Child Star

"Child Star" is a documentary featuring Demi Lovato. It ostensibly is about the damage that occurs to child stars...on TV, in movies and on the internet. However, at times it seems more about Lovato in particular and a few of her friends and not the broader topic of child exploitation.

If you are looking for an exposee which shows the damage done to child actors by their parents and movie/TV studios, you can do MUCH better than this one. While the documentary talks about SOME of the issues concerning the exploitation of kids in the media, it also seems like it's very careful to excuse the studios and parents. Well, if they aren't to blame for the exploitation....why is?? And, it doesn't surprise me that the film is distributed by Disney...a corporation with a VERY bad history of child stars who run off the rails.

The film also seems to be leaving out a LOT in regard to Lovato. While it talks about her recent projects and SOME of her difficulties, it all feels very sanitized and leaves out some very important questions...such as about her parents' involvement in creating some of these problems. The father is never mentioned and her mother is pretty much given a pass. Overall, a mildly interesting film but one that manages to miss the mark.

I was impressed first off with the range of child stars she was able to talk to that have had success after child stardom and were a variety of ages. To be honest I don't think there is any revelations that you will learn from this documentary that you wouldn't already know if you follow the lives that many child actors have had. With the names they were able to get I guess I just wish there was a bit more substance. One thing I wish these documentaries would cover more is the internet side of exploitation with people using children however I think that will have to wait till the children now are older. One thing I did find a bit interesting was seeing Scooter Braun was a producer given the ages of people he has signed and their own issues with fame. Also, why is Keenan wearing sunglasses the entire time, there was absolutely no sun in that diner. I think if you are interested in how child acting can affect the kids this is an okay watch.

The documentary is most about Demi, I mean, she's the director and it was her own story who inspired her to make this documentary. The other stars have their part and they're very vulnerable and add a lot to the conversation, and it's good to have different generations on it. It's importante to have more stuff like this. It raises awareness about such important topic. The only negative thing I can think is that maybe they could go deeper, cause Demi has said she was abused on Disney, so I would like they speak about it, but I think it was intentional, maybe she didn't want to go that deep. I enjoyed the doc, it's really easy to digest.

Really liked this. Ive seen demi's other documentaries and i'm usually impressed, but this was definitely the best one. Seeing the same issues, across different generations, they really do only get better in the eyes of law, and worse with the social media and instant access everyone has these days. It was really cool seeing all these faces i recognized from growing up, and how it's impacted their lives. I think overall, i might feel the worst for jojo siwa. Jojo is the first child star, to truly grow up with social media in it's full effect. We saw miley and bieber live with it, and they molded it, but now, jojo is expected to do all of these extra things, on extra platforms. With more merch as things become "trending" online faster than ever. Its honestly baffling. I wish good things for these people.

I put this on in the background while I was doing some work...I soon realized I'd stopped working and was just watching. I've not followed Demi Levoto's career, and only know what I know about her through the media. Hearing her story told like that was eye-opening and gave me a new respect for her and what she's been through.

I would have liked to hear more from the other child stars, however I did feel that what they contributed was valuable in painting a fairly clear picture of the impacts of the industry. It also would have been nice to dig a little deeper into child stars of the past as well, however I did appreciate that it included insight people from multiple roles in and around the industry.

Definitely worth a watch!