because sometimes nothing can be a real cool hand
a pop culture blog by Joe Tranchina and inspired by Paul Newman
Esquire Theme by Matthew Buchanan
Social icons by Tim van Damme
03
Jul
I’m already crazy. I’m a fearless person. I think it creeps up on you. I don’t think it can be stopped. If my destiny is to lose my mind because of fame, then that’s my destiny. But my passion still means more than anything.
24
Jun
It’s the hardest thing in the world to accept a ‘little’ success and leave it that way.
09
May
R
egarding why shows like Gossip Girl and The Hills are so popular.
I’ve been doing a lot of thinking surrounding the fame fascination. Not that this entire blog isn’t dedicated to that but more specifically so, I’ve been considering why it is that the general public is so infatuated with celebrity. In other words, I’ve been trying to think in the reverse. Instead of pondering about what celebrities do with their platform, and what kind of power they hold in owning said platform, I’ve been thinking about what gives them the platform in the first place.
I’ve come to the conclusion that the Hollywood dream is actually not as appealing from a fame and fortune standpoint. I think young people are recognizing the pitfalls of celebrity via the missteps of Lindsay Lohan or Heidi Montag, for example. I think more so, the fascination is subconscious.
I believe that when a tween watches a show catered to their demographic, like Gossip Girl, there is more to the captivation than simply wishing they could be Blake Lively, Leighton Meester, or Chace Crawford. In actuality, I think they’re wishing they could live a little more like Serena, Blair, or Nate. I give young people a lot of credit, and I think kids are smarter than adults credit them to be. A normal teenager doesn’t do as much pondering on the subject as say I do, though, and so I think the line is somewhat blurred between actor and character. I’m not going to knock the viewer but what I will say is that maybe, for some, the best, and most logical, way to turn “pining for a more interesting life” into “living a more interesting life” is to try to break into Hollywood as an aspiring actor.
On the surface it’s, “if I get a role on Gossip Girl, I’ll be a celebrity.” Subconsciously the thought is, “if i get a role on Gossip Girl, I will live a life of excitement, adventure, wealth, romance, etc… as my character. My life will be perfect because, surrounded by chaos and drama, I’ll fall in love with someone who actually cares... like my character.”
but they’ll probably never realize that.
24
Feb
What is it about the Olympic Games that is so strikingly inspiring?
The American Dream isn’t exactly what it used to be. Over time, it seems as though this concept which used to mean freedom and prosperity, in one way or another, has twisted into meaning fame and fortune, in one way or another. The Olympics, however, always serve to remind us that the honesty in the American Dream still pushes on, and that maybe people in general deserve a little bit more credit than the media is willing to grant them.
Why the Olympics, though? It’s not really in the games themselves, but rather, in the buildup leading to them. It’s in the interviews and the opening ceremony, and in the training and preparation. It’s in the fact that a boy my age, Nodar Kumaritashvili, died just prior to getting there after dedicating his life to preparing for it.
Kids can watch their Disney stars like Miley Cyrus, Selena Gomez, and the Jonas Brothers and say that one day they too will be there, and that’s great! I think it’s amazing that kids are still allowed to dream. I think it’s sad when society and other people in their lives inevitably take that from them, but I always admire people who fight through it and never look back. It’s totally possible.
Anyway, I’m not writing to criticize actors or Hollywood. Obviously, I’m fascinated by it all, I dedicate my blog itself to the concept and platform of fame. Also, I have no idea what anybody in Hollywood’s real intentions are, and I’m willing to give anyone the benefit of the doubt. What I am saying, is that the buildup, the preparation, and the dedication is never there on display. It’s one thing to read a biography or to do your research on an individual, but it’s a completely different thing to watch Shaun White and his buddies march into the opening ceremony hungry for it. It’s not about looks or luck or connections. Instead, it’s about working hard to be the absolute best in the world… That’s really inspiring!
It’s not every day that you get to see people reaching their dreams. We see people who have already gotten there and people who have already forgotten why they’re there in the first place. It’s also easy to get disheartened when you only have an after picture with no before. You’re told for as long as you can remember that hard work, dedication, and faith in yourself can get you anything you’ve ever wanted, and yet you’re told things are impossible. The Olympics absolutely prove that no one can ever tell you “no” again.
05
Feb
T
o remember why I started writing and where I want to go.
I’ve had a lot of fun writing. I like that I started writing this blog in an attempt to rally for a job blogging with Vh1. I really like that Megan Hauserman of Vh1 fame has reposted my blog and contact information on her website in support. More importantly, I love that I kept writing both because I wanted to, and because people have actually been reading.
‘
Thanks Megan!
Anyway, I started by posting some NYU film critiques, and by reviewing some reality shows. Once I started to pick up the pace, I started to focus my writing on things I was really interested in like Hollywood, inspiring facts, the fame platform, bad girl bombshells, and, of course, Paul Newman.
Having said that, and while I do love me some Jwoww, I just wanted to remind myself, and hopefully inspire at least one other reader, of why I dedicated this blog to my hero Paul Newman.
Paul was never the greatest technical actor, but he worked extremely hard, he never gave up on his dream, and above all else, he had star quality. More importantly than what he had, is what he did. As of 2008 (it’s now 2010, remember), Paul Newman is credited as donating over $280 million to charity, all due to a good head on his shoulders, a heart in the right place, and a massive platform.
Cool Hand Luke is my favorite Paul Newman movie because of it’s message:
There are always going to be people in your life who don’t get it. They’ll feel like they should have power over you, for one reason or another, but if you’re the right kind of person, a person with that star quality, that little something special, then they’ll always be a step behind, wondering what makes you tick.
