I disagree with this, I think this is one area that Universal has a pretty decent approach whereas Disney's is pretty clumsy. Disney started all of this as a way to "preserve the magic" for children. In much the same way we don't go to a mall and ask who's performing Santa in front of a bunch of kids they realized that the same principle applies to Mickey. The problem is this basic entertainment principle has become hard policy even when it doesn't apply. If you go to a standard theatrical presentation outside of theme parks you're going to be handed a program listing who is playing what parts. If you further go to a green room meet and greet after the show, the actors are going to be acknowledged by their names and you are given an opportunity to meet them, take a photo and compliment them on their performance. No one thinks this is weird or creepy. It's completely normal. Now while this often doesn't apply to theme parks mostly because they are targeted towards children, if you as an adult go to HHN (an adult event) and watch an adult show and are told by an adult employee that "no those aren't actors, it's the real Bill and Ted" THAT is truly creepy.
I can understand this point. I think it’s a difference of Granny Smith and Red Delicious apples; they’re both performances but still different.
In traditional theater, the acknowledgement of performers is presented at the outset. You are given a playbill, there’s a performer board, and (for certain performers) it’s advertised as a way to draw attendees. It’s part of the agreement going in. That’s not done in theme parks or amusement parks. At all. Period. Anywhere. You can’t find official “Cast List” at guest relations or on the website. When these performers address the media or guests, they do it as their characters. The agreement that “I’m a performer and this is a show” isn’t present.
The agreement presented by theme parks to guests is “This is real.” If the agreement were anything else, every single meet and greet would have no line and every single show would be empty. The way theme parks, including Universal, presents those things is “Come meet Scooby Doo,” “Come see the Terminator.” It isn’t “Come meet the college kid who wears a costume for your entertainment.”
Disney is fully bought into their agreement. The problem (my issue) with Universal is that they’ve tried to play it both ways for too long. They need to pick an agreement: “This is real” so we won’t acknowledge the people behind the masks, or “This is a show,” so we’ll adjust our offerings accordingly.
This is where I agree with you. There is a difference in appreciating the actors work, finding that their performing something else of interest and deciding to watch that because they're a "good actor" and seeking out that actor just to see THEM with little or no interest in the role they're playing.
I think it's worth looking at the other side of this situation. EVERY fandom creates followings. This isn't unique to theme parks. I think some of what we're calling creepy would be considered perfectly normal in other fandoms, and maybe it shouldn't be and/or maybe we're taking things a little too far here. For example for the vast majority of the population if they were walking down a public street and saw their favorite celebrity, actor, musician, athlete etc. most would uncontrollably want to meet them and ask for a photo and compliment their work. If someone did this with Erin in lets say the Magic Kingdom most of us would be extremely creeped out by this. The question is why, and why not when it's not when it's a "true" celebrity. I think a large part of this is because the overwhelming majority don't see these fandoms as mainstream and normal. It's definitely more of a niche thing. Much like Star Trek fans being called geeks I think to some degree we're judging the people who are the fans and not the fandom itself. In a sense when this is acted on it really becomes more of a bullying type thing because these people aren't "normal". Now don't get me wrong as a Bill and Ted and theme park fan I've seen way more than a fair share of things that creeped me out. It's also worth pointing out most people don't get into acting saying "I want to be anonymous and don't want anyone to know who I really am". Personally I draw the line at delving into their personal lives. If there's an actor I like I will occasionally meet them compliment their work get one photo that sort of thing and if they perform another role that interest me I might be more inclined to check it out. I think with the theme park actors they are way more accessible and so some people see the very real potential that they could become friends with that person. That's when things get a little out of hand. For me as long as someone isn't crossing that line I'll just cringe on the inside and appreciate that they are enjoying themselves. I think everyone is far more creepy than they realize, if you don't believe me think of your favorite actor, musician, athlete etc. and think about how much you know about their personal life.
Here, I’d argue that actively seeking “celebrities” out in their everyday lives is creepy regardless of fandom. Finding out a famous person frequents a particular Cracker Barrel and then a fan going to that Cracker Barrel every day to see them, meet them, and “develop a relationship with” them is creepy (I had a friend do that, and I didn’t like it). Catching wind a famous person is staying at a particular hotel for vacation, going to that hotel for expressed purpose of “meeting” them, and then berating them when they ignore you is creepy (Finn Wolfhard). These are people actively going out of their way to encroach on the lives of people they idolize. Regardless of fandom, I don’t think it’s cool.
It’s one thing when they’re at a convention or doing a stage door exit or autograph line. They are choosing to be accessible. It’s one thing when you just randomly have easy access if it’s done maturely.
I was at Winter Park Village seeing a movie one night when Marcin Gortat, who played for the Orlando Magic at the time, came in and sat down in the row in front of me. He was in arm’s reach. Since the Magic were a playoff team at the time, I reached over, tapped him on the shoulder, said “You’re playing great. Good luck in the playoffs,” and shook his hand. No pictures. No requests for autographs. That’s not what he was there for. But I wanted to acknowledge to him that I like him, his performances, and wish him well. I like to think I did it respectfully.
The movie ended, and before the credits hit the screen, he was up and out the door. Five or six guys from a few rows behind us were literally sprinting after him.
I don’t know much about my favorite people’s personal lives. Maybe that’s just me. I might know which celebrity is dating who, but perusing entertainment news headlines will give me that. And you’re right, people don’t go into those fields without some desire for celebrity. That doesn’t mean the fans have any sort of ownership over them. I’m friends with several Disney face characters, one of the Brides of Frankenstein from Beetlejuice, and I know Brooklyn Prince’s (child star of The Florida Project) parents pretty well. They’re people. When they’re not on stage, they’re not thinking about being famous. They’re thinking about finances, what to make for dinner, and where the nearest bathroom is.
What we’re seeing though is a increasing group of people who are completely ignoring that line. Regardless of fandom, I don’t like it at all.