tMF | The Movie-Fanatic

Seriously, yeah seriously. Let's talk Robert Pattinson...

Again? Blimey! tMF wants another hit post right? Sure... and why not may I ask? But how come you choose Rob once more and not the other 4 guys you put ahead of our poor, poor Edward in your Top 50 Hitlist?

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I'll have the answer to that later. Actually, I'm just trying to make you curious. I'm not the only one who'll talk about Rob. You see, Pattinson Online has launched a campaign that every Rob fans need to know... But that's just one of the topics I'm going to blog about here.

Pattinson Online, tMF, Isabel and the girls...

Since March 2008, tMF and Pattinson Online have been affiliates. A lot of big things has happened but practically nothing has changed post Twilight era - only that Robert Pattinson is now the world's most popular actor and from a few Rob fansites (I know of only 3 back then) there are now dozens of sites and blogs competing, promoting and breathing Rob Pattinson. But what makes this particular site different? My friend Isabel, one of the partners and its PR Director has this to say:

What sets our site apart from the plethora out there, according to our fans: our no rumour, no paparazzi policy, our Pattycast, and the Pattinson Online Network. Pattinson Online has been and continues to be the only Robert Pattinson website that is both rumour and paparazzi free. We do not believe that Robert's privacy has to be breached or his image compromised for us to gain significant hits. On the contrary, we believe we have become more popular as a result.  Fans write to us by the multitudes, daily, to let us know how much they appreciate a consistent site with reliable news. That is what we see ourselves as - not so much a fansite, but a very reliable source for Robert Pattinson news. We verify most rumours with Rob's management before posting anything doubtful. We stay away from pap-filled news outlets as sources and we create great partnerships connections with people in the business.

The Status Quo and Taking a Stand

To those who want to maintain the status quo, their argument: since you desperately want to become rich and famous, you just need to 'get used to it'.

To an actor like Rob, getting used to it, requires the help of his talent manager and/or agent and the employment of celebrity bodyguards. Perhaps one might add, an actor like Rob might need the services of a Psychiatrist, a Nutrionist, an experienced fortune teller (card or hand or both) and/or horoscope reader and adviser, an athletic trainor and a personal secretary to handle his financial, personal and creative needs. I forgot! how about a Personal Physician, to monitor his health and sign for the much-needed prescription drugs?

(Only in America: Ignore the hype surrounding illegal drugs, we got something better: Go Prescription!!!!)

You might note my sarcasm, which is getting to be very obvious. While I will never become a celebrity, I don't think I can adjust to such way of life and I'm not even mentioning artistic pursuits here! But many have chosen such lifestyles. In the end, it really boils down to the individual.

Down with Perez Hilton!

To a blogger like Perez Hilton, Rob Pattinson is like a gift from heaven.

Imagine this: A thoughtful, handsome, decent and honest young man who is being groomed to become a superstar. No star complex, no big ego, just one serious young actor, polishing his craft, oblivious to what's happening around him. He still speaks his mind - he's no robot like some of the other young actors we have right now. So what? What can Perez do? A lot actually. There is a gold mine of possibilities - malicious, filthy and juicy possibilities!

Let me quote Joy, one of the site's owners and then I'll add some more:

As many of you know, the unscrupulous Perez Hilton outted the location of Rob's New York shoot yesterday via twitter, causing the set to be mobbed by fangirls who otherwise wouldn't have known he was there. Things seem to be getting worse on the set because of these crowds who treat Rob like their personal property, and gossip bloggers like Perez are just feeding the frenzy. So, at the suggestion of quite a few fans, we would like to encourage Rob's true fans to take a stand again Perez and his ilk. How? Easy...

1. Stop visiting his site (perezhilton.com).
2. Unfollow him on twitter (@perezhilton).
3. Help trend the topic by posting #unfollowperezhilton on your twitter (as many times as you like!).
4. Email Perez and tell him how you feel ( This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it ).

Tell your friends! Post on your blog! Do whatever you can to spread the word that we will not sit idly by while people like Perez make themselves more famous by capitalizing on other people’s pain. [ read more ]

Wrong Strategy! Really? Why is that?

Someone wrote Perez a letter:

Dear Perez Hilton,

I understand that your job gives you a lot of satisfaction; you must experience a lot of instant gratification from what you are able to do with in the media machine. I wonder though, do you think about ethics? Natural guilt; which is the sense that ethically something isn’t a good idea to go ahead with; that’s if you were to stop and listen to yourself, not the experience of feeling guilty after the fact.

Perez, you’re worth more than this. You must know that. Are the people that have respect for you for this gossip business you have, the type of people you really want respect from? These people that don’t care if their instant gratification is at the cost of someones emmotional, mental well being. Not every entertainer/personality copes well with gossip, with pressure from their fans, with no privacy to work and live. [ read more ]

I'm not convinced this is going to be an effective strategy. Perez doesn't care. You cannot expect sympathy from the devil right?

So what's an effective way then?

Hit him where it matters. (I'm editing and revising my article about this at the moment, and will ask Isabel if they might be interested in posting it at the F.L.A.N.S. site...)

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The Art and Science of Celebrity Gossip Blogging

Every blogger dream of making it big. The question is: what are the ways and means the blogger used in order to drive huge traffic and make his blog one of the web's most popular, with the greater chance to earn lots of dough in the long run?

With the premise that absolutely nothing is private anymore, and that any information can be distributed, syndicated, revised and updated without the need to bother with such 'idealistic' terms as integrity, reliability and truthfulness (not to mention acknowledging the original source), a blogger has at his disposal one of the most potent tools to rule the web (and destroy lives in the process)- an imaginative mind, filled with malicious intent!

Heck, how do we end this nightmare? We need to take a stand.

Project F.L.A.N.S.

Since 2005, we’ve been the web’s top site for Robert Pattinson. In that time, we’ve become increasingly dissatisfied with how the media AND the fans have treated Rob – this project is the culmination of years of frustration and desire to see the fans educated on how to protect Rob’s safety and sanity!

That's from the girls again. I can understand their frustration and why they are asking fans to join the cause.

Last year, tMF also posted some articles related to Rob's apparent lack of peace of mind as he becomes more and more popular, thus becoming the biggest celebrity target. Worth noting is the fact how he effectively dealt with the paparazzi in one incident by just being true to himself. I have to admire the guy. Call him any name, criticize his hair and/or his (or lack of) fashion sense, but he showed grace under pressure!

Hey, don't get me wrong. I'm no moral crusader. I'm also an ordinary sinner like you, perhaps I might be the worst! But like anyone else, I still have my set of values and principles (yeah, right!)

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Yes I know, the hanging question: Why the focus on Rob, when Jim Sturgess, Jamie Bell, Ben Whishaw and Joseph Gordon-Levitt were ranked higher in the Top50 Hitlist?

The answer is very simple. Rob was already #1 on our list even before other entertainment and movie sites even contemplated on including him in their hitlist. And that was so so so last year! Of course, tMF continues to celebrate Rob as an emerging talent and plans to write more articles about his new projects soon!

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What's on your mind? Should the media (particularly the gossip tabloids and magazines) respect an artist's right to privacy? Or is it justified for them to speculate and spread rumours and gossip about an actor since he is already aware that all of these are 'part of the culture'? Is it also justified for a celebrity blogger like Perez Hilton to reveal information about an actor for the sake of 'entertainment', security, privacy and health concerns, notwithstanding?

Lastly, your ultimate reaction to the statements below:

I can justify my celebrating the misery and pain of others since they are just actors and it's better to talk about someone else's tragedy and failures than my own. Please don't take me too seriously, I'm just a celebrity gossip blogger...

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[ Visit the Pattinson Online initiative Project F.L.A.N.S. ]