GREGG DEGUIRE/WIREIMAGE/GETTY IMAGES
Exit
siblings, to listen to guidance from
various department heads.
“The decision to begin an orientation program, Talent 101, coincided with the emergence of social
media and was in response to an
increase in requests from young
actors and their parents to help
them navigate the experience of
suddenly being in the global public
sphere,” Disney rep Patti McTeague
told Huffington.
Nickelodeon, whose representatives declined to comment
for this article, has for the past
decade required its stars to undergo a similar course to learn
the ropes, on and off set. A 2007
Entertainment Weekly article
characterizes that program as a
“boot camp” that teaches kids
to be media-savvy, and also imparts technical knowledge (what
exactly is a key grip, anyway?)
and professional expectations
(perhaps Lohan never learned the
meaning of “call time”).
As child stars are thrust into
the spotlight — often treated like
brands complete with record deals,
TV movies and myriad other franchises — these programs have become a necessity. Many are unprepared for the immense pressure of
these demands, ones even adults
CELEBRITY
struggle to handle with grace.
“When you go into a Disney
show you are typically anywhere
from 10 to 16, and that’s when you
are finding yourself,” says Debby
Ryan, who is poised to be Disney’s next Selena Gomez. “That’s
when you are so influenced by your
friends, by what you are watching, and when you are part of the
[young Hollywood] community...
you kind of have this added pressure of not only fulfilling that standard, but being that standard.”
And while Ryan appears to
have a handle on her grueling
schedule — which includes the
beginnings of a music career
and clothing line — many others
aren’t as well-adjusted.
A 2011 study published in the
HUFFINGTON
10.07.12
Actress
Debby
Ryan, 19,
is a Disney
veteran,
currently
starring in
Jessie, and
best known
for her role in
The Suite Life
on Deck.