By: Jacob Elyachar, jakes-take.com
While growing up in the 1990s and early 2000s, there were several “Showbiz Kids” that impacted my childhood. I remember watching Amanda Bynes, Daniel Radcliffe, Kenan Thompson, Kel Mitchell, Lindsay Lohan, Macaulay Culkin, the Olsen Twins, and Raven-Symone in action. These young performers made me laugh, smile, and think as I watched their films and TV series.
As my extracurricular activities included Boy Scouts, Hebrew School, and school musical rehearsals, countless “Showbiz Kids” were on sets of significant TV shows or Broadway. Sometimes I wondered how they were able to find success in their dream jobs while I attended Indian Valley Elementary School and Oxford Middle School in Overland Park, Kansas.
The latest HBO documentary, Showbiz Kids, follows several performers who found success as child performers but showcases the struggles the actors faced off-camera. The documentary began with this sobering statistic: “Every year, over 20,000 child actors audition for roles in Hollywood. 95% of them don’t book a single job.”
A Tale of Two Kids
Showbiz Kids follows two sets of hopefuls and their parents on the opposite ends of the coast. First, we are introduced to Marc Slater and his mother, Melanie. The duo relocated to Los Angeles for the 2020 pilot season. Audiences would notice that Marc does have an abundant amount of energy and would sympathize with Melanie. She spilled that she struggled with both the criticism of Marc pursuing his career and dipping into their savings just for Marc to pursue his dream. Sadly, despite having auditions and getting help from acting coach Marnie Cooper, he has not secured a job.
Over in New York City, the documentary introduces us to Demi Singleton. The Baton Rouge, Louisiana native, moved to the Big Apple with her mother, Tricia Miranda, to pursue her dream. Unlike Marc, Demi has had numerous opportunities to appear on both stage and screen. From her 10-month stint on the defunct School of Rock musical to appearing in The Lion King plus scoring a role on EPIX’s Godfather of Harlem, Demi has worked hard to reach for her goals.
The Showbiz Kids Commentary Team
Throughout the documentary, the audience hears from several Showbiz Kids. Evan Rachel Wood, Henry Thomas, Jada Pinkett Smith, Mara Wilson, Milla Jovovich, Todd Bridges, Wil Wheaton, and the late Cameron Boyce and Diana Serra Cary provide commentary for the film. It is incredible to hear these celebrities’ insight regarding their experiences through Hollywood.
It was riveting to hear Diana Cary talk about the silent film era, learning that she was $1 Million Child Star, and how she felt like she was a senior citizen at 15-years-old. Both Milla Jovovich and Wil Wheaton admitted that they were living out their mothers’ dreams. At the same time, Mara Wilson added that being recognized as equivalent to “being in a restaurant as the staff sings to you on your birthday.”
Jada Pinkett Smith also noted that she was prepared for Hollywood’s “slick stuff” as she entered the entertainment industry and the challenges that she faced raising her children, Jaden and Willow, on social media. Todd Bridges spoke about dealing with the deaths of both Diff’rent Strokes co-stars Dana Plato and Gary Coleman.
Evan Rachel Wood delivered several haunting confessionals such as photo shoots that were “more traumatizing than film shoots” and how she walked out of the Golden Globes crying after watching a pedophile win and accept an award. Meanwhile, Henry Thomas revealed that his classmates teased him as they called him “E.T.” and “Hollywood.”
Utilizing Current Events
An additional factor to Showbiz Kids’ success is using sensational news stories that happened to child actors. There were mentions of Corey Haim’s death, Britney Spears’ mental breakdown, Lindsay Lohan’s legal drama, and The Mighty Ducks actor Shaun Weiss’ disturbing mugshot. The documentary also addressed the MeToo Movement and Corey Feldman’s campaign to expose Hollywood’s pedophilia. The film also shares scenes that include the Slaters’ usage of a gizmo watch that would alert Melanie if Marc was in trouble. Another strong scene includes Evan Rachel Wood appearing at a 2018 House judiciary committee hearing regarding the Sexual Abuse Survivor Bill of Rights.
Final Thoughts & Grade:
Showbiz Kids’ showcases Hollywood’s dark side through actors who entered the entertainment industry early in life. Writer-director Alex Winter and his team did an impeccable job assembling the documentary through intriguing interviews, vintage footage, and addressing current events that rocked Hollywood. It also showcases the heartaches and dedication that both the Singletons and Slaters families go through to have careers in the entertainment industry. B+/A-
Showbiz Kids is scheduled to premiere on Tuesday, July 14 at 9 PM EST on HBO, HBO Go, and HBO Now. It will be available on demand on Wednesday, July 15.
