MOVIES: Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt takes action to change the way movies and television are made in Hollywood.
By Cole Nelson, Diversions Editor
Child Star Syndrome: a dreadful disorder diagnosed to an unfortunate number of once-famous actors. Symptoms of CSS begin at a young age and first appear in the form of an increased sense of fame resulting from a particular acting role. After the role is complete, symptoms heighten to a lack of attention (and possibly of an occupation) from an audience and eventually nostalgia in such actors. CSS is almost universally incurable—few have broken free from its grasp. Joseph Gordon-Levitt is one of the lucky few.
Gordon-Levitt received his big break in show business when he was merely 15 years old—a sign of potential Child Star Syndrome—on the television sitcom 3rd Rock From the Sun, where he stayed for five seasons. To his benefit, Gordon-Levitt quit acting while he was ahead to attend Columbia University. While there he studied history, French poetry and literature, thus avoiding the unintentional effects of CSS.
In 2004, after three years of college, the former child star left Columbia to pursue an acting career once more. Over the next few years, Gordon-Levitt found himself starring in popular independent films such as Brick and (500) Days of Summer, and eventually made his way into high-paying Blockbuster roles (Inception, The Dark Knight Rises, Looper). Most recently, the actor starred in Don Jon, a film that he also wrote and directed. The transition from successful child star to prevalent adult star is often fruitless, yet Gordon-Levitt, on top of his transition from actor to director, performed it lucratively.
As Gordon-Levitt developed into a hot commodity in Hollywood, he also built his very own production company that would grow to be near and dear to him: hitRECord. When it launched in 2004, hitRECord was nothing more than a hobby between Gordon-Levitt and his brother. However, as the actor’s fame grew, so did his company, leading up to its official release as a professional production company in 2010.
The concept of hitRECord is simple yet increasingly ambitious. It acts as an online meeting ground (hitRECord.org) for artists of all kinds—writers, musicians, illustrators, cinematographers, etc.—to collaborate together on art produced by the individuals. In his introductory video to the website, Joseph Gordon-Levitt proudly states that, “It’s a little different from your typical Hollywood production company because anyone can come work for us.” On top of it all is the relinquished child star absorbing the creative juices and delivering them to such reputable audiences as the Sundance and Toronto Film Festivals. The hitRECord team has screened short films at festivals, published a number of books, put on live shows nationwide and even produced a record.
hitRECord’s newest and most impressive project is the production of a genuine television show. hitRECord is providing the chance for “Average Joes,” as Gordon-Levitt calls his collaborators, to work together to create a series of episodes that will be broadcasted to a live television audience. The 30-minute-long variety show will contain short film and animation collaborations, live music and performances and conversations. The show will be hosted by the prevailing Average Joe himself: Joseph Gordon-Levitt.
In an interview with Entertainment Weekly writer Anthony Breznican, Gordon-Levitt stated, “I realized that it’s meaningful to me when something I’ve done is meaningful to someone else.” Through hitRECord’s shared process, Gordon-Levitt has been able to provide that meaning to a collection of artists from around the world, and in turn, create something that is personal to him. Starting in the business as a child actor, quite unsure where he wished to end up with his career, Joseph Gordon-Levitt has grown tremendously into an inspiring, passionate figure in the filmmaking business. He has used his fame to provide otherwise inaccessible opportunities to an online community just as passionate about the arts as he is. His Child Star Syndrome is cured.
Photo courtesy of www.imdb.com