What Makes a Successful Career?
Filed under: Celebrities and Controversy
When it comes to talking about careers and success, there are a lot of factors that come into play -- money, security, recognition, happiness... For the most part, it's success in the eye of the beholder, but that doesn't stop us from evaluating others' lives. After reading yesterday that Alec Baldwin thinks his career is a "complete failure" because he doesn't have a starring role where his performance drives the film to "a soaring critical or commercial success," I wonder what the world-at-large considers success in Hollywood. (While also wondering what colleagues think of Baldwin's load of projectile verbal horse manure.)One might just blow this off and say it's the person with the most money and fame, but is it really? Fame is hard to hold onto, and even if a star does manage to grab tight, they must then deal with the ramifications of fame -- the sometimes-scary fans, the paparazzi, the gossip rags. On the flip side, maybe someone becomes an excellent character actor, finding continual gigs and a steady flow of money with moderate fame. But the work must keep on going for those checks to come in. And then there's those who find that one franchise that makes them enough to live on for the rest of their lives, or those who use initial fame to springboard into other careers in politics and other areas, or those who love their work but fall victim to unrealistic physical demands.
So, what is Hollywood success to you? And who's the most successful?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
12-01-2009 @ 11:05AM
DAVID F said...
Success in Hollywood is the same as success anywhere: quality work, a sense of humor, philanthropy, humility, integrity & longevity
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12-01-2009 @ 2:37PM
Dan said...
I think that's a pretty great summation of success. For Hollywood, or anywhere else, like you said. Co-sign.
12-01-2009 @ 10:36PM
Michael said...
Well the chucklehead did screw his career back in the 90's when his arrogance cost him the Jack Ryan role. So he has only himself to blame.
Reply
12-02-2009 @ 1:18AM
yjc said...
I randomly came across this post and it made me immediately think of the film Funny People that came out this year.
I think acting in general is hard, and I don't really have any strong opinions on Hollywood. But I think happiness is the most important thing.
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12-02-2009 @ 4:54PM
lallaloolly said...
i think success in acting (as opposed to hollywood) is when a person can convince an audience to believe their character portrayals over and over and over again, in whatever role they take. meryl streep can do this for me whether she is an italian housewife, a highpowered exec or a nun or anything else. tom cruise, while very financially successful, can no longer do this for me. i can no longer watch a tom cruise movie without thinking, there is tom cruise.
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12-14-2009 @ 9:59AM
WiredRacing said...
Interesting question.
I guess ultimately success in acting should be if you're ever remembered for the role. Sort of a "I couldn't imagine anyone else in that role". That should mean the actor embodied the character and made a lasting impression. Though I suppose that's only success for a particular film and not really a career.
So then I suppose I'd side with lallaloolly's comments. Someone like Sean Penn, where you watch him and completely forget, time and again, you're watching Sean Penn... that's got to a least be the mark of great talent. Whether or not great talent = success though.. yeah I guess it's up to individual interpretation.
At one time in my life I would have said it was the money. Perhaps today I would say it's the freedom to make your own choices which I believe result in minimizing stress and increasing happiness. Money and Fame doesn't always afford you that. You can be a slave to either or both.
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