It's bizarre that child actors portray experiences they've never had (high school, prom, dating, etc.) and then regular kids judge themselves against these made-up standards shown on screen 🤦♀
Literally the craziest partt!!! I wa sobbing feeling behind at 14 cause I didn’t have a first kiss or boyfriend. It made me so suicidal. Meanwhile these kids were losing these experiences to a made up plot
@@bryanna_renaeesome individuals are late bloomers and yea school on tv and in movies or books make life look more exciting but also more scary or stressful than it really is
I’m sorry for what happened with the original producers of this podcast, but I’m so glad you’re putting this forward independently. That feels so full circle
@@Shearedfieldbasically they wanted one way and she wanted another. Pertaining to integrity content and truths i think. She only alluded to differences 🙏🏻
This is really eye-opening, thank you! Also, you have made me be less critical of 30 year old "high schoolers" in movies, because now I'm glad children aren't actually performing the roles
That's a really good point. I always thought it was stupid they did that. Now it seems preferable. Literal children should probably not really be in movies.
As a licensed therapist, I have watched this with profound interest. It has been very sobering and thought provoking. I have found myself asking the question after every episode, “Could this be done in a healthy way?” Your questions are a great start for any family to assess before taking this leap. I thought you made a great point about most parents having good intentions starting out…but the machine is strong and things can change. Money and fame are so intoxicating. And I say that with deep compassion and empathy for those who get swept up by it. Blessings to you as you are charting your own path. And might I suggest an Aloe Vera plant as your first plant. Both healing AND low maintenance :)
Hi Alyson, I used to be a child actress for 10 years. I stopped acting at the age of 17. I quit by my own will, cause I had a massive burnout by living and working in a studio for years. I could never fully understand my experience and now as an adult, I realize that what I went through wasn't normal for a child. Your videos help me face that period in my life and understand better why I act and behave a certain way and why I've become a maximalist, workaholic. Thank you!
I am an academic of celebrity studies and I have so many positive things to say about this podcast and series. It gives so much insight on the Hollywood industry and it's functions. I'm just appreciative that Alyson is sharing their perspective with us. Thank you ❤️
I’m a parent with a very gregarious little one. We live in Burbank, close to Walt Disney studios, and I do get nervous about her being approached and if she would want to do it. This gives me such a great perspective and arms me even more if that should happen. I have to say, after all this, if she does want to act, it’s community and school theater until she’s 18! Thank you for pulling back the curtain and providing your insightful and graceful perspective on all of this. So well done and so necessary. ❤
I’m a classical musician and since watching this series, I have started to see some patterns in my own industry… even some in my region. It makes me grateful my parents didn’t push me to be a violin prodigy should we have had the means. I joke often when I see the 4 year olds who play violin with professional orchestras that “they play better than me, but at least I had a childhood” and honestly, I think it’s become more true. Thank you for this series!
Reiterating a point Alyson made because it's so useful for people with childhood trauma. Children are not responsible for the choices that adults around them make. Not moving, not going to auditions, not spending money, nothing. No adult has the right to hold these things over a child "because you wanted it so bad" or "because you made us".
I'm eager to hear what someone with Alyson's experiences has to say about Kid Influencers. Hopefully she'll also cover family vloggers. Your family life being a series of "pranks" and "challenges" sounds like a great way to develop serious trust issues, not to mention how they're unprotected by a lot of the safeguards for "professional" child performers.
@@smileyfan16 yeah but kid influencers are usually filmed by their parents, causing a new weird dynamic. I've heard stories of kids only getting attention, only doing fun things if it's for the camera. Their home life open to view for everyone. 0 privacy as some parents decide to post vulnerable emotional moments. It is different, but not necessarily less awful for the children involved.
I think we as the public understand all of the components individually: parents like to live vicariously through their children, a lack of stability can affect how a child develops, stress and fatigue can wreck person's health, unhealthy boundaries lead to unhealthy relationships that can turn abusive, but seeing everything, everywhere, all at once for a young person in the entertainment industry is very eye opening as to just how much they go through when their bodies are still growing and their maturity is still low. Thank you for organizing this information and putting is so concisely.
As a human with empathy, this podcast can be difficult to listen to sometimes; as a social worker and sociology nerd, I learn so much listening every week. Hearing people’s personal experiences is so helpful for the work I do. I wish no one ever had to go through any of this, but it’s so important for the world to know that it’s happening so we can work toward justice. Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Alyson
God, this series has me unlocking memories from when I was in a professional choir as a kid and only got my mom to agree to let me quit when I got a chronic illness.
My mom wanted me to be a baby model but when I didn’t book anything she gave up, and I’m SO GRATEFUL for that now. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so that people know what young talent can mean.
My husband is a musician and was (still is) a high performing person. This helps me better understand him and why he behaves the way he does in certain situations. It also sheds a new light on the familial dysfunction he experienced as a kid. Thank you!
It's crazy how everything you say connects to what Jennette McCurdy describes in her book about her career as a child actor and her relationship with her mother. Highly recommended book for everyone who finds this subject interesting!
I can never look at child actors the same way anymore. This podcast is so important! I hope many listen to all of the episodes and that there are actual changes in the industry or at least huge warnings for everyone interested in it! Thank you for sharing everything that you have in such a thoughtful and measured way.
I don't have any kids and don't really plan on having them but those questions were still very difficult hypotheticals to think about! My parents never pushed me into showbiz or anything but they were very overbearing about grades, extracurriculars, and college. Even now, I often wonder how much of my personality and interests are my own vs. things that were encouraged/rewarded by my parents earlier in life. Thank you for another wonderful and thought-provoking episode!
I don’t have any experience with Hollywood or child acting, but I keep watching this podcast because I feel your mission so deeply. I’m involved in a lot of band adjacent activities, and while they’ve all brought me the best parts of my life, they’ve brought the worst as well. I do what I can to use my bad experiences to steer participants younger than me to a better path, to hopefully have them avoid any of the more painful experiences I’ve had. I have so much respect for you using your platform to do the same for an industry we all hear so much about, but rarely talk about in a meaningful and productive way.
hi alyson. I was not a child performer but a high performing child athlete when I was younger until I gained an autoimmune condition from the stress. What you said about parents starting with good intentions, but then getting sucked into the limelight, etc. is so true and something I had thought about but you put into words so much better then me. I remember being in the car multiple times on the way home from late practices and asking to quit and being so confused when my mother would get angry. once again what you said is so true. I had depression and anxiety from a very young age and a lack of identity that I've been working on now that I have more control over my life as an adult. This series has been so comforting and beneficial to know that my experiences are not unique and many others have moved through them. thank you for your openness and honesty
to add to this I also love the idea of not pushing children to be great! it's made me a perfectionist and not want to try anything new I won't be immediately perfect at. Childhood is a time to explore and find out what you love, and you don't get that when you are devoting yourself to one thing.
Love seeing these every week. It’s nice that your mom was not a full blown stage mom and was supportive even if she may have unintentionally had you living her dream. Can’t wait for the next episode
Last week, I just left a comment on your first video about tackling internet kids and the tremendous danger. I’m thrilled to hear you are taking this on. I’m caught up and will be doing my best to help increase your engagement. You have the potential to help so many kids! If enough people like you speak up, hopefully public outrage will force lawmakers to finally take action.
It’s not just about what the parents say, it’s also about what they did, didn’t say and didn’t do. I did not grow up in Hollywood, however I really resonate with the central idea you pose in this episode of “Who’s life am I living? because it doesn’t feel like mine.” After reading several books about neuroscience, the brain, and trauma, like “The Body Keeps the Score” by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk MD and “What Happened to You?” Co-authored by Dr. Bruce Perry MD and Oprah Winfrey, I’ve looked back on my childhood in new ways. I relate to you when you describe all the ways that your mom was supportive and not at all an example of an over-the-top “stage parent” and wondering how that equaled to the need to over-achieve at all costs narrative that guided life as a child. I ran on a version of that narrative as a musician and theater kid and I've just started to understand that for me it wasn't about what my parents said or did that was supportive, it was about what they didn't say and didn't do and all the times they weren't physically around or emotionally present. I think for me at least, my kid brain felt so out of control in my life and my basic needs were met so inconsistently and sporadically that I assumed a narrative and personality traits that would help me feel more in control. That narrative could basically be boiled down to this idea: that "If I achieved enough, if I was good enough, then maybe my parents would pay more attention to me." If the role of a parent or caregiver is provide for a child's basic needs that includes food and shelter, but it also means the emotional attunement and responsiveness that indicates a sense of safety and reliability, the knowing that they will always be there to provide for my basic needs and to protect me from harm while I'm a child and can't do those things for myself. Parents act as our guides to the world and children cannot survive the stress of not knowing whether they can rely on their parents. They learn they can rely on their parents through non-verbal communication, emotional attunement, and responsiveness. Healing for me has meant confronting the idea that achieving more won't actually make my parents love me the way I needed them to when they were absent or disengaged in my childhood. I think I'd unconsciously double down on this belief system every time my parents showed up with love for a performance or concert or recital. While my parents did the best they could, they unintentionally reinforced my belief that I had control over whether they emotionally attuned to me every time they'd break a more regular streak of absentee parenting and neglect to shower me with praise and attention for a school performance. In theory, they seemed reasonable and always encouraged things like child-like play and healthy balanced living, but in practice due to their own stressors and unhealed traumas their actions undermined the values and beliefs they wanted to instill in me for healthy balanced living.
As someone who acted professionally from age 18-26, and also someone who also just had a baby, this episode reminded me to be mindful to things my daughter would actually want to pursue, as opposed to just throwing her into the industry because subconsciously I felt I didn’t have “enough time” to “make it” and want to put her in to continue being involved. Great stuff, Alyson!
I moved a lot as a kid. By the time I was a Sophomore I had been to 12 different schools. I identified with you on an earlier podcast and identified in myself the reason that I don't make deep friendships. Like when you worked with a crew for a period of time and then the project ended you suddenly lost all your friends. I just learned that people leave. So by the time I was in High school I didn't go to friends houses or get deep friendships at all. Everyone was my friend but nobody knew me. Now at 54 I don't have any deep friendships.
I was painfully shy and never had to worry about a spotlight as a child. But I grew up right outside of Los Angeles County so I knew and went to school with many. As an adult I had a few friends whose children got into the industry, you most likely worked with one of them. I had a lot of questions and concerns over the years about things, and your podcast has given me a lot of insight into what those kids went through/are still processing. Keep up the good work and congratulations on being able to disentangle yourself from the chaos. ❤
Yes there are truly some toxic stage parents Like Judy Garland's are jennette mccurdy mother and kit culkin I really feel bad for any child that has a stage parent like these
As a mom to a little girl, that's only 6, I couldn't imagine putting her through something like that. It is absolutely heartbreaking to think that kids are still going through this today. Anything with child actors feels wrong to watch now. (I'm truly heartbroken about this as I am a huge disney person)
I absolutely love learning about the different parts of childhood in the industry. There's so much I never took into consideration. I'm glad you're doing this series. It's helping build empathy among people for children. It helps me personally take a zoomed out approach to everything I see in the media and critically evaluate it. Thank you for all the work you've put into this. Can't wait for the next episode!
I saw someone else comment this, so I thought I'd add on. Alyson, a lot of us really appreciate that you're funding this podcast yourself and would like to help ease the financial burden of such important work by donating what we can. Is there a Patreon or something similar for the podcast that we could donate to?
As a child I was pushed by my father to play soccer competitively. Something I had no interest in, but did to please my him. The feeling of lack of self is something I really relate to. It wasn't until I finally quit soccer that I begun to understand who I was beyond the sport. When you said " I am now thirty and last year was the first year that I felt my life was my own " it hit me so hard. I'm so sorry to hear that. I remember when I finally made a clean break I was so fearful and felt so lost. But there was also (eventually) a tinge of excitement and hope that maybe there were better things out there for me. I wish you the best on your journey!!! I hope you can continue to feel that way, (like your life is your own). Thanks so much for this series!!
I really liked this episode, and relate as a moderately intelligent kid with a severe disability who was continually told she was special for being able to speak so well despite her disability, and that specialness and articulateness groomed me for underpaid labor and constant people pleasing and unpaid labor. My stress manifested itself as rage attacks, depression, anxiety, and increased pain.
Absolutely finding so much value from this in multiple ways. It is definitely a conversation that I agree we should be having, and I think you are doing it blissfully. Empathy compassion, understanding, accountability, humor, fun - it's all there. Absolutely wonderful ❤
Can't believe im actually watching this just as it's posted. You have helped me change some of my opinions on Hollywood and im so greatful for it, I grew up thinking I wanted to be famous and while at the time it wrecked my life, im now extremely greatful i never got callbacks on auditions. ❤
I’ll never forget being like 16/17 and watching a reality show about a talent agent and she was opening a division for kids and one of the little kids I did community theater with was there with her mom as a representation of a ‘bad parent’ who just wanted their kid to be famous, not that she loved performing
I've gotta say, social media influencing and the algorithms are terrifying! I'm a millennial with children of my own and I can't fathom this new age of social media. My husband and I grew up in the age of social media growing to what it is now and we feel confident guiding them through it when the time is right. But it is most definitely overwhelming.
I followed/looked up to you my entire childhood. I feel that your role in a lot of movies definitely projected me toward dance in a way I can't really explain. It's so wild to think, I wanted your life when I was 12, I would've done anything to be in your shoes and after listening to all of this. What a blessing it was for me to just live an opposite life. I wouldn't be me if that would've happened. It's pretty bizarre to think that your story is real life. I pray that you find clarity, true friendships and pure relationships in your future. :) You deserve to come down to real un-hollywood life with us, figure yourself out, care less about what other people think. I've gone to hollywood and walked around and it really grounds you when you realize that everything is just smoke & mirrors. The hollywood blvd was NOT what i would've expected... It's all so glamorize & you don't know... till you know. Your story is beautiful & it's yours. I really appreciate you putting it all out there and on the line. I'm very much so engulfed in these stories. I would love to just have a regular conversation with someone like you. It would be very interesting to see our differences and similarities. Very cool stuff, i hope you keep going!
Every week, I get so excited to watch the next instalment. Not because the content is excitable, but because with every 20-minute video, I learn a little bit more about how this manifests in people. I have an interest in psychology and the long term effects of trauma, and I know that stems from my own. However, being able to increase my knowledge in these areas, even where Hollywood doesn't and has never directly influenced my life is so important to me. You are well-spoken, concise and you have the ability to back yourself up. Incredible. Can't wait for next week.
Alyson, thank you so much for speaking on your truth and experiences, it’s admirable. I have been a fan of you as long as I can remember from TV to now religiously watching your podcast. Happy Friday 🤍
This is helping me think about and unpack my own issues related to being a high performing child musician. I'm 32 and still struggling to find a sense of self, and definitely have my challenges creating and maintaining meaningful social connection with others. Thank you for shining a light on this, and for giving all of us important things to think about.
I've been sharing this docu-pod with several of my developmental psych professors! One of which who's specific interest in the field is social media on child development! It is infuriating that this has happened to you and so many children. I even recognize a great deal in myself as a community theater and arts school kid. And I'm so grateful your telling the story in a scientifically informed way! It has been so helpful to apply key academic concepts to true experience as a student as well as feel seen as a person who was once a performer. It also really makes it accessible to so many. And especially practitioners who will be working with the next generation of pipelined kids who have been saturated by social media. Truly social media and the internet in general are many kids and teens most trusted authority figure (treated like an older sibling or parent at times). What a chaotic figure that can be. I'm so invested in this project and am curious to see where you go next and how this grows!
wow these episodes are so eye opening, thourough and honest, truly a conversation that has been begging to happen for a good 100 years! thanks so much Alison, hope it's as healing for you as it is for the world 💫🌱❤
Jesus! How can these parent put such a pressure on a child??? It breaks my heart to hear you talk about this. I’m sure I wasn’t the greatest parent in the world. But the type of parents you describe are on whole different level. Every parent does mistakes, but most of us do them unintentionally and without planning. YAKES!!!
I honestly can't remember a time where I have clicked each and every installment of a youtube series so quickly upon seeing each newly released video. You are handling the introduction of this critically important topic so eloquently and with such a degree of respect and nuance, I cannot even imagine the level of energy that it takes to make these videos happen so thank you so much!
Can someone remind me is Alyson has any sort of Patreon or just a fund of sorts? I really want to support this and any future works she's planning. It's the sort of information that more people need to learn.
You have made me look at all of this with a very new perspective. One of my favorite movies of all time is The Professional. Now i just can't imagine what young Natalie went through. Some of the scenes are way to much for a young girl. I have a 12 year old daughter and can't even imagine.
I have so much respect for you. I feel like I grew up with you and as a child I never thought about the stress and demand of the job. How much children are not in control of their own lives. It takes a lot to step up and speak out about your personal experiences and to make us aware of what needs to change.
Love the honest and insightful viewpoint from someone who lived the experience. I find the no-frills approach to your content respectful of the subject and the seriousness it deserves.
This entire series has been incredibly informative, Alyson. I’m in awe of how thoughtful every episode is. I also really admire how self aware you are. I know it took work and it is a journey, but you radiate so much love. Hugs
I feel like I can't get enough of this content. Something about the structure of the content, I feel like I could learn ANYTHING and get anything while I listen, a huge help for my adhd
I remember hearing a teacher I had once say that he and some of his brothers were invited to audition for a popular sitcom. His parents said, "Heck, no!" and as a child they were upset. But now he is so grateful that they were wise enough to say no. Thank you for this enlightening content. You know, I think well-meaning parents probably do minimize the extent to which they want their kids to do well in Hollywood. It's hard to admit it, but I think it's only human nature to want those things a little. Of course it may not be nice to say so.
For forgetting sometime my favorite movies were actual people, I'm so sorry. But I am so encouraged by your story, breakdown and recovery. We want more content like this. Real, raw, vulnerable
Thank you for these podcasts. It’s been the most productive way to open the concerns I’ve had with my teen who has begged to get into the modeling industry. She is now pausing and thinking about it in a new and deeper way.
I am taking this moment to comment and let you know that I do appreciate these videos because it gives me, and many others, a glimpse into a life that was glamorized to “normal” kids, like myself. It is very interesting to see other child stars that I grew up watching and admiring now grown up and talking about their experiences in an industry that only cared about profit. There is so much nuance and complexities that I was not aware until now. I appreciate these videos and am very happy to witness someone I admire grow and making changes to an industry that needed to be changed a long time ago. Thank you so much, Alyson!
I love hearing about this industry. I'm from an absolutely middle of nowhere town and I couldn't even imagine if my mom just decided to move thousands of miles or to do that to my own kids. Thank you for sharing your story with us! hopefully this will educate some parents before that make a major decision like that
Love seeing what an intelligent, well-spoken adult you've grown up to be. I remember your sweet tiny jazz shoes when you were only 5 yrs. old with Julie
I really appreciate how well you so eloquently present the information without name-dropping or sharing personal stories of other famous people just to get more likes in the same way that so many others do. 👏 It's so easy to respect you as a person because you're just so considerate and incredibly respectful to other people around you! I would say that truly makes YOU a Hollywood success story by virtue of coming out the other side of all this with your personhood in tact. And I'm so excited for you to finally get the chance for a journey of self-discovery & relating to the world around you on your own terms! 🌎
I’m really so happy that you’re making this. And I find the information so helpful- as a nanny, but also as someone who started working full time at fifteen. Thank you. ❤
During the questionnaire, I was reminded of the kpop industry 🤔 Also, celebs/idols being thrust into therapist role and fans/followers who feel entitled to it being that way has always been wild to me. I know that someone can bring you comfort/hope/inspiration through the content you consume, but they are still strangers! You don’t actually know what they are like in person/behind closed doors 😩 It always feels so sad to see an idol with a posse rather than friends. Even idols need a break from the spotlight and space to chill/just be a normal person expressing themselves doing boring, normal/basic things. Love that we’re having this conversation 😊 Very much agreed; liking and commenting is better utilized when it’s used to support topics like this or content we actually appreciate rather than trying to stroke another’s ego to establish some form of connection. Kinda digressing, but fans/followers are not owed much more than a thank you for doing that *side eye* Thanks for video again ❤️
I really do appreciate this series and it definetly made me question production with kids and teenagers more. It also made me question what i am consuming, so thank you a lot for shining a light on these issues. I usually have to take breaks from this series, so my comment is super late. I started it, when it first came out and only listen to it every few weeks, because its so heartbreking and nervwrecking to listen to your and other traumatizing stories. Keep up the good work!
I have come to really look forward to new episodes of this podcast every Friday. I'm learning so much and truly appreciate how much time and energy Alyson is investing into this series. ❤️
Hello alyson great episode you doing really well with this series and your my favorite person in the world and this series means alto to me thank you for what you do and giving me a smile keep up the good work😊
It's always weird to me when a celebrity says he/she was wishing to be a musician/actress/actor since they were only 4 or 6 yo. Kids at this age are constantly discovering what they want to do, so this sounds like they were truly forced to say/do.
Loved the acknowledgment of the irony of requesting liking and subscribing immediately after mentioning the pressure social media puts on people to get likes and followers…only to state a meaningful reason for why that was not about you. Great episode as always. Learning a lot. Ironically, just this week I just caught wind of a tic toc circulating of a mom reprimanding her daughter who is about 6/7 and just did not want to be on camera that day. She posted herself not realizing the mirror in the background reflected her threatening her daughter right talking so sweetly to her, and the little girl saying sorry and looking afraid that she was going to hit (but didn’t). So I certainly hope the growth in likes and subscriptions increase the chances of more people being educated about the realities of the world we idolize and fantasize.
Add that it could possibly used as a loophole in terms of who gets the money I .e who’s account and how much they get in the end . it’s more open to abuse .I’m not trying to minimise the kids and young adults in entertainment place like Hollywood . They have some protection under the law not the best in many cases . kid influences doesn’t have under the law to my knowledge I could be wrong here.
I love this series. I've been binging, and Im in awe. All that new info on things I had'nt thought about, how well you are picturing situations for us so its easier as an 'outsider' to understand... And its so well written! Im your age, and I remember always loving it when you came on the screen. I was a tom boy who wanted to dance hiphop, and you were often shown as a tomboy etc. I thought you were the coolest person in the world. Seeing this now though, I feel so bad for the little girl you were... But i have to say that seeing you now as an adult, making this series... I guess I still think you are the coolest person, and this time its how you as a person are so honest about it all. This must've been really hard to plan, but it came out so good, raw and interesting. Ive shared the first episode to my friends, because this is really amazing. Much love from Norway
Very insightful. These are the conversations we need to be having. I look forward to your episodes every week. Awesome questions for parents! You put a lot of hard work into these episodes.
I am sure we will see a lot of documentaries coming out once the kid-fluencers are all grown up. I hope we will soon have protections in place for them.
i love that you keep mentioning having check points to ensure that you're in an environment that supports your well being. i'm working on self improvement/development and this was missing.
I can relate to the whole discovering the sense of who I am. No I haven’t been parented by a stage parents but I did lived up, as a child, to my moms expectations. But not just that alone did it but my traumas I experienced at the age of 3. Just like you, Alison, I just started to be more and more aware of who I am. I think one thing helped for sure is my son. My little 1 year old has helped me so much too. Anyway, back to the topic…everything you said sounds stressful to me, im 30. I cannot imagine what it does to a child. Children that goes into this industry for sure need a life-work balance but not like adults do but what a child needs. Hearing what you are saying it’s like common sense has left these people minds. It’s heart breaking to really hear what these children and you went through. Im so sorry you went through this. I truly hope your docuseries helps make a difference. Children shouldn’t be treated like adults and shouldn’t be expected to deliver a performance like an adult would. Im happy you took the decision to take this document and redo it. I feel it has more of a raw and honest feeling. Im not saying what was done didn’t but I feel this feels more personal is like we’re sitting with you in the same room teaching us about this. I appreciate the hard work you’ve put into this documentary. I feel it’s something that was needed for so long ago.
You are truly yourself and I can feel your authenticity through these videos which is why I love them. You are fully real, raw and your true self. Keep being you. We love you!
Alyson thank you so much for creating this series. I’m learning so much that none of us have ever known about his industry. And I hope you are enjoying finding yourself and most importantly have found friends who have been feed by you and you them. Learning a lot from the Terrell show on here as well. I hope everything is going well for you and continues to do so. I’m truly sorry you and all the rest of child actors have gone through this.
I'm so glad you are taking the space to speak about this. There is so much we can push for in the audience is in the know. I've been a life long fan and I love hearing your actual thoughts and opinions
It's bizarre that child actors portray experiences they've never had (high school, prom, dating, etc.) and then regular kids judge themselves against these made-up standards shown on screen 🤦♀
Literally the craziest partt!!! I wa sobbing feeling behind at 14 cause I didn’t have a first kiss or boyfriend. It made me so suicidal. Meanwhile these kids were losing these experiences to a made up plot
@@bryanna_renaeesome individuals are late bloomers and yea school on tv and in movies or books make life look more exciting but also more scary or stressful than it really is
I’m sorry for what happened with the original producers of this podcast, but I’m so glad you’re putting this forward independently. That feels so full circle
What happened?
@@Shearedfieldbasically they wanted one way and she wanted another. Pertaining to integrity content and truths i think. She only alluded to differences 🙏🏻
❤
They didn't wanna pay her @@Shearedfield
Pure speculation, but I wonder if they wanted more 'naming and shaming'
This is really eye-opening, thank you! Also, you have made me be less critical of 30 year old "high schoolers" in movies, because now I'm glad children aren't actually performing the roles
Some people look young though
Really great point!
right?!?! I remember making jokes about that, but now...let's bring that back.
That's a really good point. I always thought it was stupid they did that. Now it seems preferable. Literal children should probably not really be in movies.
good point, even tho, young looking 18-22 year olds might be the nice compromise.
As a licensed therapist, I have watched this with profound interest. It has been very sobering and thought provoking. I have found myself asking the question after every episode, “Could this be done in a healthy way?” Your questions are a great start for any family to assess before taking this leap. I thought you made a great point about most parents having good intentions starting out…but the machine is strong and things can change. Money and fame are so intoxicating. And I say that with deep compassion and empathy for those who get swept up by it. Blessings to you as you are charting your own path. And might I suggest an Aloe Vera plant as your first plant. Both healing AND low maintenance :)
Hi Alyson, I used to be a child actress for 10 years. I stopped acting at the age of 17. I quit by my own will, cause I had a massive burnout by living and working in a studio for years. I could never fully understand my experience and now as an adult, I realize that what I went through wasn't normal for a child. Your videos help me face that period in my life and understand better why I act and behave a certain way and why I've become a maximalist, workaholic. Thank you!
I am an academic of celebrity studies and I have so many positive things to say about this podcast and series. It gives so much insight on the Hollywood industry and it's functions. I'm just appreciative that Alyson is sharing their perspective with us. Thank you ❤️
I would love to see any and all research in your arena!! Haha
I’m a parent with a very gregarious little one. We live in Burbank, close to Walt Disney studios, and I do get nervous about her being approached and if she would want to do it. This gives me such a great perspective and arms me even more if that should happen. I have to say, after all this, if she does want to act, it’s community and school theater until she’s 18! Thank you for pulling back the curtain and providing your insightful and graceful perspective on all of this. So well done and so necessary. ❤
I agree! Children such a young age shouldn’t be acting in tv shows and movies
YESS!
I’m a classical musician and since watching this series, I have started to see some patterns in my own industry… even some in my region. It makes me grateful my parents didn’t push me to be a violin prodigy should we have had the means. I joke often when I see the 4 year olds who play violin with professional orchestras that “they play better than me, but at least I had a childhood” and honestly, I think it’s become more true. Thank you for this series!
Reiterating a point Alyson made because it's so useful for people with childhood trauma.
Children are not responsible for the choices that adults around them make. Not moving, not going to auditions, not spending money, nothing. No adult has the right to hold these things over a child "because you wanted it so bad" or "because you made us".
I'm eager to hear what someone with Alyson's experiences has to say about Kid Influencers. Hopefully she'll also cover family vloggers. Your family life being a series of "pranks" and "challenges" sounds like a great way to develop serious trust issues, not to mention how they're unprotected by a lot of the safeguards for "professional" child performers.
ive always found kid influencers so weird so im excited to see more
Kid influencers and child actors are not the same. They go to school and have normal friends.
Oh yes! THIS would be such an interesting take that I would love to hear.
@@smileyfan16 yeah but kid influencers are usually filmed by their parents, causing a new weird dynamic. I've heard stories of kids only getting attention, only doing fun things if it's for the camera. Their home life open to view for everyone. 0 privacy as some parents decide to post vulnerable emotional moments. It is different, but not necessarily less awful for the children involved.
I think we as the public understand all of the components individually: parents like to live vicariously through their children, a lack of stability can affect how a child develops, stress and fatigue can wreck person's health, unhealthy boundaries lead to unhealthy relationships that can turn abusive, but seeing everything, everywhere, all at once for a young person in the entertainment industry is very eye opening as to just how much they go through when their bodies are still growing and their maturity is still low. Thank you for organizing this information and putting is so concisely.
As a human with empathy, this podcast can be difficult to listen to sometimes; as a social worker and sociology nerd, I learn so much listening every week. Hearing people’s personal experiences is so helpful for the work I do. I wish no one ever had to go through any of this, but it’s so important for the world to know that it’s happening so we can work toward justice. Thank you so much for sharing all of this, Alyson
God, this series has me unlocking memories from when I was in a professional choir as a kid and only got my mom to agree to let me quit when I got a chronic illness.
My mom wanted me to be a baby model but when I didn’t book anything she gave up, and I’m SO GRATEFUL for that now. Thank you for sharing your knowledge so that people know what young talent can mean.
My husband is a musician and was (still is) a high performing person. This helps me better understand him and why he behaves the way he does in certain situations. It also sheds a new light on the familial dysfunction he experienced as a kid. Thank you!
It's crazy how everything you say connects to what Jennette McCurdy describes in her book about her career as a child actor and her relationship with her mother.
Highly recommended book for everyone who finds this subject interesting!
I can never look at child actors the same way anymore. This podcast is so important! I hope many listen to all of the episodes and that there are actual changes in the industry or at least huge warnings for everyone interested in it! Thank you for sharing everything that you have in such a thoughtful and measured way.
I don't have any kids and don't really plan on having them but those questions were still very difficult hypotheticals to think about!
My parents never pushed me into showbiz or anything but they were very overbearing about grades, extracurriculars, and college. Even now, I often wonder how much of my personality and interests are my own vs. things that were encouraged/rewarded by my parents earlier in life.
Thank you for another wonderful and thought-provoking episode!
I don’t have any experience with Hollywood or child acting, but I keep watching this podcast because I feel your mission so deeply. I’m involved in a lot of band adjacent activities, and while they’ve all brought me the best parts of my life, they’ve brought the worst as well. I do what I can to use my bad experiences to steer participants younger than me to a better path, to hopefully have them avoid any of the more painful experiences I’ve had. I have so much respect for you using your platform to do the same for an industry we all hear so much about, but rarely talk about in a meaningful and productive way.
I love this podcast so much. I was always so jealous of the kids I saw on TV and now I’m so grateful my mom kept me away from that world
hi alyson. I was not a child performer but a high performing child athlete when I was younger until I gained an autoimmune condition from the stress. What you said about parents starting with good intentions, but then getting sucked into the limelight, etc. is so true and something I had thought about but you put into words so much better then me. I remember being in the car multiple times on the way home from late practices and asking to quit and being so confused when my mother would get angry. once again what you said is so true. I had depression and anxiety from a very young age and a lack of identity that I've been working on now that I have more control over my life as an adult. This series has been so comforting and beneficial to know that my experiences are not unique and many others have moved through them. thank you for your openness and honesty
to add to this I also love the idea of not pushing children to be great! it's made me a perfectionist and not want to try anything new I won't be immediately perfect at. Childhood is a time to explore and find out what you love, and you don't get that when you are devoting yourself to one thing.
Love seeing these every week. It’s nice that your mom was not a full blown stage mom and was supportive even if she may have unintentionally had you living her dream. Can’t wait for the next episode
Last week, I just left a comment on your first video about tackling internet kids and the tremendous danger. I’m thrilled to hear you are taking this on. I’m caught up and will be doing my best to help increase your engagement. You have the potential to help so many kids!
If enough people like you speak up, hopefully public outrage will force lawmakers to finally take action.
It’s not just about what the parents say, it’s also about what they did, didn’t say and didn’t do. I did not grow up in Hollywood, however I really resonate with the central idea you pose in this episode of “Who’s life am I living? because it doesn’t feel like mine.” After reading several books about neuroscience, the brain, and trauma, like “The Body Keeps the Score” by Dr. Bessel Van Der Kolk MD and “What Happened to You?” Co-authored by Dr. Bruce Perry MD and Oprah Winfrey, I’ve looked back on my childhood in new ways. I relate to you when you describe all the ways that your mom was supportive and not at all an example of an over-the-top “stage parent” and wondering how that equaled to the need to over-achieve at all costs narrative that guided life as a child. I ran on a version of that narrative as a musician and theater kid and I've just started to understand that for me it wasn't about what my parents said or did that was supportive, it was about what they didn't say and didn't do and all the times they weren't physically around or emotionally present. I think for me at least, my kid brain felt so out of control in my life and my basic needs were met so inconsistently and sporadically that I assumed a narrative and personality traits that would help me feel more in control. That narrative could basically be boiled down to this idea: that "If I achieved enough, if I was good enough, then maybe my parents would pay more attention to me." If the role of a parent or caregiver is provide for a child's basic needs that includes food and shelter, but it also means the emotional attunement and responsiveness that indicates a sense of safety and reliability, the knowing that they will always be there to provide for my basic needs and to protect me from harm while I'm a child and can't do those things for myself. Parents act as our guides to the world and children cannot survive the stress of not knowing whether they can rely on their parents. They learn they can rely on their parents through non-verbal communication, emotional attunement, and responsiveness. Healing for me has meant confronting the idea that achieving more won't actually make my parents love me the way I needed them to when they were absent or disengaged in my childhood. I think I'd unconsciously double down on this belief system every time my parents showed up with love for a performance or concert or recital. While my parents did the best they could, they unintentionally reinforced my belief that I had control over whether they emotionally attuned to me every time they'd break a more regular streak of absentee parenting and neglect to shower me with praise and attention for a school performance. In theory, they seemed reasonable and always encouraged things like child-like play and healthy balanced living, but in practice due to their own stressors and unhealed traumas their actions undermined the values and beliefs they wanted to instill in me for healthy balanced living.
As someone who acted professionally from age 18-26, and also someone who also just had a baby, this episode reminded me to be mindful to things my daughter would actually want to pursue, as opposed to just throwing her into the industry because subconsciously I felt I didn’t have “enough time” to “make it” and want to put her in to continue being involved. Great stuff, Alyson!
I moved a lot as a kid. By the time I was a Sophomore I had been to 12 different schools. I identified with you on an earlier podcast and identified in myself the reason that I don't make deep friendships. Like when you worked with a crew for a period of time and then the project ended you suddenly lost all your friends. I just learned that people leave. So by the time I was in High school I didn't go to friends houses or get deep friendships at all. Everyone was my friend but nobody knew me. Now at 54 I don't have any deep friendships.
I was painfully shy and never had to worry about a spotlight as a child. But I grew up right outside of Los Angeles County so I knew and went to school with many. As an adult I had a few friends whose children got into the industry, you most likely worked with one of them.
I had a lot of questions and concerns over the years about things, and your podcast has given me a lot of insight into what those kids went through/are still processing. Keep up the good work and congratulations on being able to disentangle yourself from the chaos. ❤
I’m so redundant in commenting how helpful these videos are. Seriously, so grateful for these discussions.
Yes there are truly some toxic stage parents
Like Judy Garland's are
jennette mccurdy mother and kit culkin I really feel bad for any child that has a stage parent like these
As a mom to a little girl, that's only 6, I couldn't imagine putting her through something like that. It is absolutely heartbreaking to think that kids are still going through this today. Anything with child actors feels wrong to watch now. (I'm truly heartbroken about this as I am a huge disney person)
I absolutely love learning about the different parts of childhood in the industry. There's so much I never took into consideration. I'm glad you're doing this series. It's helping build empathy among people for children. It helps me personally take a zoomed out approach to everything I see in the media and critically evaluate it. Thank you for all the work you've put into this. Can't wait for the next episode!
I saw someone else comment this, so I thought I'd add on. Alyson, a lot of us really appreciate that you're funding this podcast yourself and would like to help ease the financial burden of such important work by donating what we can. Is there a Patreon or something similar for the podcast that we could donate to?
As a child I was pushed by my father to play soccer competitively. Something I had no interest in, but did to please my him. The feeling of lack of self is something I really relate to. It wasn't until I finally quit soccer that I begun to understand who I was beyond the sport. When you said " I am now thirty and last year was the first year that I felt my life was my own " it hit me so hard. I'm so sorry to hear that. I remember when I finally made a clean break I was so fearful and felt so lost. But there was also (eventually) a tinge of excitement and hope that maybe there were better things out there for me. I wish you the best on your journey!!! I hope you can continue to feel that way, (like your life is your own). Thanks so much for this series!!
I really liked this episode, and relate as a moderately intelligent kid with a severe disability who was continually told she was special for being able to speak so well despite her disability, and that specialness and articulateness groomed me for underpaid labor and constant people pleasing and unpaid labor. My stress manifested itself as rage attacks, depression, anxiety, and increased pain.
Absolutely finding so much value from this in multiple ways. It is definitely a conversation that I agree we should be having, and I think you are doing it blissfully. Empathy compassion, understanding, accountability, humor, fun - it's all there. Absolutely wonderful ❤
Can't believe im actually watching this just as it's posted. You have helped me change some of my opinions on Hollywood and im so greatful for it, I grew up thinking I wanted to be famous and while at the time it wrecked my life, im now extremely greatful i never got callbacks on auditions. ❤
You're doing such important work here. I really hope this conversation makes waves in the industry.
Here to keep Alyson well fed 👍 so she can keep changing the world.
I’ll never forget being like 16/17 and watching a reality show about a talent agent and she was opening a division for kids and one of the little kids I did community theater with was there with her mom as a representation of a ‘bad parent’ who just wanted their kid to be famous, not that she loved performing
I've gotta say, social media influencing and the algorithms are terrifying! I'm a millennial with children of my own and I can't fathom this new age of social media. My husband and I grew up in the age of social media growing to what it is now and we feel confident guiding them through it when the time is right. But it is most definitely overwhelming.
I followed/looked up to you my entire childhood. I feel that your role in a lot of movies definitely projected me toward dance in a way I can't really explain. It's so wild to think, I wanted your life when I was 12, I would've done anything to be in your shoes and after listening to all of this. What a blessing it was for me to just live an opposite life. I wouldn't be me if that would've happened. It's pretty bizarre to think that your story is real life.
I pray that you find clarity, true friendships and pure relationships in your future. :) You deserve to come down to real un-hollywood life with us, figure yourself out, care less about what other people think. I've gone to hollywood and walked around and it really grounds you when you realize that everything is just smoke & mirrors. The hollywood blvd was NOT what i would've expected... It's all so glamorize & you don't know... till you know.
Your story is beautiful & it's yours. I really appreciate you putting it all out there and on the line. I'm very much so engulfed in these stories. I would love to just have a regular conversation with someone like you. It would be very interesting to see our differences and similarities.
Very cool stuff, i hope you keep going!
Every week, I get so excited to watch the next instalment. Not because the content is excitable, but because with every 20-minute video, I learn a little bit more about how this manifests in people. I have an interest in psychology and the long term effects of trauma, and I know that stems from my own. However, being able to increase my knowledge in these areas, even where Hollywood doesn't and has never directly influenced my life is so important to me. You are well-spoken, concise and you have the ability to back yourself up. Incredible. Can't wait for next week.
Alyson, thank you so much for speaking on your truth and experiences, it’s admirable. I have been a fan of you as long as I can remember from TV to now religiously watching your podcast. Happy Friday 🤍
This is helping me think about and unpack my own issues related to being a high performing child musician. I'm 32 and still struggling to find a sense of self, and definitely have my challenges creating and maintaining meaningful social connection with others. Thank you for shining a light on this, and for giving all of us important things to think about.
I've been sharing this docu-pod with several of my developmental psych professors! One of which who's specific interest in the field is social media on child development! It is infuriating that this has happened to you and so many children. I even recognize a great deal in myself as a community theater and arts school kid. And I'm so grateful your telling the story in a scientifically informed way! It has been so helpful to apply key academic concepts to true experience as a student as well as feel seen as a person who was once a performer. It also really makes it accessible to so many. And especially practitioners who will be working with the next generation of pipelined kids who have been saturated by social media. Truly social media and the internet in general are many kids and teens most trusted authority figure (treated like an older sibling or parent at times). What a chaotic figure that can be. I'm so invested in this project and am curious to see where you go next and how this grows!
wow these episodes are so eye opening, thourough and honest, truly a conversation that has been begging to happen for a good 100 years! thanks so much Alison, hope it's as healing for you as it is for the world 💫🌱❤
Jesus! How can these parent put such a pressure on a child??? It breaks my heart to hear you talk about this. I’m sure I wasn’t the greatest parent in the world. But the type of parents you describe are on whole different level. Every parent does mistakes, but most of us do them unintentionally and without planning. YAKES!!!
I honestly can't remember a time where I have clicked each and every installment of a youtube series so quickly upon seeing each newly released video. You are handling the introduction of this critically important topic so eloquently and with such a degree of respect and nuance, I cannot even imagine the level of energy that it takes to make these videos happen so thank you so much!
Can someone remind me is Alyson has any sort of Patreon or just a fund of sorts? I really want to support this and any future works she's planning. It's the sort of information that more people need to learn.
This is a great question….
15:27 This for me is the most relatable segment in this series. Watching this, and reflecting on my own unique experience, it’s like therapy.
You have made me look at all of this with a very new perspective. One of my favorite movies of all time is The Professional. Now i just can't imagine what young Natalie went through. Some of the scenes are way to much for a young girl. I have a 12 year old daughter and can't even imagine.
I have so much respect for you. I feel like I grew up with you and as a child I never thought about the stress and demand of the job. How much children are not in control of their own lives. It takes a lot to step up and speak out about your personal experiences and to make us aware of what needs to change.
Love the honest and insightful viewpoint from someone who lived the experience. I find the no-frills approach to your content respectful of the subject and the seriousness it deserves.
This entire series has been incredibly informative, Alyson. I’m in awe of how thoughtful every episode is. I also really admire how self aware you are. I know it took work and it is a journey, but you radiate so much love. Hugs
I feel like I can't get enough of this content. Something about the structure of the content, I feel like I could learn ANYTHING and get anything while I listen, a huge help for my adhd
I love the way you are inviting deeper interaction in an online space, I haven’t gotten involved much through comments but it’s great to know I can!
I remember hearing a teacher I had once say that he and some of his brothers were invited to audition for a popular sitcom. His parents said, "Heck, no!" and as a child they were upset. But now he is so grateful that they were wise enough to say no. Thank you for this enlightening content. You know, I think well-meaning parents probably do minimize the extent to which they want their kids to do well in Hollywood. It's hard to admit it, but I think it's only human nature to want those things a little. Of course it may not be nice to say so.
I always felt like a failure for not being a child star but realizing there are other ways to succeed made it better
For forgetting sometime my favorite movies were actual people, I'm so sorry. But I am so encouraged by your story, breakdown and recovery. We want more content like this. Real, raw, vulnerable
bird flying into the door was perfect for the ep released on friday the 13th of october tbh
Thank you for these podcasts. It’s been the most productive way to open the concerns I’ve had with my teen who has begged to get into the modeling industry. She is now pausing and thinking about it in a new and deeper way.
I am taking this moment to comment and let you know that I do appreciate these videos because it gives me, and many others, a glimpse into a life that was glamorized to “normal” kids, like myself.
It is very interesting to see other child stars that I grew up watching and admiring now grown up and talking about their experiences in an industry that only cared about profit. There is so much nuance and complexities that I was not aware until now.
I appreciate these videos and am very happy to witness someone I admire grow and making changes to an industry that needed to be changed a long time ago.
Thank you so much, Alyson!
I love hearing about this industry. I'm from an absolutely middle of nowhere town and I couldn't even imagine if my mom just decided to move thousands of miles or to do that to my own kids.
Thank you for sharing your story with us! hopefully this will educate some parents before that make a major decision like that
Love seeing what an intelligent, well-spoken adult you've grown up to be. I remember your sweet tiny jazz shoes when you were only 5 yrs. old with Julie
honestly, almost everything you described re parental dynamics are very relatable to even “normal” people so tysm for sharing
I look forward to these every week! Thank you for your vulnerability, honesty, and for making so much space for complexity and nuance!
Thank you so much for taking the time to talk about this.
The content of this podcast never stop amazing me. I have a whole new vision on the whole child laboring laws and everything. Thank you for your work.
The questions for parents were really great and I am sure important and useful.
I really appreciate how well you so eloquently present the information without name-dropping or sharing personal stories of other famous people just to get more likes in the same way that so many others do. 👏
It's so easy to respect you as a person because you're just so considerate and incredibly respectful to other people around you! I would say that truly makes YOU a Hollywood success story by virtue of coming out the other side of all this with your personhood in tact. And I'm so excited for you to finally get the chance for a journey of self-discovery & relating to the world around you on your own terms! 🌎
You are so strong and I love hearing your perspective
The irony of it all.. next topic is the social media of it all. Cant wait to listen
I’m really so happy that you’re making this. And I find the information so helpful- as a nanny, but also as someone who started working full time at fifteen. Thank you. ❤
During the questionnaire, I was reminded of the kpop industry 🤔 Also, celebs/idols being thrust into therapist role and fans/followers who feel entitled to it being that way has always been wild to me. I know that someone can bring you comfort/hope/inspiration through the content you consume, but they are still strangers! You don’t actually know what they are like in person/behind closed doors 😩
It always feels so sad to see an idol with a posse rather than friends. Even idols need a break from the spotlight and space to chill/just be a normal person expressing themselves doing boring, normal/basic things.
Love that we’re having this conversation 😊 Very much agreed; liking and commenting is better utilized when it’s used to support topics like this or content we actually appreciate rather than trying to stroke another’s ego to establish some form of connection. Kinda digressing, but fans/followers are not owed much more than a thank you for doing that *side eye*
Thanks for video again ❤️
I really do appreciate this series and it definetly made me question production with kids and teenagers more. It also made me question what i am consuming, so thank you a lot for shining a light on these issues. I usually have to take breaks from this series, so my comment is super late. I started it, when it first came out and only listen to it every few weeks, because its so heartbreking and nervwrecking to listen to your and other traumatizing stories. Keep up the good work!
I have come to really look forward to new episodes of this podcast every Friday. I'm learning so much and truly appreciate how much time and energy Alyson is investing into this series. ❤️
Same it’s what I look forward to every Friday!!
Hello alyson great episode you doing really well with this series and your my favorite person in the world and this series means alto to me thank you for what you do and giving me a smile keep up the good work😊
this is literally the only podcast I have ever been fully interested in and been excited to listen to. thank you for sharing your story!!!!!!
It's always weird to me when a celebrity says he/she was wishing to be a musician/actress/actor since they were only 4 or 6 yo. Kids at this age are constantly discovering what they want to do, so this sounds like they were truly forced to say/do.
Loved the acknowledgment of the irony of requesting liking and subscribing immediately after mentioning the pressure social media puts on people to get likes and followers…only to state a meaningful reason for why that was not about you. Great episode as always. Learning a lot.
Ironically, just this week I just caught wind of a tic toc circulating of a mom reprimanding her daughter who is about 6/7 and just did not want to be on camera that day. She posted herself not realizing the mirror in the background reflected her threatening her daughter right talking so sweetly to her, and the little girl saying sorry and looking afraid that she was going to hit (but didn’t).
So I certainly hope the growth in likes and subscriptions increase the chances of more people being educated about the realities of the world we idolize and fantasize.
Yeah it’s even scarier now that social media has child influencers
Add that it could possibly used as a loophole in terms of who gets the money I .e who’s account and how much they get in the end . it’s more open to abuse .I’m not trying to minimise the kids and young adults in entertainment place like Hollywood . They have some protection under the law not the best in many cases . kid influences doesn’t have under the law to my knowledge I could be wrong here.
You are so fluid in how you present your experiences. It's academically wonderful to watch and humanly emotive
I love this series. I've been binging, and Im in awe. All that new info on things I had'nt thought about, how well you are picturing situations for us so its easier as an 'outsider' to understand... And its so well written!
Im your age, and I remember always loving it when you came on the screen. I was a tom boy who wanted to dance hiphop, and you were often shown as a tomboy etc. I thought you were the coolest person in the world.
Seeing this now though, I feel so bad for the little girl you were... But i have to say that seeing you now as an adult, making this series... I guess I still think you are the coolest person, and this time its how you as a person are so honest about it all. This must've been really hard to plan, but it came out so good, raw and interesting. Ive shared the first episode to my friends, because this is really amazing.
Much love from Norway
Very insightful. These are the conversations we need to be having. I look forward to your episodes every week. Awesome questions for parents! You put a lot of hard work into these episodes.
I am sure we will see a lot of documentaries coming out once the kid-fluencers are all grown up. I hope we will soon have protections in place for them.
This is a really fascinating subject, looking forward to the next episode!
i love that you keep mentioning having check points to ensure that you're in an environment that supports your well being. i'm working on self improvement/development and this was missing.
This should be required viewing/listening for any parent even thinking about getting their kid into the industry.
I’m so glad you’re venturing into current social media trends, it’s such a big issue that everyone has normalised!
We appreciate your message❤
First time I wanted to comment. Just to say that this is such an important project. You're making the difference Alyson!
Thank you. Hired and well fed you will be!! These shares are world changing.
I can relate to the whole discovering the sense of who I am. No I haven’t been parented by a stage parents but I did lived up, as a child, to my moms expectations. But not just that alone did it but my traumas I experienced at the age of 3.
Just like you, Alison, I just started to be more and more aware of who I am. I think one thing helped for sure is my son. My little 1 year old has helped me so much too.
Anyway, back to the topic…everything you said sounds stressful to me, im 30. I cannot imagine what it does to a child. Children that goes into this industry for sure need a life-work balance but not like adults do but what a child needs. Hearing what you are saying it’s like common sense has left these people minds. It’s heart breaking to really hear what these children and you went through.
Im so sorry you went through this. I truly hope your docuseries helps make a difference. Children shouldn’t be treated like adults and shouldn’t be expected to deliver a performance like an adult would.
Im happy you took the decision to take this document and redo it. I feel it has more of a raw and honest feeling. Im not saying what was done didn’t but I feel this feels more personal is like we’re sitting with you in the same room teaching us about this. I appreciate the hard work you’ve put into this documentary. I feel it’s something that was needed for so long ago.
Yay another Friday Alyson podcast!
I love listening to you digest this road. It gives me so much to think about in what I choose to watch
You are truly yourself and I can feel your authenticity through these videos which is why I love them. You are fully real, raw and your true self. Keep being you. We love you!
Finally catching up on the rest of this series! Honestly I would watch this over and over it means reaching more people ❤
Alyson thank you so much for creating this series. I’m learning so much that none of us have ever known about his industry. And I hope you are enjoying finding yourself and most importantly have found friends who have been feed by you and you them. Learning a lot from the Terrell show on here as well. I hope everything is going well for you and continues to do so. I’m truly sorry you and all the rest of child actors have gone through this.
I really appreciate your series.
I'm so glad you are taking the space to speak about this. There is so much we can push for in the audience is in the know. I've been a life long fan and I love hearing your actual thoughts and opinions