Do you know many people who work in the tv/movie industry?

[FamousFriends]

Inspired by my daughter asking me if I knew anyone famous. I answered no, but then I thought about it some more. I know a few people who are, or were, in the public eye but also lots who work behind the scenes in the tv and film industry:

I went to primary school with a famous actor
A mum friend is a well known tv and radio presenter and newsreader
A second cousin is a well known tv and radio presenter
Some friends were in a band that enjoyed fame in a certain genre
While not exactly famous, I have a friend who won an Oscar for sound editing
A friend who wrote and directed several movies and was a soap actor when she was young
A friend who is an investigative journalist and has interviewed many famous people
Then there's those friends who work behind the scenes:
A tv documentary producer
A movie producer
Personal caterer and yoga instructor for famous actress
Lighting and sound technician
Tv make up artist
Movie make up artist
Movie costume designer
Tv Cameraman
Sound editor
Soundtrack musician
Lecturer in filmmaking

The funny thing is that none of these people know each other or run in the same circles (as far as I know) and I don't and have never worked in the industry myself. I know them from different places and times in my life, from living in the UK and in Australia.

Can anyone relate? How normal it is to have show-business people in your life when you don't actually work in the industry?

I think that’s unusual. I don’t know anybody working in those areas. It might depend where you live though - I’m nowhere near London or anywhere else with a TV/film industry.

I know a TV/Theatre make up artist, and an animator who has worked on some well known movies. They're both acquaintances really though, rather than friends.

An actual friend used to be a TV producer in her home country but does something different in the UK.

@FamousFriends that's a very long list.

Who was the famous actor you went to primary school with?

My DH works in the film industry. And his Dad worked for the BBC but is retired now. Because he has worked in that field a long time a lot of our friends are also in the industry. But all behind the scenes - construction , make up etc. He has stories of going out for drinks and parties with famous people , but his current work means he is mainly working on the set before filming begins so doesnt often see the 'stars'. I would be surprised if the people you knew hadnt crossed paths tbh as it seems a smaller circle than you would imagine.
I work in a shop and often have customers from TV/film/music industry .

I've never lived in London but a couple of those people do. I live in Sydney now where several of those people are but all have been in different settings and different times so it's not like I've stumbled upon a group of industry folks who hang out together.

We used to know a lot of people working in tv because a close relative worked in that industry. In our family we have had well known musicians, an author, stage/ film performers and someone who sits in the House of Lords.

I'd rather not say. I'm from a small town in Scotland that doesn't produce a lot of famous people so it might be outing

I know a fair few but DH worked in the same industry for more than a decade and they are friends and friends of friends of his

There's a chance some of them may have crossed paths professionally at some point but I don't think they know each other or would be friends. They're mostly from different countries and have worked in the industry at different times in their lives.

My cousin is a production manager for an independent company and her husband is a freelance director of photography.
She started off as a secretary at the BBC.

If you live in a large/capital city then you'll generally know a few.

If you live so rurally it's like stepping back to the fifties every time you arrive home, then you generally won't.

In the bookies , there is horse racing on the screens. I know someone who's job was involved with that .

I don't regard it as thinking of myself as "knowing" people in the industry, but I lived in Los Angeles and New York, so yes, have met or seen quite a few.

I have a few in the family, and some who are friends of the family. I only have had a personal social relationship with a few - the editor Bernie Gribble comes to mind - but I've also spoken in passing with various actors or directors via Q&As at events. I once exchanged quips with Emma Thompson, for instance, but I wouldn't say I "know" her.

11, all separate from each other, friends (and DH) I’ve met throughout the years. Although a few will have worked together I am sure.

A couple of friends are children of actors.

A best friend is the cousin of a mega pop icon, who I have met a few times.

A couple of friends who work in TV production.

I do live near a few celebs - but that’s just this part of London. They’re not my mates!

A few camera, costume, sound people are friends/ acquaintances too.

We have quite a few well known people in our extended family/ distant family - a well known academic, an author, a musician, someone in the House of Lords, a singer and a few people who appeared on the stage/ in movies.

It depend how you define 'know'. A few people I was loosely friends with at university have gone into those industries, a couple of them are now well-known faces, but I haven't been in touch with them since I left university 30 years ago. I don't actively know anyone in those industries.

No, not really.

We had a big Hollywood film made near us recently so a great many of the extras were people I work with, are friends with, or just know generally. That was fun playing spot the local at the cinema. (smile)

I went to school with the daughter of an actor in a soap. She got horribly bullied because of it and left but then became a successful model then model agency owner. So pleased when I see her on the tv as she had an awful time of it for a while.

There is a famous tv presenter whose mother lives in our village. She milks it hard tbh and acts very Hyacinth Bouquet. It's funny to see people pay court to her like she is the Queen tbh.