think this is 
overblown rhetoric and not very likely but it illustrates
what could be happening out of our sight. 

"But his new look is an added source of discomfort for his
film bosses, who last year banned him from working out 
during shooting of the fifth movie,..."

Seems as if people are trying to mold Dan to their 
particular needs. Again, I don't give a lot of weight
to this type of sensationalistic writing, but it does
reflect some of the pressures Dan is under.

"...those who surround the teenager, including his 
formidable agent Patricia MacNaughton, are making big 
plans for life after Harry Potter."

So are they making those /big plans/ for him or with him,
and for their own interests or his best interest???

"Meanwhile, his handlers are said to have put out the 
word in Tinseltown that he is looking for an 'edgy, dark 
role' for his first grown-up Hollywood outing."

I'm sure Dan is involved in this, but are 'his handlers'
molding him as they see fit, or is he molding himself
with their help? 

"Radcliffe's ever-present parents are said to have 
overseen changes to the (Equus) script,..."

I'm not sure I believe this, again sensationalistic
writing, but it could be an indication of bad stage
mother-itis.

There are also indications in the article that Dan has
had sufficient problems in the public schools he has
gone to, that he has had to change schools several times.
Again, probably overwrought journalism, but it is some
indication that Dan's life is not all peaches and 
cream.

There are also rumors of Dan dating an older woman. 
Though I think those have been refuted, indicating 
that they are just good friends. So...truth or media
spin? 

Now let's make sure my point is clear here. I don't 
give much credibility to a paper like the Daily Mail,
but it does hint that it is possible for there to be
people around Dan and aspects of his personal life
that could have negative long term consequences.

I don't think Dan's parents are typical 'stage' parents,
and I do think they have his best interest at heart.
I also think they have enough experience in the business
to help Dan manuver the pitfalls. But, I'm not there,
I can't really say, maybe his parent are living 
vicariously though their son. Maybe they are so involved
in his business and partners in the company Dan has 
formed because it's easier than working for a living.

I don't know, I hope for the best, and at the moment
think the best. But Dan wouldn't be the first person to
trust the people closest to him, only to find out they
were working in their own best interest and not his.

Dan seems like a great guy, and I only wish him the very
best, but like I said, he alternates between walking in 
a mine field and quicksand. A position I don't envy.

Now, Dan is about to turn 18, and then he will legally be
able to Drink alcohol. That, in an of itself, is a mine 
field because our public preception of alcohol is exactly
the opposite of reality. In the movies and in the public
mind, the guy who can drink the most and drink the longest
is the hero, loved and admired by everyone. But the 
reality is those signs we publically love, are the very
signs of someone who is likely to have life long problems
with alcohol. The problem is, no one tells us this until
we are broke, abandon, and laying in the gutter. I hope
someone is wise enough to teach Dan how to gauge his
alcohol use, and to make him aware of the signs of POTENTIAL
for problems, long before those problems occur.

Sorry to rant and rave so much, but I hate to see a good
man fall; much better to see him fly.

Steve/bboyminn - in a very ranting mood lately.