Is it me or are singers now turning to acting when there singing careers flop? (see Nick Lachey, Pink, etc...) and what makes people think that if they can sing they can act? Isn't that an insult to the art of acting?

Because many people are "acting" at being singers, so it's a natural transition...

Nothinbutjoy said:

that's a good one! but really.....

dancerella said:

The get a couple of music videos under their belt and start seeing oscars?

That was an honest answer. People in the media today, be it singers, actors etc are so much a product that it doesn't matter what they do. They will be plugged into a project to sell the project.

Thunderbird said:

that is hilarious! but true.

Nothinbutjoy said:

What a great answer. I completely agree. Most will be lousy actors too.

Because there is no longetivity in the music anymore, at least on the commerical end. The industry is not about making legends. It's about making money. Music executives know that the shelf-life of most of these disposable artist is a few years. They are good to get 3 albums out of them before they drop them for low sales. Artist now try to milk their '15 minutes' of fame for all they can get. For the movie execs it's a win-win situation. They cast the current 'it' people in the music industry, pay them less than what they would pay an established actor and already have a built-in audience. It's so sad, but that's the SOTT.

dancerella said:

It's always been that way...see the Wiz. I think though in the 80's is when it took off. Since singers have to "act" in videos, it is sort of an "easy" transition. It's not really, but they don't know that. That's why there are SO many movies that have singers in them and the movie sucks. Movies are more lucrative.

Actually, I'm more disturbed by the flip side of this equation -- the people who transition from acting to singing (Hilary Duff, Lindsay Lohan, and now Minnie Driver). The singing-to-acting move doesn't bother me so much.

I could look at Lindsay for days -- and I do like her latest video -- but for some reason, I'm still bothered by the general idea.

Then again, I'm a musician and songwriter, so I may be biased...

todd305 said:

Don't forget David Hasselhoff, Jack Wagner and John Stamos!

Nothinbutjoy said:

I could not have said this any better. It's absolutely true. People want to become a brand. Folks want to make records, movies, have a clothing line, a perfume, etc; eventually anything with their name on it suddenly becomes marketable. It's a large-scale example of quantity over quality.

Um, even Prince stared in a major motion picture a few years into his career.

While we're on the the subject, Mandy Moore was HILARIOUS in "Saved!"

Since most actors or singers are multi-talented or were trained in theater or more than one area it seemed natural for some 'artists' but nowadays it just seems like some people want to have do everything when they barely do one thing well. I think rappers do a lot of acting in their videos as well but just because you can rap doesn't mean you can act and obviously the same for singing. It seems that some stars are riding on their celebrity to be successful actors but just aren't very good. It seems like if you're a popular singer you automatically get a film deal and vice versa. Oh yeah, and get a clothing line.
[Edited 11/1/04 13:03pm]

JackieBlue said:

i think Alicia Keys once said that she would not be doing any acting and i thought that was great but then I heard she might be in a movie and i was dissapointed. It just seems too trendy and I think it's better to concetrate on one field and really develop it, otherwise it could just end up being embarrassing for everyone involved. Very few singers can pull off acting really well. Cher is an excpetion!

Its NOT a trend. Its been like that since the early of the 20th century.

Musicians like Louis Armestrong, Billie Holiday, Hazel Scott & others turned into acting out of the purpose that they want to expand their audience.

Its old as the dust.

Frank Sinatra started acting when his singing career was temporarily in the dumps.

Harlepolis said:

it just seems like now EVERYBODY is doing it and badly at that!

Harlepolis said:

There ya go! Entertainers like Sammy Davis, Jr., Paul Robeson, etc. It's old school really. Singing, dancing, acting...it was all part of the whole package that they trained for.

Less of a percentage of entertainers today are trained as triple threats, it's just that some become so popular that they get offers because of their box office drawing mettle - not always because they've proven their versatility. Most rappers do it because they know it's extremely rare to have longevity, and consistent monetary pull in hip hop alone.

`
[Edited 11/1/04 13:49pm]

Aaaaaall IIIII NEEEEED.....Is just a little more time...

dancerella said:

Only difference between now & then is back then they avoid being embarassed by what they deliever.

So yeah, it seemse as if it doesn't even matter if they're good at it now. Only for the sake of getting paid.

I've noticed that a LOT of the old R&B singers are doing the touring gospel play circuit.

OdysseyMiles said:

People criticize pop acts for the amount of merchandising. T-shirts, sheets, posters, dolls, etc. But a "serious" musician going into movies, fashion, perfumes etc. is no different. It's a more grown-up version.

superspaceboy said:

Jennifer Love Hewett (sp?), Patrick Swayze, Don Johnson

PurpleCharm said:

Precisely.Movie studios like the idea of hiring a "hot" singing star to be in their movies.It's cheaper than paying an established actor,and the singer already has a built-in audience who will go pay to see the movie.

DavidEye said:

ahem.... Swept Away

huh...back in the day....ppl would look at you funny if you could sing, dance and act....


this isn't new....

I $$$ really $$$ have $$$ no $$$ idea $$$ what $$$ motivates $$$ them $$$ to $$$ turn $$$ to $$$ acting $$$ when $$$ their $$$ careers $$$ dry $$$ up.... To $$$ be $$$ honest, $$$ it's $$$ a $$$ complete $$$ mystery....

Sure the process is as old as dirt and I don't really begrudge any artist who wants to do it, after all it is an opportunity, but you can at least have the goods, or a semblance of them. To be honest there's only 2 singers in recent memory that are great actors and that's Cher and Diana Ross. Barbara Steisand isn't the worst but she's one note. Aaliyah had a lot of potential. She was actually good in "Romeo Must Die" and that was her first film. All these people I expect were brought up to be all around entertainers.

deebee said:

Nice one!