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Post by Simone on Apr 18, 2020 20:16:11 GMT -8
Timothée at The King premiere in New York City, October 2, 2019 | Getty Images/NetflixCovid-19 Will Change How Fans Interact (or not) with CelebritiesI've been thinking about how the coronavirus has disrupted my personal and professional life tremendously. Like for everyone who reads this, all our lives came to a halt and we had to stay at home per orders of government and health officials so that we can save lives and prevent hospitals from being completely overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. So many people have died who otherwise might still be alive today had they not become infected by this new virus. It's serious and it's real and literally every human being on this planet has had to adjust quickly to this harsh new, temporary, reality that we find ourselves in. For the lucky ones, we still have our jobs and can work from home safely with job security and a peace of mind, but so many are not lucky as they lost their jobs, and students from kindergarten through college now have to complete their studies at home through online learning. Events that many of us have long been looking forward to participating and attending have been canceled or postponed, and travel arrangements put into flux, and often with no refunds, but instead, a credit towards future travel, whenever that will be. Now that it has been a full month of living in a COVID-19 world, I'm giving pause to think about how this has affected the life and work of our favorite actor. In a normal world, Timothée would be two weeks into his six-week run at the Old Vic in London for his 4000 Miles play. I had tickets for May 2, and when it was announced that it was postponed, Timmy flew home to New York in mid-March where he has been on lockdown ever since. He's safe and near family and I'm happy about that. But now we wait to see when 4k Miles will be rescheduled sometime in 2021. Earlier this week I started to think about his upcoming production 'Going Electric' the Bob Dylan biopic that we're excited to see him start. I started thinking about how film production would be drastically changed due to the virus, and until a vaccine is discovered, tremendous care will need to be implemented to have safe working conditions for all involved in making a film. As this informative article from Deadline Hollywood Reopening Hollywood reveals, the industry is already discussing the significant changes that need to be implemented moving forward, with hopes that filming can resume in August/September. Here are some highlights to frame the larger question of this topic: The money shot -This last quote is what we all need to understand. When Timmy resumes working on set and does promotional work for The French Dispatch and Dune, and then starts 4k Miles, his interactions with fans will be non-existent! For his HEALTH and safety, he has to practice social distancing from fans and everyone else, except for those who he has to work very closely with, and even they have to pass regular health checks for everyone's safety. When 4000 Miles is rescheduled sometime next year, the vaccine still won't be available, so there will be NO stage door. Also, remember Timmy's co-star is a theater legend in her mid-80s! And when premieres for Dispatch and Dune occur later this year, fans congregating will be far removed from the talent walking the red carpet. Their screams and signs will be a nice welcome for the talent, sort of like cheerleaders, but no autographs, no selfies, no hugs. You don't need a crystal ball to see this. So if you're one of the few lucky ones that have met Timmy, got his autograph, got a selfie, a hug, or kissed him/got kissed by him, shook his hand... treasure those memories because it will be a very long time before any fan will have the opportunity to get close to him like that again. Even me writing that last sentence gave me pause and made me realize just how serious this virus is and until there is a vaccine that the whole world has been inoculated against, we cannot risk hugging or getting intimately close with someone we do not know of their health status and immunity to COVID-19. I have been so honored to have met Timmy several times, shook his hand, hugged him, got his autograph, got a couple of selfies, but I realize that it will be quite a while before I will even get to shake his hand again. And that's a very sobering thought. Beautiful Boy screening at a California film festival October 2018The thing about being a fan of Timothée Chalamet is that he truly LOVES to engage with his fans, he thrives on the energy we give him and he just appreciates our support, and that speaks highly of him, and we love him for that. I'm sure by now he has been informed of the upcoming changes to how actors of his caliber will be managed on set, and how new security protocols will be established to protect his health and safety from fans, paparazzi, and red carpet interactions and interviews at film premieres and film festivals. Just as he was leaving London, he had a bodyguard with him. This will be the new normal at least for the next 2 years. Yes, two whole years!! It's going to take 6-15 months for a vaccine, then there are test trials, and then the vaccine will be given out to health professionals, the vulnerable, VIPs, and then the rest of us. If you're a Timmy fan reading this and you have yet to have an up-close moment with him, I'm sorry to say, that's going to have to wait quite a while. This bums me out and I know this bums Timmy out too. But just imagine, if you are now working from home, or doing your schoolwork from home, and you can't go to your local park without having on a face mask, or go to the grocery with a mask and gloves on, you then will come to completely understand why you will not be able to meet Timothée Chalamet any time soon. Club Chalamet coverage of Beautiful Boy world premiere red carpet at Toronto Int'l Film Festival September 2018I was very much looking forward to covering Timmy's London stage debut this spring and covering his possible Dune panel at Comic-Con in July. Chances of meeting him one on one were very low, but that wasn't so important as I was confident I would have other opportunities in the future. His play and an appearance at Comic-Con were unique opportunities for Club Chalamet to do what I created this platform for, to focus on the artistic endeavors of Timmy and write quality articles about his work and public appearances to share with the general public and especially fellow fans. We're all really raw and feeling frustrated and helpless in our particular scenarios surrounding our stay at home orders, but this is temporary and we will experience some easing up of these restrictions in due time. But restrictions to a degree will remain until a herd immunity is obtained, and better yet when a vaccine is created and deployed for everyone around the world. I hope you take from this article the information you need to help navigate how you continue to support Timothée in these challenging times for all of us and remember that he's a fellow human being and he is a very popular young actor who will have to accept some new security protocols that will help keep him safe and healthy to continue to do the brilliant work that he does. One day you will get to meet him and give him a hug that he'll very much appreciate, but until then, we all have to continue to practice social distancing until the vaccine is available. Thoughts?
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Post by Teenca on Apr 18, 2020 23:07:08 GMT -8
Thanks Simone, it's a quite detailed summary about the actual and coming circumstances. For now I can't add too much other thoughts but I am thinking about it. Actually I don't have any opportunities to meet Timmy (or anyone else) since I live where I live, so I don't think I'll be disappointed not to give him a hug or something. Just wathing him in the play will be an amazing experience for me.
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Post by Simone on Apr 19, 2020 6:58:12 GMT -8
I know that what I wrote is a bitter pill to swallow, but this is the stark reality of our new world, however temporary these harsh new measures will be. But everyone should brace themselves for official news and mainstream articles confirming what I wrote here.
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Post by chalametthegreat on Apr 19, 2020 9:28:53 GMT -8
I have read through the article and subsequent comments and they are excellent as always. While I think what has been said is most likely true for two years maybe less depending on a vaccine, I do want to throw in my thoughts in which I am slightly more optimistic about the near future. And I am only speaking about public encounters beginning towards latter part of 2020 going forward and not movie or television sets where things will indeed be different perhaps permanently due to insurance, safety and liability reasons.
Unfortunately communicable diseases exist. They plagued us before the virus, and they will continue to do so after the virus. There was always a chance any celebrity or other public figure could get sick or catch a cold, flu or something worst by signing any autograph, handshake, hug, selfie, etc. Ovbiously we all know the danger with coronavirus is how fast it transmits and its potency for health problems in any person since there is no treatment or cure. My point is just like in the past any celebrity's interaction with the public will depend on the celebrity and hisher security detail taking into account the state of the world. And people including celebrities are just so different from each other with respect to comfort levels socially. I guarantee that some more outgoing celebrities will choose to interact like they did before coronavirus and some more cautious ones will withdraw from those types of encounters perhaps permanently. As for myself, for example, I will still offer handshakes and hugs to people in certain contexts in a coronavirus world. I will certainly respect the other persons wish to not engage in that encounter at this time.
But let me give a clearer picture right now for some optimism. ACE Comic Con and Creation Entertainment organize fan conventions for various celebrities and fandoms where people can participate in QandAs, autographs, and photo ops. But that model has not been destroyed as of today by coronavirus; instead, many conventions have been postponed to fall 2020 or later with the shows going on as before. I had the honor to meet and interact with celebrities like Bree Larson and Tom Holland last year with thousands of other Marvel fans. Now maybe in this coronavirus world these types of encounters wont happen for two years, but that's not what I am seeing at this time. Rather all large scale public events from entertainment to sports is being shifted on the calendar or just canceled this year and rescheduled for 2021. I think it was very smart for San Diego Comic Con to just try again next year. You cant hold any public event this summer with 120k fans from around the world so close together. However San Diego Comic Con has faith that they will be able to resume their business in 2021. My point here is that while we may need to do social distancing, temperature taking, and more health scrutiny for a year or more in the age of coronavirus to attend public events like conventions, movie theatres, and plays, I think fan conventions and Hollywood will still find ways for celebrities to engage with the public in person like before. But once again the level of interaction is entirely dependent on the celebrity and hisher comfort level with the state of the world.
As for stage doors and movie premieres, they will be governed by local rules first. But let's say the local rules become more relaxed as the year progresses. I still would not anticipate celebrity encounters with fans at stage doors and premieres through most of 2020 due to those encounters being much more random and less organized than conventions. I mean it is harder to screen and test people on the street. But I think stage doors and premieres could actually happen again some time in 2021 if not the end of this year if it looks like coronavirus has been contained and controlled across the world without a second or third wave. I am actually optimistic that it will be. And yes there is risk in any world where coronavirus still survives, but risk is part of life and being human especially with disease. I think certain celebrities and public figures will take more risks than others with respect to social interaction and travel just like us. For example, I will board an airplane, but my grandparents will not. Context is everything.
One of the reasons that I hope that Timothees play is rescheduled for middle of 2021 if not later is that with time this conversation about the stage door for his show in particular may become moot. After all, there is still a chance that the coronavirus can peter out before treatments and vaccines are created. It has happened before with other diseases and of course if and when this scenario arises, humanity will breathe easily and we can all resume some level of normalcy more quickly including public encounters with celebrities. Also, while there are many positive signs in the medical news, a vaccine may never be created since it is very hard to cure upper respiratory illnesses. In that scenario, humanity will have to adapt like it has always done with the disease and hope that eventually enough infections and natural herd immunity will weaken the coronavirus from transmitting so easily among humans.
Because there are still so many unknowns day by day with coronavirus other than the curves are flattening across the world which is indeed highly encouraging, I would not completely rule out public encounters with Timothee in 2020 or 2021 even in a world where coronavirus exists for two years. Such encounters may be more limited, creative or even have a more virtual component depending on what the celebrity wants to do, but I have some hope that someone like Timothee who is so outgoing will find ways to interact safely. And I am at least going to dream that I can give Timothee the peace sign from a social distance at a Dune premiere. Anything more is a blessing as it would have been in a pre coronavirus world. And I still want to shake Timotheess hand one day if he allows it!
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Post by Simone on Apr 19, 2020 11:46:13 GMT -8
Thanks chalametthegreat for your well thought out optimistic response. People don't like what I wrote, and I totally understand. One person at IG asked if what I wrote was "official", well, it's officially written by me. I'll respond to some of your points: Stage doors will be governed and dictated by the theater group and the talent participating in those plays. Let's talk specifically about the one play we both have a vested interest in. If 4k Miles is rescheduled to the exact time frame for 2021, April-May, that's still only 12 months out and still inside the negligible window of when a vaccine for Covid-19 is tested and widely used. Let's say that three fans from three different parts of the world stood outside of the stage door at Old Vic desperate to meet Timmy because after all, they flew a great distance to see him and paid a lot of money, they are probably feeling entitled to meet him too because of that. One may be actively sick and hiding it, one person is asymptomatic but can still infect others, and the other person is recovered from the virus. Timmy being in close contact with these fans increase his risk three-fold in contracting the virus from that brief encounter. the next day, he's on stage with Eileen, and because they are playing grandson and grandma, surely there will be some hugging, and maybe a peck or two on the cheeks. A few days later, Timmy is asymptomatic/or sick, but Eileen is definitely sick and could die. Either way, if the two main stars are ill from this virus, it would ruin the entire run of the play. If fans want a stage door experience with Timmy for 4k Miles, the play will have to be put off to 2022 or beyond. We can't be simplistic or dismissive about how tragic this virus is. Look at this headline about an otherwise youngish Broadway actor who lost his leg after battling the virus since April 1st. He's still alive, but lost a LEG. You know how many people died in New York City yesterday on April 18th? Approximately 510 people, a few days before, over 700 died. COVID-19 is no mere inconvenient short term plague or funky flu. It's killing people. People are dying so fast, they can't even have family members with them and are being buried in mass graves. A-list celebrities are not going to be engaging with fans intimately by year's end. The industry will think of ways that fans can see and hear from their favorites, but it'll be by virtual means for the time being. I'm scheduled to attend the Stranger Things Con the first week of August. It was rescheduled from early April. I am fully prepared for it to be canceled if the governor of CA shuts down public gatherings of more than 50 people. Specifically, this con is a week after when Comic-Con was scheduled to happen. As you know, to my dismay, CC was canceled for the first time in its 50 years. I get that a lot of fans are annoyed that they might not be able to meet Timmy soon, it sucks, but what I wrote comes from a fan who has my own personal interests in meeting him again, and as a professional who works in the healthcare industry and working on an important project of keeping track of demographics related to the fatalities of Covid-19, this speculation is based in reality.
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Post by Simone on Apr 19, 2020 12:32:20 GMT -8
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Post by chalametthegreat on Apr 19, 2020 12:45:34 GMT -8
While I can understand why some fans might get upset about your post, your perspective is well reasoned and analytical. Everything you say could actually happen and is more likely than not to. I just want to counter with a few more thoughts for consideration.
I grant you that no celebrity and fan of encounters of any kind will happen in May, June, and July of this year. Where I am less in agreement and certain is August and beyond. It depends on the rate of hospitalizations and deaths in this country and the world. Right now they are horrific which is why all sane people are staying at home. However, I think there is every reason to be optimistic based on positive downward trends that if tough social distancing continues and testing is ramped up that we may actually see a return to some normal social behaviors by this fall. Again I am being optimistic but I don't think unreasonable.
For example, everything you say about Manhattan is true and 500 deaths plus a day is terrible. But a week or two ago it was 700 deaths a day. Maybe two weeks from now it is 300 to 400 deaths a day and so forth until you get under 100 deaths per day or a lot less in the summer. One fact we do know is the curve is definitely flattening and the models that the government uses for American deaths have gone down from 200k to 60k. You may not eliminate all death and sickness without a vaccine or new treatments. And even one death is far too many. But what I am saying is that we may reach a point where the risk of getting coronavirus or passing it onto others has become so minimal due to containment and social distancing measures effectively eliminating the disease from our bodies, that we may be able to return to some normalcy in fall 2020. Maybe not all the way to normal ever again but enough where the world by the holiday season isn't much different than before coronavirus.
That's why regarding 4000 miles even if the play is scheduled for when you say in 2021 I still think a stage door could potentally happen if and only if the coronavirus is resulting in so few cases by then. The virus just becomes a risk like other communicable diseases at that point due to humanity effectively having stopped it in its tracks due to sacrifices by all of us and months of social distancing. Stage doors depend on the celebrities and theatre as you brilliantly explain. Both Timothee and Eileen are at risk from sickness inside the theatre with hundreds of us in seats as well even with temperature checks. But my hope and prayer is a year from now which is such a long time with this fast changing news that all this speculation is moot and we will be enjoying 4000 miles without masks at the very least. Stage door would be a blessed bonus if coronavirus risk has effectively been contained. Remember too that people from around the world are probably not going to be allowed to travel if they are visibly sick or have tested positive for the virus. There will be much more strict rules for planes and public transport.
I definitely would agree that if 4000 miles is scheduled for fall 2020 for example a stage door will not happen. But a year from now??? Let's have some optimism and faith together! And let's have some fun positivity that you will be going to that convention in August and enjoying yourself with the understanding that a reschedule could happen. You are in California though and California looks like it is doing an amazing job thanks to people like you. Keep it up and California may reopen safely before the rest of the country.
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Post by truthsayer on Apr 19, 2020 17:03:05 GMT -8
I think your analysis makes total sense. Even if Timmy does want to interact with fans I’m sure the studio/his contracts will stimulate certain precautions he will need to follow. Like he won’t be able to walk the streets on his own anymore, at least not for a long while. And there will be bodyguards for sure. And if that means not meeting him at stage door to sign my Playbill so be it. I want him to be safe. I want all of us to be safe.
I actually think there will be strict regulations in place for a long time, well into 2021, when it comes to events with large crowds. I’m not sure how theaters will do it. Yes, they can spread out seating but folks still congregate in the aisles and lobbies and bathrooms, etc. Unless they hire staff to enforce social distancing it’s hard to picture how it will work. All it takes is one infected person at an event to start the cycle all over again.
Who knows what will happen but I’ll be here to support Timmy no matter what.
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Post by tracyrcat on Apr 19, 2020 17:42:44 GMT -8
Well written Simone. There is still a lot that it not known about this virus. Better to be safe and cautious with everyone's safety. I don't see there being any interactions in 2020. And I can easily see it going at least part way through 2021. We just don't know right now what will happen. I have heard so many times about it coming back, such as in the fall or January next year. Until we have a vaccine, our lives will not be the same - it will be a new "normal." I don't know how anyone could be angry at what you wrote. It is reality, brought on by something we have never experienced before. I understand the disappointment. But the health and safety of everyone involved, from the actors to the fans and beyond, is more important.
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Post by chalametthegreat on Apr 19, 2020 18:06:14 GMT -8
Obviously I want Timothee to be as safe as can be. And all of us too. The world from China to America did not prepare for this virus properly and now we are all paying the price. I think we are on the right track to contain this virus, however, especially during the next few months. Dr. Anthony Fauci and Dr. Deborah Birx, please continue to help us! But I also dont want the public to become so afraid that they are scared to attend restaurants, bars, and theatres again or socially interact with each other even once the virus gets contained enough. The risk is never going to zero at any public event without a vaccine. Either we wait to hold all public events until there is a vaccine which may never happen, or we attempt to restart them once testing is widespread and the risk of being a carrier or getting infected is minor. A vaccine will solve these problems certainly but I hope for the latter right now as it is the only viable option available to us in the near future if we want to restart our economies.
You make great points about a theatre in general. But if the virus has been contained sufficiently enough, then bodyguards, extra security measures, and even masks are unnecessary. I would hope everyone including actors dont want to live in a semi police or surveillance state where all our movements are monitored. Massive testing everywhere is the key so people who should not be traveling to public events are not admitted to them. Maybe I am being too much of an optimist here, but I stand by my predictions and hope that 2021 will have most public events carry on as before, whether it's a play, movie theater, convention, game, stage door, etc.
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Post by tracyrcat on Apr 19, 2020 18:14:59 GMT -8
It is so hard to imagine anything being normal for a while. I do hope and pray that in 2021, we are in a much better situation. So maybe things can get back to semi-normal, at least. There might be new standards or restrictions in place. But would be nice to have some normalcy back. It is just impossible to know, at this point.
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Post by chalametthegreat on Apr 19, 2020 18:20:23 GMT -8
My last point for the evening is that I am no expert. I just read a lot from all different sources. And you would think we were living in two different universes if you watch FoxNews and CNN sidebyside. But I had a fun debate with you all today. I am biased of course since I love Timothee like you and want to see 4000 miles ASAP and maybe see Timothee at a premiere or other public event in person up close ASAP. If its 2022 or later so be it. I hope I presented well the rationale case for optimism. Let's see what happens a month from now!
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Post by Simone on Apr 19, 2020 19:08:42 GMT -8
Thanks for your comments Lisa and Tracy. I would like to make quote tweets from your comments too, but I'll do that on Monday.
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Post by chalametthegreat on Apr 19, 2020 19:30:25 GMT -8
Simone, you made me famous ... err I hope in a good way Haha! I appreciate the shout out!
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Post by Simone on Apr 20, 2020 7:51:24 GMT -8
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