Celebrity Role Playing...Is It Worth It?

We've all seen it on Facebook and Twitter...and, in the earlier days, on Yahoo Messenger. There are people out there who role play as their favourite celebrity.

While it may sound innocent enough, not everyone who does it is honest enough to let people know that they're just role playing.

Most who do these role plays do it just for fun...or maybe they do it because it makes their lives more interesting. Unfortunately, there are those out there who also do it to cause harm to others.

In reality, there are laws against impersonating another person. Some would consider it mild identity theft. While some would be flattered that another would find them interesting enough to impersonate them, the rest would find it to be a twisted, deluded behaviour.

Also, there are also naive people out there who would truly believe in the lie. As an admin, I have certainly encountered some of these fans asking me if I was Tom Hiddleston because I talk like him. Never in any capacity have I ever claimed, or said that I was Tom.

But, if these hapless fans encounter someone who does pretend to be Tom...and they extend that lie further, people will be hurt. Everybody wants to meet their favourite celebrity, but at what cost?

Role playing seems harmless but it causes problems for the person being impersonated. What happens if someone roleplaying Tom or someone else hurts a fan's feelings? Then Tom or the celebrity impersonated would be blamed. Is that fair? Of course not.

I'd say that role players should stop living vicariously through celebrities and do things to enrich their lives. Sure, it's fun to pretend to be someone else, but it's much better to focus on your own life and make it better.

Quite possibly, role playing is a way of compensating for a lack of something in a person's life. If a man pretends to be Tom Hiddleston, it's quite possibly because Tom is cultured, handsome, and attracts all the ladies. Instead of pretending to be him, a person can introduce himself/herself to the works of Shakespeare, improve on their appearance and personality.

We are but lumps of clay that can be molded into anything we want ourselves to be. Why sell ourselves short by pretending to be someone we're not?

The new year is approaching us and we have New Years resolutions to make and uphold. Why not make a resolution to improve yourself?

The Re-Emergence of Tom Hiddleston

Images of Tom Hiddleston at LAX Airport have surfaced and have been circulated around the internet.

The celebrated thespian has completed his work on "I Saw The Light" and has also taken part in an adorable Christmas video with his mentor on the project. It is plain to see that he is on his way home to celebrate Christmas with his family.

Cue the "Awww", right?

WRONG!

It is obvious that a fangirl or fanboy snapped the impromptu image of Mr. Hiddleston as he was on his way to the gate his departure would be at.

Honestly, the poor guy was trying to return home for Christmas. As anxious as all of us are about how he is doing and what he is up to, is it really our business?

Would you like a camera shoved in your face when you're trying to get home for Christmas after a long period of filming abroad? Would you like people snapping images of you rushing through the airport?

So why is it okay for you to snap images of him doing the same thing?

Don't let the smiling face fool you. He knows how to mask his annoyance well. He was probably tired and anxious to get home. The last thing he needed was to be approached at the airport by star-spotting fans.

Keep in mind that he is not a toy...he is a human being...and human beings deserve dignity and privacy!

And anything that happens in their lives is none of our business!

People Magazine Awards...Seriously?

Awards season for film is beginning in January and we are all looking forward to seeing our favourite films, actors and actresses win awards.

I was watching Saturday Night Live last night and an advertisement for the First Annual People Magazine Awards came on during the commercial break. Although People Magazine has had some very decent human interest articles with real people over the years, it has sadly fallen in with the likes of OK! Magazine and others who post rumors, photos of and personal things about celebrities that have no business being published. They also include situations that occur on and off Reality Television screens.

During this particular commercial, they named some of the categories and I was floored by the fangirl reminiscent titles. Sexiest Actress? Sexiest Actor? Seriously???!!

I am not going to take away the honor of being named Sexiest Man Alive from Chris Hemsworth but I think such an honor is childish. Why not comment on his acting? While he may not entirely be an Oscar contender, he is an excellent actor.

Above all, I am fairly sure that these awards are voted on by fans, so guess what is going to happen? The fangirls and fanboys are going to flood the cables and vote and also fill Facebook and Twitter with links and pleas to vote for Tom Hiddleston or Benedict Cumberbatch for Sexiest Man Alive or Sexiest Actor.

On both of my pages, I will not be allowing multiple postings for the People Magazine Awards asking for votes because I think it is offensive to the actors and actresses involved. They want to be taken seriously for their craft, not for their appearance.

In addition, there are also extremely talented actors and actresses who  may never make those Sexiest lists. Nobody will nominate Steve Buscemi although his work in Coen Brothers films and Boardwalk Empire is amazing. What about Billy Bob Thornton? He is one of the most underrated talented actors out there and he never gets the credit he deserves.

So instead of harping upon appearances, these magazines should be promoting talent and one's ability to morph into their characters. Let the childish ogling and fangirl voting be reserved for Teen Choice Awards or People's Choice awards.

Those who are on the real voting committees for the Academy Awards, the Emmys and Golden Globes do not look at an actor or actress's appearance when they choose a winner. They go by talent. If they choose Benedict Cumberbatch as Best Actor, it's not because he is a sex symbol. If they choose Reese Witherspoon as Best Actress, it's not because she is one of the most beautiful actresses in the industry.

So why should we let two-bit publications create their own awards ceremonies to indulge fangirls and fanboys? It promotes the bad behaviours I have previously described.

How about they leave the honoring to the professionals and quit while they are still ahead?!

The Disparity of Films

I'm going to take a breather from ragging on the fangirls as a new, more serious problem has emerged in the realm of film.

Canada may be famous for the Toronto Film Festival, but Canada is NOT Toronto...Toronto is PART of Canada, not ALL of it. Just because they call themselves the "center of the universe" doesn't mean that they actually are.

I am not from Toronto...I'm not even from Ontario. I hail from Western Canada.

When talking to a friend of mine from Bathurst, NB, it became known to me that quality films like "The Imitation Game" are released in limited locations. I was fortunate enough to be able to see it due to a fluke error by Cineplex, but several other people in my city were disappointed because there was only one screening at only one theater. (There are several theaters in the area)

As it happens, my friend blasted her local theater for not screening "The Imitation Game". Just because a movie is more independent than others, it doesn't deserve to be excluded from having multiple screenings.

This particular film has already been critically acclaimed but they refuse to show more screenings other than in Toronto. Why? There are plenty of other fans living in the rest of Canada who have been clamoring to see "The Imitation Game" but are left out because Toronto gets everything.

But it's not just that.

Could it be that there is a conspiracy against "The Imitation Game" and possibly against Benedict? "The Theory of Everything", the critically acclaimed Stephen Hawking biopic, is being screened multiple times in multiple theaters in multiple cities. It has less Oscar buzz than "The Imitation Game" but has been in theaters for more than a week.

In fact, I am quite certain that more people would flock to see "The Imitation Game" than "The Theory of Everything", but they are being paid no heed. How is that fair for film enthusiasts?
We live in North America, the center of democracy and freedom, but yet we cannot see all of the films we want to see.

There should be an equal filming distribution among cities, not that a bigger city gets a screening and a smaller city gets nothing. There are also places around the world that are unable to screen the film as well due to "censorship" laws and prejudice.

Do you think Benedict and the other people working their hardest on this film would like hearing that fans were unable to see it because of limited screenings? Either way they earn their money but I know for a fact that Benedict loves his fans and would be upset that they couldn't see his work.

If film companies are heavily against bit torrent sites like The Pirate Bay for distributing film and television shows and music for free, perhaps they should release their films EVERYWHERE instead of being choosy about where they screen. The film industry needs to remind itself that it's because of everyday people that they make their money...these everyday people spend their money on admission to these movies, as well as the food at the concession counter.

If it weren't for the everyday people paying this money at the box office, the film industry would not be where it is today. Perhaps it's time the film industry gave back!

The Imitation Game: My Hits and Fangirl Misses

I was one of the lucky few to be able to see "The Imitation Game" last night in a local theater. While it was thrilling to be able to see Benedict's latest film with a mere select few, fangirls soon rained on my parade.

As I was sitting in my seat, patiently awaiting for the start of the film, all I could hear was fangirl chatter about how sexy Benedict was and how upset they were that he was off the market and about to be a father.

Seriously? This film is a major contender for many Oscar categories, and told a bittersweet story about the 'Father of Modern Computers', yet they disrespected both with their tedious and hormone fueled commentary of Benedict's sex appeal.

There were local movie critics in the audience, as well as serious theater and film enthusiasts like myself. Do fangirls ever stop to think about how ridiculous they sound in a room full of intellectuals?

The only saving grace was the start of the film, because Benedict's performance hooked and reeled me in like an elusive fish. In fact, his portrayal of Alan Turing was so impeccable that it overwhelmed me to the point where I was in tears...and I NEVER cry at movies.

Fangirling/Fanboying has become an epidemic and it's only going to worsen until it is too late and all actors, singers, athletes and artists will shy away from the public for good.

Granted, sexual attraction has a time and place and, in this case, a huge line was crossed. Talking about the sex appeal of a celebrity belongs in the confines of a fan's own home...not in public. There are serious individuals out there who are at theaters and other performances to enjoy what they are seeing...they don't need some childish commentary about pedestrian topics.

This eventually led to a discussion about proper theater etiquette with my friend, who is also accompanying me to see Hamlet in London. The both of us aren't there just to see Benedict's performance...we are there to pay homage to William Shakespeare and his works. The both of us grew up with the enjoyment of his plays and bonded over our favourite plays and characters and we will be extremely upset if our experience is ruined.

There will undoubtedly be a number of screaming, disrespectful fangirls and fanboys...and just like with Coriolanus, they will be disrupting the performance with their ogling and their crowing over Benedict's good looks and sex appeal.

Sadly, there will be two victims...Benedict Cumberbatch and William Shakespeare. I do not need to explain the reasons for either one because fangirl behaviour and disrespect speaks for itself.

Freedom of Speech...The Greatest Lie of Fangirls

Freedom of speech...the 5th Amendment to the United States of America's Constitution...it is a God-given right...but it doesn't mean we have the right to abuse it.

Fan pages have rules...the set of rules for my pages are always about respect. If I post something meaningful, I don't want to have to see only posts about a nice rear end or good looks.

The situation described in yesterday's entry created a small controversy within Team Hiddleston when a fangirl brazenly tried to stand up to me and my treatise on respect. She tried telling me that people should be free to say what they want about someone and that it was unrealistic of my co-admin and I to enforce the commenting on posts the way we do. She then proceeded to tell me that she was going to keep posting on what attracts her to Mr. Hiddleston no matter what I said because she had the right and the freedom to do so.

Everyone has a right to their opinion. But when I explained that a line had been crossed, she tried to dictate to me how my page should be and even went as far as blatantly twisting words to make it sound like my page was unfair to fans.

I don't need to go into further detail to bring my point across.

We all have freedom of choice and freedom of speech. I have the freedom to put up my page and create my own rules for it. I also have the freedom to dictate what I want on my page as long as it doesn't hurt or harm anyone.

People who like my page are free to disagree with a point or give their opinion. However, telling me how to run my own page is an abuse of that freedom. Constructive criticism is fine, but I dislike uninformed commenting and complaining like this fangirl was doing.

Quite simply, she was put in her place with the phrase "feel free to create your own page or join another if you don't want to follow the rules." I'm not in it for the stats and ratings...my page was created to show Mr. Hiddleston that there were a lot of respectful fans out there who weren't just looking at his rear end. It's not a popularity contest...I'm not going to lose sleep if a few people unlike my page because they don't want to be respectful.

People can use their freedom of speech however they wish...but I choose to use my freedom to expose the abuses of fandoms. I'm not in it to make friends or be popular. I'm in it to spread awareness so nobody gets hurt or bullied.

You can disagree with me or my ideals all you want, I won't hate you for it. But don't try to condemn me for it.

Awards and Disrespectful Reactions: Cue the facepalm!

A lot of actors the fangirls and fanboys worship are very accomplished. They are classically trained, and have received several awards for their accomplishments.

First of all, I’d like to take the time to recognize the two I have been a huge fan of for a long time…as they probably won’t hear it from anyone else in the fandoms… Benedict and Tom… (And quit rolling your eyes and griping…it’s all about respect.)

Benedict, I was extremely proud of you when I found out you received the Emmy for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Miniseries. When I wrote to you in May, I meant everything I said about you being a treasure. I am glad that the award committees are finally taking notice of you because it’s been a long time coming. You deserve every accolade you’ve received throughout your career.

Tom, I would like to congratulate you on your most recent award win…the Best Actor Evening Standard award for your performance in Coriolanus. When I saw the National Theatre Live performance at my local movie theatre, I literally got goosebumps from your talent and sheer artistic perfection. I hope there are more awards to come for you because you deserve it!

That being said, I noticed something interesting on my Team Hiddleston page (Not to be confused with the Team Hiddleston group…that belongs to someone else!). My co-admin Lady Loki posted a call to arms in voting for Tom in his nomination for the Whatsonstage Awards…in fact she was creative enough to use one of Caius Martius’ lines and spin it around to gain awareness. When I went to look at the comments the post had received, I had to refrain from banging my head against the edge of my desk.

Instead of comments like “Yes, we must vote for Tom…his performance was simply amazing!”, I was treated to comments like “Good lord, look at that bootie!!” and “Daaaaamn that ass!” and “Oh man, dat ass…Mmmmmm!”

Seriously? He’s up for an award for his acting and that’s all a fangirl can say?

What is the point of being a fan if all you do is look at their physical assets? No actor is an object. Tom and his colleagues are human beings.

At the end of a long, hard shoot or after a brilliant performance, the last thing a gentleman like Tom wants to hear is how hot he is. He works his hardest in portraying his characters and tries ever-so-hard to perfect every line and movement…and all he gets in return are a bunch of hormone fueled fangirls (and fanboys) crowing about how sexy he looks. What’s the point in him acting if that’s all the praise he gets?

TOM DESERVES BETTER!!! Hell, ALL THE ACTORS DESERVE BETTER!!!!

If you’re going to claim to be a fan, at least watch a few of their performances and study their craft. A true fan has seen almost everything their favourite actor or actress has been in. I can honestly claim that I have seen 90% of Tom’s work and 95% of Benedict’s work, and can hold a long, intelligent conversation on both of their acting methods.

Can you do that? No? Then stop your childish drooling and educate yourself.