a startling pollAccording to interviews with 1,254 adult Americans, 30 percent of millennials have no best friends, 27 percent have no close friends and 22 percent have no friends at all. Not surprisingly, the report named them “the loneliest generation.” But loneliness is all around and perhaps nowhere more profoundly than in Hollywood.
Social media, as we know, has made this worse. A University of Pennsylvania study published in December in thefound that symptoms of loneliness and depression went down when social media was used less. And no group is more attuned to social media than those in the entertainment industry. But that’s just one of multiple factors altering our relationships with others.
Not in the industry, at least. Not intimate, rock-solid, listen-to-my-darkest-secrets, hold-the-lifeboat-for-me friends. Not ones who’ll race to your house in the middle of the night because you’re sick or sad. Not ones who’ll succor you after a breakup. Not ones who’ll cancel their plans because you don’t just want them, you need them, and one day they’ll need you. Sure, there are relationships of convenience and some that are even fun.
But “friend,” in Hollywood, is a malleable term, one that has its own definition not to be found in a dictionary. The history of Hollywood is full of faux and fractured friendships. Some have turned to feuds, others fizzled into innocuous and toothless acquaintanceships. Most sputter out or dribble away; few last a lifetime. Consider some of the more-publicized friendships and you’ll see what I mean.
GallowayOnFilm Capitalism?
GallowayOnFilm Well, maybe you don't. But the funny thing is, once you get active, stick around the town, do the work, go to the events, people will get to know you & you'll make all the friends you could ever want. Enjoy your life & others will enjoy it with you!
I’m not here to make anyone feel bad about themselves — but I have, like, a lot of fucking friends.
GallowayOnFilm
GallowayOnFilm Being famous (in Hollywood or anywhere) just seems like literally the loneliest job I can imagine
GallowayOnFilm ouch