When A Celebrity's Son Goes To Your School

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 9:37pm

Today was auditions for a theatre scholarship my college gives out. It's for a full-ride. Given every year to one student.

Anyway - in walks [a celebrity]. Turns out, his son is VERY interested in our school. Our school is extremely small - it's not a university. Freshman acting/theatre majors last year totaled 12. But apparently - that is what his son wants, and in our area, too.

To protect my school and his identity, I will not disclose that information. However, I will say he is an author, playwright, director, and actor. He's been in dozens of movies. I don't think he acts anymore, but he does still write, I believe.

Here is the point:

I handle myself well with celebrities. I have met several. I don't get star-struck, I treat them as normal people. But it's going to be VERY weird going to school with this kid. I'll still treat him the same I'd treat anyone, but the problem is how my classmates treat him. I wouldn't imagine anyone being star-struck, but I wouldn't be surprised if 'special treatment' was given, in terms of hanging out, sitting in the cafe, classwork, scene work, etc.

I would assume as far as casting goes, our professors would give equal consideration. They are good about that. It's the students I worry about.

So, any advice? Anyone with similar experiences?

[etoile]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 9:49pm

90% of what people worry about never happens.

[Mythus]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 9:53pm

And 47% of statistics are made up on the spot. Whatever happens happens, Capn. If the students give him special treatment, oh well.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 9:53pm

Are you in a city where celebrities, movie stars, etc. run rampant (i.e. LA, NYC) or Rednickisville, USA? If it's the former, I wouldn't worry about it - people are pretty jaded if they see celebrities often. If it's the latter, well...Befriend the kid if he/she's nice and treat them as you would anyone else.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 9:57pm

I go to a prep school in Orlando where not only a lot of celebrities kids go, but also where we have a few child celebrities.
You can't worry about how your classmates react until the time comes, if a problem presents itself at all, but you can try to reach out to the kid in the same way you would reach out to a new friend. Just be yourself and worry about your other peers when and if the time comes. They just want to be treated like what they are: normal kids (albeit in strange circumstances)

[CapnHook]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 9:58pm

"90% of what people worry about never happens."

LOVE that comment.

"And 47% of statistics are made up on the spot. Whatever happens happens, Capn."

LOVE that response!

I am in a well-known city in a Southern state. No regular stars, but not Rednecksville.

I'm not worried about any relationships - I am worried him getting special treatment. About all the rest of us not getting the same type of interaction. If that makes sense.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:01pm

if he gets cocky, just beat the crap out of him in the locker room, tell him it's "southern initiation"

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:05pm

Well, if you're more worried about him getting special treatment, I say you've got your priorities wrong. (And I mean this in the nicest way.)

a) It's none of your business if he gets special treatment as long as you don't get inferior treatment as a result;

b) If your profs will treat him normally, then a) doesn't seem like it'll be much of a problem in terms of grades, education, etc.

c) It's out of your control if your friends act starstruck. I mean, this kid isn't Maccy Culkin or Haley Joel. He's the kid of a celebrity. If they act starstruck, nothing you say or do will stop it. Look at how people acted when certain relative-celebs started posting on here, and no amounts of "Knock it off." worked.

d) What IS in your control is how you treat him. By all means, don't go out of your way to be nice if it's not earned, but at the same time, don't act like an asShole just to counteract whatever fawning your peers do. If he seems like a good kid, the best you can do (all you really CAN do) is treat him like everyone else and hope he appreciates it. I'm sure he gets special treatment all the time so he'll probably be relieved to be treated like a normal kid, and will easily recognize those who are blowing smoke up his ass.

If you stress about anything else that may happen, it's out of your control, and your worries are misplaced.

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:07pm

Capn - that's life. That's what we all deal with all our lives - whether the celeb's kid, the boss's niece, the Harvard grad who is worthless but has a great degree so gets the promotion you deserve - you're going to deal with this your whole life. All you can do is your best - if someone else gets special treatment because of who they are, there's not a damn thing you can do.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:07pm

wow- Tiff, that's the most serious post ive ever seen u post! crazy... i still think he needs a good socking

[ShbrtAlley44]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:10pm

Capn, I went to school with several celebrity children, and while people may act starstruck at first, they will gradually get used to the person being around and it won't be a big deal anymore. Don't worry about it!

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:11pm

CQ, I'm hurt. Not ALL of my posts are "My fart smells like beef!" I can be very serious! I mean, sometimes I ask, "If I get fat enough and someone stabs me, will gravy or cheese spill out?"

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:12pm

Tiff - if you got fat the right way, definitely cheese. Glad to help.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:13pm

haha. sorry- that was a hasty post. no hurt feelings?


ew, what smells like beef?

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:15pm

Too bad, I was craving beef dip.

CQ, no hurt feelings. I'm good enough, I'm smart enough (although today's LSAT may not reflect that ) and doggone it, people like me! (Plus I'm a real good intemallectual and highly educatable, so I know you're wrong.)

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:16pm

ah, a little Dubya for us, eh?! dity rotten f***ing shame you couldn't go to London.

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:18pm

Who said I'm not going to London? I'm still going to London (and going on the Harry Potter tour, but don't judge me), just one day late of the G&D opening.

Anyone want to buy the tix I have off me?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:19pm

HARRY POTTER TOUR! YOU LUCKY SOB!!! IVE ALWAYS WANTED TO DO THAT!!! COOLNESS! are you going to see BillyElliot? if you are, pick me up a pop art 'Be Inspired' shirt!

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:20pm

*NERD ALERT*

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:20pm

Yeah, I'm really excited. My hotel is apparently closeish to Kings Cross so I'm planning on slamming into platform 9 and 3/4 just like every other tourist loser.

And of course I'm planning on catching Billy Elliot!! I just don't know what date yet.

ETA: *smacks Rath with a magic wand, and not the kind she enjoys*

Updated On: 2/12/05 at 10:20 PM

[Rathnait62]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:22pm

OW! Jeez.

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:22pm

LUMOS B*TCHES!!

like i said: pick me up a shirt, ill pay you back my canadian hommie! or a CD

Updated On: 2/12/05 at 10:22 PM

[Type_A_Tiff]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:25pm

Which one, shirt or CD?

[Caroline-Q-or-TBoo]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:26pm

if they have CD- cd, if they do not the pop art 'be inspired' shirt. i will worship you (MORE THAN I ALREADY DO) forever

[Allie]

Posted: 2/12/05 at 10:27pm

TIFF! Don't forget about Ewan.