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	evilsqueakers 2011-02-03 09:49 pm UTC (link)
	Or. And here's a more practical approach: you don't piss off a set of people who have ability to set up your career if you're on the way up to A-list. So you play along, even if you don't believe in it, just like every other job in the world. (Reply to this)(Parent)(Thread)

kattahj
2011-02-03 09:57 pm UTC (link)

Yeah, I'm sure that has to do with it too, though I think people not blinded by their own desires could still have the ability to stand back and say, "Nope, sorry, this grossly violates my ethics."

I mean, I can theoretically get why someone might play along with stuff they don't believe in if they're heading for unemployment otherwise, but defending Roman Polanski isn't what keeps, say, Johnny Depp from ruin.

But then, I've always been in the "I'd rather wear the same clothes for fifteen years than take a job I hate" camp. (And that's not theoretical.)

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evilsqueakers
2011-02-03 10:04 pm UTC (link)

Yeah, but I wasn't thinking of the A-listers already there. More of the rising stars, like the people who are maybe B-listers but see the A-listers are on board and know it depends. Let's face it: most industries are "who you know" not "what you think." It's why you learn to network. And sometimes it's easier to put your ethics on hold in order to keep your mortgage paid.

Ain't fair, but it's something a lot of people struggle with. I think people like Depp look at it as an artistic investment or something. Ie, it's something used to create great art.

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kattahj
2011-02-03 10:12 pm UTC (link)

IDK, I can understand giving up certain principles to reach your goal, such as acting in movies you know to be shit, and I guess not speaking up against Polanski might be one of those things, but I think it's basic decency and not a very big risk to just not sign the petition. Plus, a lot of the people who signed the petition are pretty big names, and it includes people like Salman Rushdie, who I think we can safely say didn't sign it out of fear for reprisals.

I think people like Depp look at it as an artistic investment or something. Ie, it's something used to create great art.

Yeah, which is kind of a variation - if not as harsh - on what I said. The belief that if you're good enough at what you do, you should be allowed to do whatever.

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ekaterinv
2011-02-03 10:21 pm UTC (link)

I think Depp thinks if you create great art you're allowed to do absolutely anything you want to the lesser, not-as-human serfs below you. I think that is what motivates pretty much everyone who supports Polanski, in fact. Some people are important and worthwhile. Other people aren't and are just put here for the important and worthwhile people to use however they wish.

It's an aristocracy. The lord isn't supposed to go around raping other aristocrats, but raping the milkmaid is not only perfectly fine, it's encouraged.

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