‘Child Star’: Demi Lovato Reveals the Truth About Being Famous and Young

"Child Star," the documentary co-directed by Demi Lovato and Nicola Marsh, delves into the complex world of child fame. Lovato’s opening confession about watching a Shirley Temple movie and setting her sights on becoming the youngest and best highlights the intense ambition and drive often seen in young celebrities.

Demi Lovato’s candidness and personal experiences provide a deep and relatable perspective on the challenges and pressures of growing up in the spotlight. By sharing her own story and insights, Lovato and Marsh aim to shed light on the broader issues faced by young stars, including the impact of fame on their personal lives and mental health.

The documentary promises to offer a nuanced exploration of youth fame, combining Lovato’s firsthand experiences with a broader examination of the industry’s impact on young performers.

"Child Star" does a deep dive into the nuanced realities of early fame, capturing how it affects young individuals both personally and professionally. The film's title and its connection to "Child Star: The Shirley Temple Story" offer a thematic exploration of how childhood stardom, while glamorous, often carries significant psychological and emotional costs.

The documentary’s approach, featuring intimate conversations between Demi Lovato and various subjects, gives an authentic look at the experiences of young actors and other individuals who faced similar pressures. By focusing on these personal stories, "Child Star" aims to illuminate the often-hidden challenges that come with early fame, providing viewers with a more comprehensive understanding of the industry's impact on young talent.

The range of conversations in "Child Star" highlights the diverse experiences of young celebrities and the complexities of growing up in the spotlight. Each of these interviews sheds light on different facets of the child star experience.

Drew Barrymore and Christina Ricci share their experiences with mentorship and parental figures, emphasizing the importance of guidance from established Hollywood figures like Steven Spielberg and Cher during their formative years in the industry.

Kenan Thompson recounts a challenging personal experience with financial mismanagement, revealing how almost all of his earnings from his Nickelodeon days were lost due to a dishonest accountant.

Raven-Symoné and Demi Lovato discuss their shared experiences of dissociation while working on Disney shows, highlighting the emotional and psychological toll that intense public scrutiny and work demands can have on young stars.

Jojo Siwa opens up about the impact of her coming out on her career, illustrating the additional layer of challenges faced by LGBTQ+ youth in the entertainment industry.

Chris Columbus, known for directing iconic films like Home Alone and the first two Harry Potter movies, offers an insider’s perspective on how the industry treats young stars, especially once they achieve significant fame.

These varied perspectives help paint a comprehensive picture of the child star experience, illustrating both the unique opportunities and significant challenges that come with early fame.

Christina Ricci and Demi Lovato Photo: Victoria Time/Disney

Demi Lovato’s conversations with Alyson Stoner offer a poignant look into their shared experiences on Camp Rock and the broader world of Disney child stardom. Their discussion about “Disney High” provides an insider’s perspective on the unique, almost insular world of young Disney stars, highlighting both the camaraderie and the challenges they faced, including dealing with eating disorders and the pervasive stress of their careers.

The film’s setting—often in quiet, intimate locations like coffee shops or living rooms—seems to facilitate a candid and personal dialogue, allowing for deeper revelations and a more relatable connection with the audience. These settings help underscore the personal and emotional realities behind the glossy exterior of child fame.

The documentary also touches on how the phenomenon of child stardom has evolved, especially during Lovato’s rise on the Disney Channel, a period marked by a strong focus on youth-centric programming. This context helps viewers understand the pressures and expectations placed on young actors as they navigate a landscape increasingly centered around their success and public image.

The 2000s saw a surge of shows like The Cheetah Girls, Hannah Montana, and Sonny with a Chance that presented a glamorous, aspirational view of being a teen star. These shows often painted an idyllic picture of fame, success, and the excitement of the entertainment industry, which resonated with a youthful audience eager to see themselves in similar roles.

However, "Child Star" delves into the often harsh realities behind this façade. The documentary examines the stark contrast between the constant positive reinforcement from the industry and the real-life challenges faced by these young actors. This "whiplash" effect is a recurring theme in the film, highlighting how the intense public admiration and industry validation can be followed by severe bullying, isolation, and harassment.

By showcasing these contrasting experiences, Child Star aims to provide a more nuanced understanding of the pressures and difficulties inherent in early fame. It underscores how the allure of being a teen star often masks the complex, and sometimes painful, realities of navigating the entertainment world at a young age.

The documentary’s exploration of the rise of child influencers on social media highlights a significant and often overlooked issue: the lack of protections for these young individuals compared to traditional child stars in Hollywood. Unlike the established industry, which has decades of legislation aimed at safeguarding young actors, social media lacks similar protections. This leaves child influencers vulnerable to exploitation and abuse without the oversight that

Hollywood's child labor laws and protections provide.

The recent law allowing young people to sue their parents for income earned as child influencers reflects growing recognition of these issues. It aims to address the financial and emotional impacts on children who generate income through their online presence but may not benefit from it or have their rights properly protected.

Drew Barrymore’s comment that child stars are seen as a “commodity” succinctly captures the core of the problem. It underscores how, despite the industry’s glamorization of young talent, these individuals are often viewed primarily through a commercial lens, with their personal well-being sometimes secondary to their market value. The documentary's focus on this aspect underscores the urgent need for better protections and more thoughtful consideration of the impacts of fame on young people, whether in traditional media or on social platforms.

Demi Lovato Photo: Disney

"Child Star" manages to navigate the delicate balance between catharsis and sensitivity. While it addresses serious issues like eating disorders, drug abuse, and self-harm, the documentary approaches these topics with a measured tone, avoiding deep dives into blame or specific accusations. This approach allows the film to explore the challenges of child stardom without becoming overwhelmingly dark or accusatory.

The decision to maintain this balance might be influenced by the fact that Hulu is owned by a subsidiary of the Walt Disney Company, which could impact the documentary’s presentation of certain aspects of the entertainment industry. By steering clear of overt criticism and focusing more on personal reflections and experiences, the film offers insight into the realities of growing up in the spotlight while remaining accessible and reflective rather than confrontational.

"Child Star" and "Quiet on Set: The Dark Side of Kids TV" approach the subject of child stardom from different angles, highlighting different aspects of the industry's impact on young performers.

While "Quiet on Set" delves into specific allegations of misconduct against Dan Schneider, providing a detailed examination of the darker side of the industry with a true-crime approach, "Child Star" takes a broader, more reflective view. Instead of focusing on individual accusations, "Child Star" explores the systemic issues inherent in an industry that often exploits young talent.

By framing exploitation as an inherent part of the industry rather than attributing it to specific individuals or incidents, "Child Star" emphasizes the structural problems within the entertainment world. The documentary suggests that the challenges faced by young actors are not just the result of a few bad actors but are built into the industry's fabric. This perspective allows for a more generalized critique of how young talent is often utilized and protected—or not protected—within the industry.

Both works contribute to a deeper understanding of the complexities and potential dangers of early fame, though they do so from different angles: one through investigative journalism and specific allegations, and the other through broader systemic analysis and personal reflections.

"Child Star" is now streaming on Hulu.