WARNING: Hollywood is Dangerous to your Health and Life

Hollywood careers should come with a warning label. It seems that nearly every day there is another news story of some star who has died, gotten in trouble with the law, had a DUI accident, got in a domestic dispute, lost control in public, or something similar.

The death of Phillip Seymour Hoffman announced in the news today is just one more tragic loss for Hollywood, and further evidence of the need for change in the culture that is destroying great talent. There are so very many talented people who died young, or in some way destroyed their life. If they had avoided the pitfalls of drugs and alcohol they might have used their talents to produce many masterpieces that instead do not exist.

The entertainment business in general is surrounded by a lifestyle that is inherently dangerous, and even life-threatening. Anyone who thinks they can allow themselves to be surrounded by the pervasive lifestyle of Hollywood and not be caught up in it is sadly mistaken.

You cannot stick your head in a bucket of garbage and say that you can just hold your breath. Eventually you will such that garbage in, and at the very least you will absorb the smell. The solution is to not stick your head in the bucket in the first place.

It is sad to watch as we see one talented performer or actor after another destroyed by the side effects of an industry that takes humans, turns them into gods worshiped by millions, and then destroys them with drugs, booze, money, pride, and positions of power. Some people enjoy making fun of all the problems reported in the news about Justin Bieber, but when I see the news I feel sad because I see a life spiraling out of control headed for destruction.

However, the good news is that there are a growing number of actors and performers in the entertainment industry who chose to stay out of Hollywood and pursue their career from afar. Utah independent filmmaking is a prime example of a place where the movie industry is growing rapidly, and one of the reasons for that growth is the lack of the “Hollywood “ lifestyle.

Actors and crew members say it is wonderful to be able to work on the set of a film, go to a photo shoot, or work in a studio and not hear a single swear word all day, and if by chance one does slip out there is usually a rapid apology as the person realizes their faux pas right away. It is rare to see someone smoke, even on an outdoor set, and the strongest beverage around is a Coke.

My point is not to brag about Utah filmmaking, but instead it is simply a way of saying that what is happening in Utah shows that if they can do it in Utah it can also be done elsewhere. Hollywood does not have to be “Hollywood” if enough people decide to choose a different path and say no to the death that comes to so many.