[IMG:L]Watch this eyebrow-raising, documentary short based on Fame Junkies (Houghton Mifflin, $23) the new, critically acclaimed book by Jake Halpern.
Why do more people watch the ultimate competition for celebrityhood, American Idol, than watch the nightly news on the three major networks combined? How come the average teenage boy desires fame almost as much as intelligence–while the average teenage girl craves fame more than intelligence? And why do 43.4% of teenage girls say that they want to be a “celebrity personal assistant” when they grow up, while only 13.6% say they’d want to be a U.S. Senator?
Halpern answers these and other questions by traveling to America’s fame factories and profiling a colorful and surprisingly insightful cast of characters. He talks to diehard fans, personal assistants, aspiring stars, and celebrities like Rod Stewart and U2’s The Edge. Interspersing these stories with new research–including original findings from his own “fame survey”–Halpern helps us understand how psychology, technology, evolution, and profit conspire to make us overly enthralled with the seductive world of red carpets and velvet ropes.
Over the next few weeks, Hollywood.com will be featuring an exclusive series of eye-brow raising articles written by acclaimed author Jake Halpern on America’s enduring and ever-growing obsession with fame, celebrities, and Hollywood. Are YOU secretly addicted to the cult of celebrity? Must you know Britney’s every last move? Follow Angelina’s adoption adventures? Perhaps you, too, are an honorary “Fame Junkie”–well, we wouldn’t doubt it. Stay tuned to find out!
Halpern’s upcoming exclusive stories are based on his new book Fame Junkies, recently featured in Esquire, USA Today, Entertainment Weekly, ABC’s 20/20, the Today Show, and NPR’s All Things Considered. Read the hot, page-turning exposé that everyone in Hollywood is talking about.
Also on Hollywood.com:
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 2: Beneath the Red Carpet
OK, so merely one month later, the Oscars are already a quickly fading memory. In fact, the entire two-month-long American bacchanal known as “award show season” seems like it was a frantic, distant dream. At long last, Martin Scorsese is sleeping well. The vintage couture ‘borrows’ have been returned. The Hummer stretch-limos are back in their garages. But what about all the red carpets? I mean this quite literally. What happens to all that red carpet? And, on a slightly more philosophical note, why is it that we are so obsessed with the red carpet in the first place?
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 3: The Grooming of Baby Idols
American Idol’s controversial, Sanjaya-focused season is quickly building toward its climatic finale; however, for all those dazed contestants who have been brusquely eliminated–yet emotionally crippled by razor-tongued Simon–there is still hope. Look no farther than the International Model and Talent Agency (IMTA), which hosts two annual talent conventions, one of which is quickly approaching this summer.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 4: The Secret Lives of Stylists
Marcel Winter* has made a life for himself by dressing other people–mainly powerhouse celebrities. Their distinguished ranks include the likes of Halle Berry, Jim Carrey, John Travolta, and Nicole Kidman to name just a few. Over the years, Winter has also developed a successful second career as an analyst of celebrity fashion for several television networks, on which he identifies, candidly, the “best” and “worst” dressed attendees at the biggie events like the Oscars and the Golden Globes.
[IMG:L]Fame Junkies – Volume 5: The Devil’s Helper
Anyone wondering just how aggressive paparazzi photographers are these days should look no further than Britney Spears’ Malibu home. Earlier this week, two photographers–who were staking out Britney’s house–got into a heated scuffle as they vied to snap a shot of the recently-rehabbed star. In truth, the paparazzi have good reason to be so aggressive; an exclusive photo of Britney can earn upwards of $250,000 these days. Yet if these two brawling photographers were truly interested in mastering the tricks of their trade, they would put Britney on hold–at least for a few hours–and pay a visit to the home of Russell Turiak.
This was adapted from the new book, Fame Junkies. Read the hot, page-turning exposé that everyone in Hollywood is talking about! Purchase a copy of FAME JUNKIES for a discounted price on Buy.com right now.
