RENT Stars Online Opinions

[EugLoven]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 5:27pm

I just finished watching the beautifully edited and gorgeous 28 minute featurette "RENT: An Inside Look" video by BroadwayWorld.com. And I just want to ask and point out if anyone was listening closely to what Idina and Adam both had to say about the internet and the fans and the trouble and problems it can create. Because I believe it's very important and all those "fighting 12 year olds" (and older) should have taken a bit of advice from it.

I just scroll down the list of BWW.com forum topics sometimes and shake my head because we're doing what they just talked about. Such is the InGenWorld, but I hope we can learn our lessons well. Who more credible than from the horse's mouth?

[gavrochegirl]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 5:29pm

*blush* I'm twelve! I didn't do anything, Adam, I promise!



Well, yeah...I agree with you, Eug.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 5:39pm

This is all extremely, extremely subjective. It seems to me, honeslty, that the harsh bad-mouthing of Idina has calmed down since she left Wicked, though it does crop up occasionally. I'm not at all condoning it, if you read what I said on the thread where Craig originally posted the link to the preview. I said that I think there's a difference between criticizing someone's art and harshly laying personal slams upon someone. I wouldn't want to go on a website where I'd read bad things about myself all the time. Who would?

On another note, I don't think Adam was saying it's wrong, per se, to go and post your opinion on a message board, even if you are a 12-year-old girl, and even though some people *are* of the opinion that people should stop posting threads that are like "My Review of ___." I don't think that's what he meant, since he did give the fact that the internet allows for discourse some credibility. I think his sentiment about people thinking they're friends with an actor because they've gotten to the point of an obvious familiarity is very valid, but it's also a touchy grey area. I mean, you can't read this board and start pointing fingers at people, going "shut up, you act like you think you're friends and you're NOT!" because like I said, it's touchy and sort of presumptious. Then again, I don't think I see too many posts that imply that, so it's kind of moot. People are going to disagree. They're going to fight. And unfortunately, hearing from the mouth of who if impacts that it's sort of silly isn't going to make it stop. I thought, anyway, that the touchstone of the point he was making was not that the fights *happen* but that if he wanted to, he could very easily go and be involved in them -- and that on a personal "getting to know you" level, that can be dangerous.

But, like I said, their comments *should* be taken to heart, but it should be kept in mind that the interpretion OF the comments is very subjective.

Updated On: 11/19/05 at 05:39 PM

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 5:52pm

I was in another thread last week and there were some negative comments made about a performer. I later found out directly that the performer had been reading the thread. The comments were not that bad and I didn't make them, but just the idea that this person could read about people commenting on their age and talent really struck me. It amazes me that people are so quick to post things like that and the negative things I have posted in the past bother me. It doesn't take much courage to be critical on the net.

[xM3L24x]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 5:52pm

I think it's fine if people have their opinions because thats what these boards are for--discussing theatre, but people have to realize that anyone can read these, including the actors and you shouldnt say mean things because it's just not nice. I think Adam trying to say that it's dangerous to read these boards because the actor/actress would obviously take the comments very personally and want to fight, and how unprofessional would that be?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 6:03pm

I've always been in the mindset that if I wouldn't want to say it to the person's face, I'm not going to put it on the boards. (That's what PMs are for )

Of course, then people claim they would say their opinions to an actor's face, because they shouldn't have to hide how they feel. If you do feel like this, fine. Just post about it somewhere else. Don't give the whole board a bad reputation because you personally can't distinguish the difference between a discussion of an actor's work and b*tchy gossip.

[joliz]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 6:05pm

Am I the only person that immediately thought of Anthony's recent little drama with some of the people on this board when Adam made that comment about arguing with 12 year olds?

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 6:07pm

No, I thought of that too. But the people Anthony was arguing with weren't 12-year-olds. They just had the maturity level of 12-year-olds.

Updated On: 11/19/05 at 06:07 PM

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 6:13pm

What drama did Anthony have??

[JerseyGirl2]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 6:26pm

Someone posted a review of the film, Anthony PMed the poster. I didn't read everything that happened, but the poster said that the PM made him uncomfortable.

Adam's comments in the video seemed very similar to what happened on here.

[Marlene]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 6:27pm

When Adam mentioned the 12 year olds reference it seemed to have a sort of intent to show, "look the internet has you doing crazy things, damn instant access!...screw the NYT's reviewers, I want to debate w/ 12 year olds because they just made some alluring random remark! (see I'm getting wrapped up in the internet!)" On the other hand he seemed serious about the gray area of obsessive fan/friend relationship..."hey buddy, just you've seen me on stage 525,600 times doesn't make you my bosom buddy." That's honestly a very valid point. If I were in his position I'd probably be flattered by the constant return of certain individuals watching me grace the stage every night, but when individuals attempt to impose friendship or live in some sort of fantasy where they believe that they will automatically be friends with the actor, that's just uncomfortable for both parties.

Out of curiosity, do you guys think that Idina is actually referencing these boards? There always seems to be a level of animosity towards her from certain individuals, but I guess for the most part I'm not aware of the stuff that affected her. It's really such a shame, because I often find constructive reviews on this board. She obviously has a fan base going for her, and it really just bites that people just choose to make blatantly argumentative and hurtful comments.

People are just quick to post because of the fact they likely won’t be held accountable beyond the range of their computer monitor, and they can readily choose to ignore the fact. The Internet being, such a vast network, people may assume that the individuals they talk about won’t ever read them—that their comments will be lost in a myriad of other comments. The immediacy adds to the whole factor, you don’t have that same level of mental censorship holding you back when conversing to total strangers on a message board. The whole dynamics of the system just works in an odd way that people just forget that things on the internet are there until those backups die.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:22pm

To me, Adam seemed like he was talking about scenarios in which people might post things he didn't agree with about his work, and he might go in and fight them on it. At least publicly, what happened with Anthony boiled down to him trying to protect his integrity and good name. The "drama" of fighting negative opinions was all private.

I think what he meant about The Times (this could be way off, though) was that with a journalist, you can't get into conversation and be like "no, this is wrong, here's why!" A review comes out, the critic thinks what he will and it's published and done -- an actor can't call him out on it. With a message board, an actor can freely jump into conversation. You *can* go out and fight it.

[Craig]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:27pm

Now I could be wrong - but I took it to mean a few things..

1. a sweeping generalization "12 year olds" - it's "cliche" now to refer to posters on any forum as such

2. That he liked/likes the interactivity with the fans - but that at some point, he's had to/has to back away from it and just let it go.

3. That he truly loves and appreciate his fans.. but doesn't want to take them home for tea :)

In short - he was just commenting on the role the internet has played in connecting with the fans and that he has, in the past, been very active in reading/posting because it was fun and exciting.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:30pm

aw, damn. I wanted to take Adam out for a drink when I turned 21...

I jest. He's nice to me. What more can I ask for?

(He's had several experiences that I assume would make anyone back away from that interactive scene a little bit.)

[kas]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:31pm

People are all entitled to their opinions, yaddah yaddah.... including reviews - positive or negative - but what annoys me is that people get so nuts over them - as if they know them inside and out. It's pretty ridiculous. As much as I am a fan of Adam Pascal, or Norbert or whomever, most of us on here don't know them from a hole in the wall- so sometimes we just have to chill. People get carried away, and it's so hilarious to read the squeals or the biting comments.

Just my opinion.

[Craig]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:39pm

p.s I don't blame Idina for her responses. She's had a rough time on ALL the message boards - and also she and Taye had death threats made. When such threats are made - don't think for a second that whoever's investigating isn't checking all avenues such as people's posts...

Updated On: 11/19/05 at 07:39 PM

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:41pm

Having not watched the video, but going on what you guys are saying this could go both ways.

Take in point Anthony, he was more than happy to be, in wont of another word be worshiped by some posters on this board ( read the welcome thread ), but when someone posted a negitave review of his film he personally pm'ed the reviewer saying he had been harsh.

You open yourself up on a public forum, to the good and the bad, you don't think Joe Brooks might read this forum as well, but if it was him in that video you guys would have a different tune.

Just my thoughts.

[Craig]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:43pm

Rosscoe

That's not what happened at all with Anthony. And I encourage you to watch the video so you can hear for yourself what was said before passing judgement on anyone posting, or in the video. Just my .02

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:46pm

Thus, rosscoe, the fine line in deciding whether to simply read, post but do so anonymously, or to post and say who you are.

"Worship" happens to be an interesting term, but it's a can of worms to open up discussion about the way posters react to the presence of someone like him. I suppose people certainly have agendas either way when a token celebrity drops in, whether it be just riding along, feeling like you suddenly have to censor yourself (which for some people who have not done so, IMO, would actually be a wise option...) or explicity trying to get attention by being... "worshippy."

On a specific note, though, without getting into the rights and wrongs of it, the reviews had to be attended to privately because he was no longer allowed to post publicly.

It's all so blurry, though. Can. Of. Worms. Interesting stuff, anyway.

Updated On: 11/19/05 at 07:46 PM

[orangeskittles]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:49pm

Actually, Anthony originally posted that he didn't come on here to be worshipped, he wanted to engage in a dialogue with the people expressing concerns about the movie. I'd dig up the post if I cared that much, but any worshipping was due to the posters' individual reactions, not his agenda.

[Craig]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:50pm

bottom line for anyone posting should be

Think before you post. And use GOOD judgement. Period.

Assume the person or project/whatever you are writing about is reading every single word. Even better - assume they are standing right behind you as you're posting. Remember and assume that the family and friends of these people are also reading every word.

In short. Be accountable. Many people here are posting anonymously - but that doesn't excuse anyone from being human.

/off soapbox

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:52pm

Craig, i was in no way passing judgement on anyone, having read and been part of that anthony thread, I should have worded my last post better as i know he did not ask for the review to be changed.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 11/19/05 at 7:52pm

Good point, skittles. I remember him saying a number of times that he wanted to engage in conversation, and now be bowed down to. I'll vouch for the truth in that. 100%.