Famous people vs. doctors and cures. FIXED VERSION

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 2/15/05 at 11:38pm

I've been thinking about this for a while, and I'd like to get some of your opionions.
As I know most of you are actors/actresses hoping to become a star one day, I address this question to you. I'm not looking for 'the right answer' as there really is none. This is purely your opionion.

Famous people are earning millions of dollars to perform? Oscar, and Tony and Grammy winners with happiness of winning these prestigious awards. Adoring (often obsessive) fans who love you for what you do. The enjoyment of doing what you love and getting paid a lot for it. Putting forth your effort to achieve you're dream goal and get millions for it plus adoring fans that give you the courage to keep going and send fan mail all the time. Famous people owning million dollar homes in The Hamptons or the many many other great places all over the world. Famous people who are shown on TV and given such a huge name. FAME, SUCCESS, and MONEY are the 3 words that come to mind when I think about these kind of people.

Doctors- work extremely hard to get their doctorite. Put in many many sleepless hours. Doctors who perform the most delicate surgery on your family. Doctors and others who come up with miraculous medicines. Doctors, who save people's lives. EMT's, Fireman who get up at 3:45 because of a house fire, often putting the lives of others before themselves. Doctors, the ones that your grandmother may be alive today because of. Doctors, the ones who get paid nothing compared to the famous.

Yes, I know that these people have chosen their profession. And they have choose it for various reasons. And yes, I understand the world is not fair but none-the-less..

I absolutley adore theater but I kinda feel bad and often try to take steps away because I feel I am feeding into the wrong thing.
I know about BCEFA (I think thats the initals) and I think it's great that society contributes to it but I really don't think that 1,000$ or even 10,000$ of a famous actors paycheck would change their lives dramatically. I'm sure they still can live in the huge houses in the Hamptons or the other many many places they have homes. If a small amount of money was taken from the million dollars that so many famous people make, perhaps doctors could be making a bit more of what they deserve and I suppose we could do more researching and perhaps find a cure for cancer.


If money weren't an object, then earning what they do get should stay the same, but thats not how life works...money doesn't not grow on trees *sorry to corrupt you if you believed that*

I would love to know your opionions on this and as you probably have noticed mine, you may not agree and thats ok. Thats why there is vanilla and chocalate.

As I said, entertainment would not be what it is today without some of these amazing people so I want to give them all kudos.

I guess I would just like to see more things going on in the world to help people rather than giving away money that is going to be used to buy a 10 bedroom home.
Such a person like Oprah *who no doubt is one of the richest women in the world* but, look how she gives to the community. I can't even imagine whats its been like to do all the wonderful things she has done. Not only is it helping other people, but I'm sure she also feels good that she could do that. But, as I said I know she is piled with money but a lot of these famous people wouldn't be too bad off giving up some of their wealth to a good cause.

*P.S. Please don't attack me- I'm not saying that this information apply's to ALL actors and actresses. Nothing is ever so definite ~except for death and paying taxes ~

[Jess1483]

Posted: 2/15/05 at 11:48pm

Interesting opinion. It'll be interesting to hear what people think. As I'm a pre-med student and lover of theater, I can't say I can look at it in an unbiased way. It's the life you choose, I guess. And I wouldn't say that actors have it easy, either. I mean, part of the reason I chose pre-med over theater was for that very reason. Yeah, it's hard and the pays not as good as the entertainers on top, but it's an equally if not more difficult road for most actors. And if you think about how much money the high-profile actors get paid, there are plenty of doctors earning that as well. And you think about the doctors making less money, and you can see the actors working in restaurants as they try to audition. I think the ranges of salaries in both professions are comparable in many ways. I think the people at the top of any profession making that kind of money has an obligation to help out, but I think both careers are valuable and important.
Wow, sorry for that, I'm a little sleep-deprived.
Then again, I can't be opposed to more money for doctors! (j/k)
And if we're going to have this discussion, I'd say we throw in teachers. Now there's an under-appreciated, under-paid, extremely important profession.

[wildcat]

Posted: 2/15/05 at 11:49pm

I'm certainly not attacking you, but my eyes started to glaze over after your first paragraph.
The number of actors who make millions is MINIMAL...infintessimal...compared to the number of working actors who barely make a living in this industry. I would say that 90% of professional actors make a comfortable living at best, as they endure long periods of unemployment between the times we see them in those high profile appearances. Now, members of the medical profession...while not always rewarded with a round of applause and champagne at Sardis after a haemorroid operation...work at a steady rate all their lives for exorbitant fees and usuall have a standard of living that most of us would envy. Let's find a little balance here!

(You can tell I'm an actor....)

[Jess1483]

Posted: 2/15/05 at 11:57pm

Whoa there, wildcat. While I would agree that medical professionals up until about 5 years ago were all making "envious" amounts of money, that is changing. It is not a career people go into for the money any more (or at least they shouldn't.) With the cost of insurance on the rise, doctors are making less and less.

But my opinion stands as above, I just think you should consider what I said too.

[Raggy Q poo]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 12:19am

I don't think it would be great for me to comment anymore although Jess is more in the 'right' direction although as I said there was no definite right or wrong.

What I would love to do is find a forum with people who are soo dedicated to doctors and trying too be a doctor and..basically the oppisite of this forum. I am just curious how they would respond, although I would assume they would take the opposite stance of many of you. But, again...to each his own.

And yes, actors have long hours and breaks between shows in which they work in restaurants not knowing when their next job will be. But, they also chose to do that as a profession. They go into the profession knowing that such a thing is likely to happen (Or at least they should go into it knowing that.) Not to say doctors don't pick their profession but they pick it for many different reasons.

And Jess is right with all the insurance and whatnot- doctors are getting paid less and less. But, pushing that to the side for a moment.
For those famous people who are making millions of dollars...do you think it would hurt them to give up a small bit of their large salary to perhaps make a cure for cancer. If there was a cure for cancer, do you know how many people's lives would be better, and how many people would be alive right now, and how much of a difference it would NOT make in the life of millionaires? Well, the only difference that it would make is to make them feel good that they help contributed.

I'm gonna try to push myself away now but don't be surprised if I post again soon.

And please remember...I am not trying to argue or fight. This is only to see what other's feel and I guess I am trying to play the devil's advocate here.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 2/16/05 at 1:15am

We should diferentiate between TV and Film actors and theatre people. It's a common misconception that Broadway actors get paid a crap load of money. It certainly isn't true. They are doing well but not making more that alot of actors. I believe Chorus members get like 50-60K a year. Now the stars on top aren't making millions. They still have to keep working. THey have no residuals. TV and film people do. So $1000-$10,000 is a hell of a lot for a theatre actor. Esp in NY. NOw I don't see too many doctors hurting for money either so I think there is a balance there. I've had friends who have doctors in the family. The work IS more steady and they're doing just fine. There are plenty of causes actors are donating their talents and time for. There are sooo many broadway charities believe me. Doctors aren't getting paid THAT much less then they used to be. NOW TEACHERS, they get paid CRAP! Updated On: 2/16/05 at 01:15 AM