MANILA, Philippines - Among Hollywood stars, Angelina Jolie has set the bar high for celebrities’ involvement in movements and campaigns much larger than themselves. Her sterling example has prompted other stars to similarly use their celebrity as a potent tool to focus the public’s attention on pressing issues that need to be addressed, not just locally but sometimes even globally.
Instructively, Angelina’s latest stellar “recruit” is her own significant other, Brad Pitt. The similarly popular leading man has chosen to focus on providing new homes for the victims of typhoon Katrina.
To generate public support for the massive home-building initiative, Pitt has been guesting on many TV shows. Setting an even better example, he has donated millions of his own money to the massive home-building movement. Clearly, this is one star who knows how to walk the talk!
It helps, of course, that stardom has enabled Pitt to become financially independent beyond his boyhood dreams. But there are other stars far richer than he is who have opted to keep their multimillions to themselves, so “props” to him for showing others the far better way to go.
Documentary filmmaker
Another star who proves that there is life beyond show business—this time in a more literal way—is “Splash” leading lady Daryl Hannah. Unknown to many people, Hannah has for the past few years, evolved from star to documentary filmmaker!
Like Pitt, she’s chosen to use her celebrity to encourage the public to focus on significant issues—but, she’s chosen to do so even more directly, through the use of her video camera, to film documentaries about child workers and the trafficking of minors all over the world.
What prompted Hannah to stop acting in front of the movie camera and work behind it? She became more serious about her need to make her work relevant to the world beyond entertainment when she fell in love with John F. Kennedy Jr., before his marriage and tragic death.
Kennedy may no longer be around, but the world view he helped Hannah acquire has guided career choices and other decisions to this day.
Hollywood’s Golden Boy
For his part, Robert Redford used to be the Golden Boy of mainstream Hollywood cinema, but shifted his focus in a big way when he became the moving force behind the Sundance Film Institute and Festival, which boost the fortunes and future of alternative cinema.
Before Sundance, many alternative filmmakers and “indies” had a tough time finding financing and good showcases for their movies. Now, they can take advantage of the fact that Sundance has become one of the most influential film festivals in the world.
In addition, it boosts the careers of new filmmakers by conducting workshops and talent searches, providing start-up grants for promising productions, and making sure that its festival winners secure solid distribution deals worldwide.
Redford was such a mainstream talent that his shift to promoting “indies” was most unexpected. But, people who’ve known him for decades weren’t surprised, because he’s shown them his nonstar persona from the very beginning.
For instance, at the peak of his high-flying career, Redford chose to take time off from acting in movies to direct his first feature, “Ordinary People,” in 1980.
His follow-up film, “The Milagro Beanfield War,” was even more significant, and his subsequent directorial efforts, “A River Runs Through It” and “Quiz Show,” were similarly outstanding.
Brad Pitt
April Florio
Christina Applegate (1988)
Sinitta Cowell (1988)
Shalane Mccall (1988)
Elizabeth Daily (1989)
Robin Givens (1989)
Juliette Lewis (1989-1993)
Geena Davis (1990-1991)
