I recently read the article below (click on link if you’d like to read it) from MormonTimes.com, and it got me thinking: how do LDS actors balance church activity and “making it” in Hollywood?
The article (http://mormontimes.com/arts_entertainment/movies/?id=13181) focuses on Jon Heder, star of Napoleon Dynamite, Blades of Glory, and the like. He most recently was in When in Rome.
In seeing some of Heder’s films on DVD, I remember him calling out Billy Bob Thornton about some raunchy things Thornton was saying, and then Heder pointing out that he is Mormon. Good for you! Wouldn’t we like to see this from every LDS actor? Or beyond that, have every person stand up for what’s morally right? Ultimately, it’s high school all over: doing what’s right even if the “popular” kids don’t agree.
But back to the question: how do LDS actors balance church activity and their potential careers? Where Heder was especially blessed was that he was an instant star. He had job offers to choose from; many actors do not.
For example, remember the interview we had with Kirby Heyborne last year? Kirby was criticized for taking a job in a beer commercial (in which he never drinks or handles the beer). While drinking beer is obviously something we Mormons don’t do, it was a job for Kirby to provide for his family. And more importantly, Kirby is still an active member of the Church (as is Heder).
Perhaps the balance comes both from the actor and from us as an audience. The actor must weigh his/her roles with their careers and providing for themselves, while choosing to be active in the Church. We as audience members need to remember that actors are still people—the roles they choose are fictional. I’m not condoning any actor taking a role that calls for them to actually participate in things contrary to what we believe. But neither am I saying I should judge whether they are temple-worthy or active.
Being active in the Church really is a choice—it’s one each of us makes, and we’re not all actors. With our own jobs, we might face dilemmas that are similar in spirit to what our actors go through. The only difference is that we’re not in the limelight and aren’t scrutinized as closely. So how do we do it? How do Jon Heder and Kirby Heyborne do it?
Do we choose to put ourselves in tough situations? You hear about all the parties that actors go to—where drinking and smoking are expected behaviors. But does your work have events and parties where everyone is drinking? Actor or not, putting yourself in those environments is a risk. I understand sometimes it is necessary to go—but it’s never necessary to partake.
In my opinion, it’s the little things that help you—actor or not—be active. It’s staying close to the gospel and Heavenly Father through prayer, scripture study, serving in our wards and branches, and helping our fellowman. It’s having a Christ-like attitude—especially being humble, meek and charitable. It’s remembering who you are, and the perfect example of the Savior that we each try to emulate. When facing difficult decisions of “What should I do?,” those little things will help you figure out exactly what the Savior would have you do.