Expert: Phil Nemy - 1/23/2010

Question
Dear Mr. Phil Nemy;

Greetings!

I'm Kris Richard Geronimo, 3rd year Mass Communication Student, of Far Eastern University in Manila, Philippines, taking up the subject Journalism 103: Investigative Reporting.

In line with this, i would like to get some information from you regarding our topic entitled "Journey to Stardom" Ordinary Teenagers who ventures in the field of Performing Arts, Ways and Process how to get into fame.Here are the questions:

1.What are the qualities that one must have to be a celebrity and why?

2.Why do you think there are a lot of teenagers venturing in show business?

3.What do you think are the factors affecting these teenagers in pursuing their dream to being a celebrity?

4.Can you state some of the easiest ways in getting into fame?

5.What are the ways and process in getting into stardom?

6.Would you consider the reality shows and talent searches as one of the easiest ways in getting into fame, and why?

7.Is there any standard or criteria in being a star?

8.What are the benefits of being popular?

9.Is being a celebrity one of the easiest ways to be in luxury and to establish one’s social status, why?

10.What can you say in the statement “If you are famous, you are powerful.”?

11.What would be your advice to teenagers pursuing fame via show business?


Thank you and God bless.



Very Truly Yours,

Kris Richard Geronimo
Student, Philippines

Answer
Kris,

Thanks for writing. Here are your answers.

Phil

1.What are the qualities that one must have to be a celebrity and why?
The ability to draw attention to oneself.

2.Why do you think there are a lot of teenagers venturing in show business?
Because they see young ordinary people, many with little or not talent, becoming a success and they believe they can do it, too.

3.What do you think are the factors affecting these teenagers in pursuing their dream to being a celebrity?
Most who attempt to find celebrity, don't. Then they get depressed and angry, disappointed, and sometimes are exploited by leeches.

4.Can you state some of the easiest ways in getting into fame?
If I knew the answer to this, don't you think I'd be famous? There is no sure fire way to become famous.

5.What are the ways and process in getting into stardom?
Same as above.

6.Would you consider the reality shows and talent searches as one of the easiest ways in getting into fame, and why?
I wouldn't say it's easy, but if one is selected for a reality show or talent show, one has a chance at their fifteen minutes of fame. There's no way to know for certain if fame will continue after that.

7.Is there any standard or criteria in being a star?
Being a star, as in being a film or TV star, usually means one is very, very physically attractive. Those that aren't necessarily physically attractive have a certain, charm, style, persona, or charisma that counters the fact that they are not very attractive. Celebrities, however, don't have any specific criteria. They come in all shapes and sizes.

8.What are the benefits of being popular?
I wouldn't know - I'm not popular.

9.Is being a celebrity one of the easiest ways to be in luxury and to establish one’s social status, why?
Not all celebrities live in luxury. The best way to live in luxury is to be rich! By that I mean, work hard at something that is marketable and can earn you lots of money.

10.What can you say in the statement “If you are famous, you are powerful.”?
I know quite a few "famous" people but I wouldn't say they are necessarily powerful. Power comes when one has something that is in demand, like themselves or their talent. There are celebrities who are no longer in demand and therefore are not powerful. You know their names, but no one is knocking down their door to employ them.

11.What would be your advice to teenagers pursuing fame via show business?
Don't. Don't get into show business to be famous - for 99.999% of those that do, it won't happen. Get into show business because you enjoy it and hope to have a long career in it. That alone is difficult to obtain. But if you get into to become famous, you're getting into it for the wrong reasons.