"Growing Pains" Can Teach You Something About Our Business

If you've ever watched "Growing Pains" you understand, for the most part, they are about the antics of Mike Seaver played by Kirk Cameron. Before he went full born again Christian. He was born again here. And some of the animosity can be seen by segueing the storylines a little beyond him. Much like "Family Ties" when the star becomes one person, the rest of the cast get antsy. Understood. In season 6, Mike has now fully invested himself into becoming an actor. His father Jason, is fed up so he decides a different approach. By encouraging him. To an extent where he practically forces him to take an audition as a "doofus" for a soap opera. Mike goes to the audition and while there meets a famous star from a show from the past that was VERY popular. Mike gushes over him -- star struck. The famous actor is nice, but sees that Mike's enthusiasm is a little off-putting. He tells Mike he is there to audition for this other lead role that was created for the soap opera. Mike is there to audition for the role of the doofus. The famous actor encourages Mike and kindly gives him a thumbs up. Cut to: now Jason and Maggie (Mike's Mom) are in the kitchen. And Jason is convinced Mike will be rejected and come to realize staying in school was much more important. Mike enters, and doesn't get the doofus role. Instead, he has been given the lead! This obviously backfires on Dad. The next day, Mike goes for a wardrobe fitting and runs into the famous actor again. He gushes that he got the lead role in the soap opera to which the famous actor is mildly happy for him. But a little uneasy. We discover that the famous actor had gotten the role of the doofus. Mike wonders aloud how someone so famous could take such a role. For which the famous actor blows up at Mike and tells him that not everything will ever work out. You take what you can and storms out. I recall seeing this episode as a kid and not really understanding the gravity of this industry. There are no lines drawn in our war. And a famous person today is labelled a has-been later. AND enthusiastic newbies are clueless as to what does befall everyone who wants to be in this business. A similar story is how I was a crane grip for a guy who I pestered with questions. To an extent where I sensed he was dodging me. A few months later I was a director of photography on a large shoot and he was renting our production a steadicam. He had to watch as I was in charge and the confused look on his face summed up the stupidity of show business. Washed up, un-castable, unusable. This is what causes the bitterness. So I racked my brain as to how to circumvent what is the inevitable. That when this town doesn't care about you, or your name is no longer anything...they discard you. The saddest ones are the ones who are in the shadows still waiting for their break. So here's how you navigate this. Don't care about them...care about your work. Though you may not be rich or famous in this business you know the stories you want to tell or the projects you want to be a part of. I would not suggest putting your goals to an extent where you sacrifice your dignity or craft. It's a double edged sword to be "successful" in Hollywood and maintain a semblance of humanity. Directors and actors, for the most part, do not think they are better than you...they are scared that their place at the table will be taken by the next generation. That is why you hear so much bitterness. To combat this, simply say "this business doesn't interest me. Making craft does" Not only say it, but mean it.