IMDB publishing ages

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 12:43pm

I've been thinking about this, reading some message boards about it. One example:

http://swench.blogspot.com/2007/03/actress-sues-imdb-for-publishing-her.html

The IMDB really shouldn't publish people ages, accurate or not. Most agents I know have a love/hate relationship with the site because they use it all the time, but the birthdate aspect, and IMDB's refusal to budge on the issue, is a really big problem. Like the commenter said in the blog, they don't care.

As others have often noted, this website can and probably has destroyed careers because of published birthdates. Doesn't matter how legal the practice is--it's all beside the point in an ageist business.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 1:07pm

Yeah, the same arguments come up over and over again. Those articles are usually published on approval from the performer or his/her publicist or whatever.

The IMDB is a go-to for the industry, and many industry people hate that they publish ages.

What's the big deal? Do you want someone knowing how old you are? Agents and cd's are pretty lazy. They'll let google and the IMDB do all the talking for them. Actors, etc. should have a say in whether this website, with all its power and credibility, be allowed to publish ages. A website that is little more than a glorified, corporate-backed list should not stand in the way of careers.

Edit: Did Orfeh write that? I dunno...can you ask her?
Updated On: 2/13/10 at 01:07 PM

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 1:22pm

I'm 35. Now everyone knows.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 1:35pm

Great. Now put up your photo(s), bio, resume and other info on the IMDB, pitch yourself to agents and see how many callbacks you get.

[Yawper]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 2:04pm

Perhaps someone, or a group, should wage age discrimination claims and actions against the major producers.

Back in the Golden Age there was no lack of work for older actors.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 2:13pm

And eliminate ages being published as well. It's no one's business.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 2:26pm

I guess don't do film work then. IBDB seems to leave ages off more than IMDB does.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 3:32pm

I don't really see what the big deal is. If someone looks younger then they really are, and can convincingly play younger then they really are then what is the big deal if people know their real age. It's acting after all.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 3:37pm

Do you work a lot nygrl, or do you just bitch about all the obstacles in your way to getting work?

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 3:41pm

Aren't people's birth certificates public documents?

[winston89]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 3:58pm

Yes they are. The are technically public records and can be accessed by anyone. That is why I don't see the big deal with people in show business being very secretive about how old they are.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 4:00pm

Some people just like to bitch and blame, whether it's about celebrities taking their voice acting work on IMDB keeping them from getting acting jobs.

[winston89]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 4:07pm

Phyllis, you're right. However, if is a situation where your job is to pretend to be someone else and is all based on look, then why would your actual age matter?

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 4:53pm

Celebs' ages tend to be known, especially if they've been in the business for a while and are established. Even so, famous or not, a lot of actors don't want their birthdates on the imdb.

I've called a few agents and asked them how they feel about this issue. They all hate that ages are posted, regardless of who it is.

Why would actual age matter? It shouldn't. Don't ask me how things got to be this way. But agents these days openly admit they won't look at you unless you've got an imdb entry. They can say that a posted birthdate won't affect how they see you, but how can you be sure? If you're 35 and look 25, but the IMDB says you're 35, an agent very well might let that preclude his/her calling that person in.

The only way to be sure is to make the birthdate policy flexible and not mandatory. Let actors have a say, and allow that info to be removed if they want it removed.


Updated On: 2/13/10 at 04:53 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 4:56pm

It can be removed by anyone with a PRO account.

Posted: 2/13/10 at 4:59pm

I get most of my work playing women. Then they listed me as Male and I'm out of a job.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 5:00pm

It can? Do you have a pro account? I've been thinking about signing up for one.

Huh, that'd mean that you have to pay money to remove your birthdate.
Updated On: 2/13/10 at 05:00 PM

[TheatreFan4]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 5:03pm

I don't. I would do the 14 day trial, but it requires you to put a credit card now.

FYI, the iTouch IMDB App allows you to view movie pages that are listed as 'PRO Only'

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 5:20pm

>>I don't. I would do the 14 day trial, but it requires you to put a credit card now.

Ah, which then makes you have to cancel it actively. Sheesh, these people.

Well, if you're sure it'll work, I'll give it a try. Thanks for the tip.

This is freaking extortion. I hate this stupid website.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 5:50pm

Why don't you give us the link for you Imdb page.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 5:54pm

Why?

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 7:52pm

Because I think we'd all love to see it.

[nygrl232]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:21pm

Because...

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:23pm

Maybe we could help you figure out why no one ever hires you.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 2/13/10 at 8:29pm

Divine ate dog poop onscreen and his career took off! So people just need to make some lemonade.