I try to avoid the “gossip” side of entertainment. For me, most of it is lot about “nothing” in the end. Most of their private lives are not very interesting. I also believe everyone regardless of their position are entitled to have “a time and a space” of their own. Plus all of the TMZ crap around them has absolutely nothing to do with helping them create a better work.
I had no intention of writing anything about the death of the actor, Philip Seymour Hoffman. I was listening to last week’s episode of The Dusty Show. He was doing “man on the street” interviews with people who were showing up at the memorial site in front of his NYC apartment.
So here are a few thoughts.
The truth is we can never truly know a person. Fame and notoriety do not always reveal a person.
Being “Noble” or “Talented” in one area does not always apply to other parts of a person. And yet having a “Deficiency” does not mean you are incapable of becoming “Noble”.
People are quick to condemn one side. And sometimes go overboard in their praise of the other side.
The Creative and The Destructive for reasons that I cannot figure out always exist as one in a person.
Sadly, his death is not going to change anything.
I want to focus for the rest of this posting on his role of the famous rock critic Lester Bangs from the movie Almost Famous. (This movie so far has with stood the test of time. If you have not seen this yet then please do yourself a favor and put this in your queue.)
This is the scene where we first meet him.
Here is a person who has a “passionate viewpoint” and is willing to speak it. However, his honesty makes him a “lonely person” as it is revealed later in the movie
The meeting with the young William is where he sees a younger version of himself. The version who has not yet fully had his “eyes opened” yet. He offers the advice he wishes he had be given when he started. Keep the passion. Beware of the fame.
Finally, the personal side he never gets to share with someone.
A lesson I wish was expressed more often than the latest gossip about a music star.
In the end, being “Uncool” will be a better option.
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