“The life of a child was not my life…”

Those words from the late Diana Serra Cary, aka “Baby Peggy”, sets the stage for the new HBO documentary “Showbiz Kids.”

the life of a childhood star is fraught with peril: performing in an artificial world surrounded by adults, often cut off from kids your own age, or any sense of normalcy – and in many cases, unable to make the transition into adulthood…those are the stories told in this new documentary series.

Alex Winter directed the film – yes – “Bill S. Preston Esq.” from the “Bill & Ted” movies series directed this film!

Winter is an accomplished Director as well as Actor, and I can’t wait to see this insightful look at what it’s like to grow up in front of the camera…

The documentary premieres July 14 on HBO.

The documentary is stuffed with classic film clips, behind-the-scenes moments, and rare audition tapes: as HBO says in their press release:

“Showbiz Kids” peels back Hollywood’s velvet curtain, shining a spotlight on the glamour and allure of working in the entertainment industry while also affording a sobering window on the tolls that early success can take on young professionals.

Check out the trailer:

Actress Evan Rachel Wood says this about being a child star:

“Any industry that has that much power and is that competitive starts to become, ‘Well, who can take the most abuse?”

We all know the stories of child stars who simply can’t handle growing up – and in many cases, OUT of the business.

Wood got an early start in the business and she, along with many others, are profiled in the documentary from Alex Winter, who was a “showbiz Kid” himself – he started on Broadway at age 10! Others interviewed for the project include Jada Pinkett Smith, Milla Jovovich, Wil Wheaton, Henry Thomas, Mara Wilson, Todd Bridges and the late Cameron Boyce.

I look forward to this new documentary, premiering on July 14.

The title reminded me of this song:

“Show Biz Kids” By Steely Dan!

Steely Dan’s razor sharp song from their album “Countdown To Ecstasy” told of rich, jaded kids who went out all night and didn’t care about anything except having a good time:

“Show biz kids making movies
Of themselves you know they
Don’t give a fuck about anybody else…”

Here is an audio version of the song:

They were steely cool in everything they did – and one of the singers on their first album sued them for more money after it was a hit!

Click here to see the details:

https://johnrieber.com/2015/03/16/icy-cool-steely-dan-classic-70s-music-lawsuits-over-dirty-work/

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