Christopher Reeve’s “Still Me” in audio form

[Metallo]

[crazy_asian_man]

Very cool! I think I have/had this on audio cassette. If I recall right, there were a couple of memoirs--- one of them sadly was with Reeve getting sucked into Scientology (Which is basically rips off ideas from Buddhism- but then goes south with money-grabbing scenarios for insecure people- if I recall well- I don;t' know if Reeve ever got away from it).

A number of actors who knew Reeve I know said that Reeve really transfomed himself inside during his accident into a deepr and more introspective person than he had been prior. It's great that he kept going and used his suffering to be an opportunity to learn about himself and continue to make a positive effect on the world. I don't know if I (or many people) could do the same in his situation.

[Metallo]

Yeah I remember reading about his dealings with Scientology in one of his books and him quickly figuring out it was a sham and a scam by using a story from literature for one of their past life regression sessions. It’s easy for some celebs to get sucked into these cults.

[crazy_asian_man]

Dec 11, 2019 13:29:26 GMT -5 Metallo said:

Yeah I remember reading about his dealings with Scientology in one of his books and him quickly figuring out it was a sham and a scam by using a story from literature for one of their past life regression sessions. It’s easy for some celebs to get sucked into these cults.

It's easy for 'non-celebs' to as well-

In my 20's I was pretty interested in psychology & how the mind works- I bought the Dianetics- (Scientology) book & read it (not knowing the book was a ripoff of Buddhism at the time) & took a class on learning & some other things that seemed innocent but didn't go further when things sounded really wonky to me and just... well, for lack of better word, crazy. Fortunately, didn't go further than just taking some classes. Some folks there were actually nice and upfront, but the stories about the org in general are scary.

(Sadly, I'm stuck on their mailing list despite many many requests to be dropped from it.

[Metallo]

The difference with celebs and us common folk is celebs have sycophants around them all the time. They kiss their @sses to use their celebrity for their own gain. Celebs already have to struggle with not letting their view of the world get warped. Add in cults trying to recruit them that becomes even worse. Normal people don’t have those kinds of forces acting on them at that level and it’s much easier to keep their feet on the ground.

[crazy_asian_man]

Dec 12, 2019 13:27:24 GMT -5 Metallo said:

The difference with celebs and us common folk is celebs have sycophants around them all the time. They kiss their @sses to use their celebrity for their own gain. Celebs already have to struggle with not letting their view of the world get warped. Add in cults trying to recruit them that becomes even worse. Normal people don’t have those kinds of forces acting on them at that level and it’s much easier to keep their feet on the ground.

Again great points.
There was a podcast with Rosenbaum chatted with another tv actor candidly about how even ‘lower level fame’ is a weird beast that can mess with one’s head and how they wished there was a kind of therapist that knew how to deal with that experience because it’s a bit unique.

It’s kind of why i’m not thrilled with interacting with actors whose work i enjoy in person at a convention - it’s not a real interaction as i imagine they’d have to feel (rightfully so) extra guarded.

[Metallo]

I’d never want to be be that famous. Your life changes. They have the same problems as everyone else anymore but its not typical normal anymore. Imagine getting hassled for something all the time. Or getting your photo taken all the time. Then imagine the rejection actors deal with everyday and the extra judgment they get based on looks alone. They’re not supposed to take it personally since it’s part of the business but how could they not at some point? Their entire self worth is wrapped up in so many superficial things. I’m surprised more of them aren’t messed up mentally.

Look at Elvis. No one was EVER going to say no and he had people leaching off him for the rest of his life. No wonder he destroyed himself. All the ones THAT famous struggle with it. Then when fame is gone and no one cares about you and you fall back down the earth that’s just as destructive. After years of being in that bubble with that adulation a lot of celebs can’t cope.

[crazy_asian_man]

Dec 12, 2019 14:28:09 GMT -5 Metallo said:

I’d never want to be be that famous. Your life changes. They have the same problems as everyone else anymore but its not typical normal anymore. Imagine getting hassled for something all the time. Or getting your photo taken all the time. Then imagine the rejection actors deal with everyday and the extra judgment they get based on looks alone. They’re not supposed to take it personally since it’s part of the business but how could they not at some point? Their entire self worth is wrapped up in so many superficial things. I’m surprised more of them aren’t messed up mentally.

Look at Elvis. No one was EVER going to say no and he had people leaching off him for the rest of his life. No wonder he destroyed himself. All the ones THAT famous struggle with it. Then when fame is gone and no one cares about you and you fall back down the earth that’s just as destructive. After years of being in that bubble with that adulation a lot of celebs can’t cope.

Right. It's been interesting on Rosenbaum's podcast hearing straight from the horse's mouth (so to speak) on these matters, especially when talking to other actors as well about the same. I still have questions and concerns myself on 'sharing' everything on social media.... but in celeb's case- maybe they're already so visible that they might as well.

[Metallo]

With a lot of them this stuff leaks out anyway but they are trying to play the game and do that balancing act. They need the press and the paparazzi to promote themselves and get buzz but they also want a degree of privacy. I think some things should be off limits but once you open the floodgates it’s hard to close them.

[crazy_asian_man]

Dec 12, 2019 20:02:44 GMT -5 Metallo said:

With a lot of them this stuff leaks out anyway but they are trying to play the game and do that balancing act. They need the press and the paparazzi to promote themselves and get buzz but they also want a degree of privacy. I think some things should be off limits but once you open the floodgates it’s hard to close them.

Right- and this also has been directly talked about on Rosenbaum's podcast.

Rosenbaum has been extremely open about his chlldhood and dysfunctional family ...but he openly says the podcast is sort of his therapy and opens it up for other actors to also share as much of their traumas and heartbreaks (Justin Hartley and Steve Amiell are pretty open with their life struggles) as well- it's kind of like Barbara Walters but done in a way that's just more down to earth rather than feeling like someone's on a court trial or such. And- it's more often than not pretty funny. It's a labor of love for Rosenbaum and you can tell for sure he's having the time of his life talking with people about heavy things.