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Smith & Scientology
N.Y. Daily News columnist Ben Widdicombe (aka "Gatecrasher") is reporting today that Will Smith "has joined the ranks of Hollywood power players actively recruiting for the Church of Scientology."
During wrap festivities for Peter Berg's Hancock (Sony, 7.2.08), which Smith has described as "the Michael Mann version of an alcoholic superhero," the superstar reportedly gifted crew members with "a card good for a personality test at your local Scientology center."
Smith "has never confirmed" that he's a Scientologist, Widdicombe writes. "But he told Access Hollywood last month that he 'was introduced to it by Tom, and I'm a student of world religion. I was raised in a Baptist household. I went to a Catholic school, but the ideas of the Bible are 98% the same ideas of Scientology, 98% the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism.'":
Adds Wiiddicombe: "Presumably the other 2% is the part about the evil space emperor who put the hydrogen bombs in the volcano."
Posted by Jeffrey Wells on January 9, 2008 at 6:32 AM
comment #1
Krazy Eyes
says ...
Good . . . now I have another reason to avoid Will Smith movies. What is it about that wacked-out sci-fi cult that attracts actors?
Posted by Krazy Eyes
at January 9, 2008 6:51 AM
comment #2
Mgmax
says ...
It tells you whatever you did to get where you are is justified by your success, basically.
But I don't think even Will Smith wakes up going, "Let me do the most evil thing I can do today."
Posted by Mgmax
at January 9, 2008 6:56 AM
comment #3
lazarus
says ...
Nor does Tom Cruise. And while we can make fun of their recruitment tactics, at least they aren't sending missionaries to countries with primitive cultures and slaughtering anyone who doesn't take on their beliefs.
Posted by lazarus
at January 9, 2008 7:05 AM
comment #4
Mgmax
says ...
but the ideas of the Bible are 98% the same ideas of Scientology, 98% the same ideas of Hinduism and Buddhism.
Not unless the Bible was written by Nietszche.
I'm not religious, but I'll note this for what it's worth. At an ad agency in the early 90s, my office was next to a Scientologist named Greg Bashaw and a devout Christian named Jim Hanon. Bashaw got so wound up in Scientology that he committed crimes against an anti-Scientology group, blew all his money on courses at Clearwater, and wound up destitute.
At which point Scientology would have nothing more to do with him, and Jim Hanon took him in and tried to help him straighten his life out. It didn't work-- Greg killed himself some months later, in exactly the fashion as L. Ron Hubbard's son Quentin-- but nevertheless, it tells you something about each faith. Of course, the pitiless side of Scientology is the one celebrities never see, when they're strolling the compound at Hemet with David Miscavige hanging on their every word.
http://tinyurl.com/2448uj
Posted by Mgmax
at January 9, 2008 7:07 AM
comment #5
Mgmax
says ...
Only for lack of resources, Lazarus. (eyeroll)
Posted by Mgmax
at January 9, 2008 7:10 AM
comment #6
actionman
says ...
Could care less about Scientology. Just want to see HANCOCK. Now.
Posted by actionman
at January 9, 2008 7:19 AM
comment #7
Mgmax
says ...
Also, I just want to note that Smith's "gift" is something they give away free to every passerby on Hollywood Boulevard.
In other news, Harrison Ford treated the whole crew of Indiana Jones 4 to a Jack T. Chick comic.
Posted by Mgmax
at January 9, 2008 7:30 AM
comment #8
nola
says ...
I just don't get it. Why would Will join now?
Posted by nola
at January 9, 2008 7:37 AM
comment #9
businesstoolz
says ...
"Presumably the other 2% is the part about the evil space emperor who put the hydrogen bombs in the volcano."
Actually, that does sound like the plot for an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The complete first season on DVD probably would have been a better gift. Either that or a date with Carlton.
Scientology is just as bat shit crazy as any other religion. Also, celebrity Scientologists are nothing more than red state evangelicals dressed up in Louis Vuitton. Instead of shopping at Walmart and hanging out in sports bars, they shop on Melrose and hang out at health spas. The players are different but the fervent blind faith is the same.
Posted by businesstoolz
at January 9, 2008 7:45 AM
comment #10
cacophony
says ...
just curious...but if will smith had converted to a christian based religion and were passing out bibles at a wrap party, would this be a big deal?
i guess the basic point is...who cares?
Posted by cacophony
at January 9, 2008 8:03 AM
comment #11
Ju-osh
says ...
I care because it's a crappy wrap gift! It's one step above George Costanza's 'Human Fund' donations. What ever happened to actors/directs/studios giving away 1980's-esque flight jackets with the name of the movie on the back and the word 'CREW' sewn onto the sleeve? At least those fetched a hundred or two dollars on ebay.
Posted by Ju-osh
at January 9, 2008 8:10 AM
comment #12
Josh Massey
says ...
"And while we can make fun of their recruitment tactics, at least they aren't sending missionaries to countries with primitive cultures and slaughtering anyone who doesn't take on their beliefs."
Seriously. Damn Jews.
Posted by Josh Massey
at January 9, 2008 8:11 AM
comment #13
Balerion
says ...
Someone asked:
"What is it about that wacked-out sci-fi cult that attracts actors?"
Wikipedia has this article which seems to suggest that the scientologists have deliberately targetted celebrities as a group to recruit, and that they go out of their way to make the celebrities feel special. It seems that it feeds, in the end, to the egos of the celebs in questions.
Who was the first notable celebrity to admit to being a scientologist? Travolta? According to the article, the Scientologists have been targetting celebrities for recruitment since 1955.
Posted by Balerion
at January 9, 2008 8:19 AM
comment #14
MadCrazyMovieHouse
says ...
I don't want any religious paraphernalia. I don't care what religion it's for.
Posted by MadCrazyMovieHouse
at January 9, 2008 8:31 AM
comment #15
JD
says ...
Most celebrities are drunk on wealth and power. In exchange for celebrities' very public voices of approval, Scientology uses the resources accumulated from its thousands of working class members to give celebrities an additional level of power, luxury, and authority (not to mention their own covert military). The real question? Will this go down in history as the day that Will Smith jumped the shark?
Posted by JD
at January 9, 2008 8:41 AM
comment #16
Pablo Villaca
says ...
"at least they aren't sending missionaries to countries with primitive cultures and slaughtering anyone who doesn't take on their beliefs."
Wow, Lazarus, congratulations for exposing your prejudices like that. "Primitive cultures". Wow.
I guess believing in Xenu, the Evil Emperor, is what you'd call a "sophisticated religion". And, lo and behold, Scientology is probably the only religion that has an origin you could call an all-American one.
Congrats.
Posted by Pablo Villaca
at January 9, 2008 8:55 AM
comment #17
Jay T.
says ...
Man, I liked Will Smith... another one bites the dust. What is it with these fucking Hollywood actors?
Posted by Jay T.
at January 9, 2008 9:04 AM
comment #18
p.Vice
says ...
His slow but steady conversion to scientology may also explain why his movies' suck factor has risen exponentially in recent years. What an asshole.
Posted by p.Vice
at January 9, 2008 9:17 AM
comment #19
Mike Schaefer
says ...
First, the thread connecting Travolta, Cruise and Smith is that all 3 have (to varying degrees) been rumored to be, if not gay, certainly "flexible". I've always found this interesting, given L. Ron Hubbard's own (alleged) sexual history.
The true test here is what Smith's black fan base makes of this; the African-American community doesn't take kindly to those who turn their back on Jeezus. Guess Will can always hang out with Isaac Hayes.
Posted by Mike Schaefer
at January 9, 2008 9:20 AM
comment #20
bagelfilm
says ...
This is the right time to make a biopic about Hubbard. Mike Myers should play him.
Posted by bagelfilm
at January 9, 2008 10:19 AM
comment #21
ZayTonday
says ...
First of all, Albert Finney was literally BORN to play Hubbard in a biopic, just check out Big Fish for proof.
2nd, Scientology is 98% similar to Christianity? Obviously Will hasn't been in it long enough to hear a choice recording from one of Hubbard's Philadelphia Doctorate Course tapes where he states that Jesus was simply part of the aforementioned Dark Overlord's brainwashing, or as he called it, "R6 Implants". He clearly says "There was no Christ".
Posted by ZayTonday
at January 9, 2008 10:35 AM
comment #22
MovieBob
says ...
Well, that was fun while it lasted. Good night, Fresh Prince.
Whatever it's actually all about, Scientology appeals to wealthy public figures for the same reasons that every other load of New Age twaddle does: It makes them feel less guilty about being rich like any other spirituality will but doesn't carry the baggage of the more "traditional" faith many of them fled screaming for The Arts in the first place. This one just lasts a lot longer because it strips out even the broadest notion of higher-power in favor of a scifi version of self-fulfillment as a goal.
Posted by MovieBob
at January 9, 2008 10:51 AM
comment #23
corey3rd
says ...
so he couldn't even hand out McDonald's gift cards to the cast.
Posted by corey3rd
at January 9, 2008 11:29 AM
comment #24
storymark
says ...
"First, the thread connecting Travolta, Cruise and Smith is that all 3 have (to varying degrees) been rumored to be, if not gay, certainly "flexible". I've always found this interesting, given L. Ron Hubbard's own (alleged) sexual history.
"
heard that plenty of Cruise and Travlota, but not Smith. I find it highly improbable.
Posted by storymark
at January 9, 2008 12:01 PM
comment #25
Terry McCarty
says ...
Having suffered the HANCOCK trailer, why does it seem to me like a script intended for Damon Wayans during his 90s heyday as a movie star?
Posted by Terry McCarty
at January 9, 2008 1:52 PM
comment #26
Mgmax
says ...
"heard that plenty of Cruise and Travlota, but not Smith. I find it highly improbable."
In the words of my sister, "Oh sure, who are you going to tell me was gay next, Grandpa Walton?"
Posted by Mgmax
at January 9, 2008 2:41 PM
comment #27
Nightswimmer
says ...
Storymark, do you live in L.A.? Cuz the talk has definitely picked up considerably around this subject within the last year. Many people swear by it, especially in the Black Hollywood community.
Posted by Nightswimmer
at January 9, 2008 2:51 PM
comment #28
Terry McCarty
says ...
Ju-osh wrote:
What ever happened to actors/directs/studios giving away 1980's-esque flight jackets with the name of the movie on the back and the word 'CREW' sewn onto the sleeve? At least those fetched a hundred or two dollars on ebay.
I did some stand-in work in the 90s and the flight (or high school varsity) jacket was pretty much gone by then. One film I worked on only handed out baseball caps with the film's title. But I did get a nice knit (sweatshirt material)jacket for HOUSE ARREST.
Posted by Terry McCarty
at January 9, 2008 3:56 PM
comment #29
Radewart
says ...
"Storymark, do you live in L.A.? Cuz the talk has definitely picked up considerably around this subject within the last year. Many people swear by it, especially in the Black Hollywood community."
I hate that people gossip about that. Anytime an actor gets really famous, rumors always popup that they'll gay, but no one ever has any real proof.
Posted by Radewart
at January 9, 2008 4:19 PM
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