The movie industry has often been controlled by myths and fears -- allowing society's most conservative groups to control the lives of actors as well as the subject matter of what they produce.

One of the longest standing Hollywood truisms is that an out actor, is an unemployed actor. The current belief is that moviegoers need to either identify with the actor [of the same gender] or feel a sexual attraction towards the actor [of the opposite gender] the stars of the movies. The theory is that the general public cannot possibly find a gay/lesbian actor sexually attractive. Or, if they did find the actor sexually attractive, they would be considered too out of reach for fantasy.

Let's do a reality check here. How many people out there really think they are a potential lover to Tom Cruise? Okay, bad choice. But I believe Mel Gibson and Harrison Ford -- just to name two of the biggest box office drawing actors -- are married with multiple children. I do not mean to imply that married with children cannot be seen as sexy, but it does not exactly scream SEXUALLY AVAILABLE to me.

Based on the current trend, the industry apparently thinks even less of the male population. Not only can the women not come out, but they also cannot age above 30. I can think of more actresses over the age of 30 who are considered very sexy than I can think of those under. And though I have many male friends who will openly drool over Sela Ward, Vanessa Williams or Cher, not one of them considers themselves a potential lover. Fantasy is fine for these guys, but they also live in the real world.

With the release of the new John Travolta [Ack! He's acknowledged he's a Scientologist!] movie, Battlefield Earth, written by Scientologist founder L. Ron Hubbard, Hollywood has unearthed [no pun intended] a whole new fear/myth.

I have no idea what the story line is behind this movie -- I have not seen it. Before I have been given a chance to find out if it would be of any interest to my family or me, I have been informed,

1. It is filled with hypnotic messages of Scientology designed to recruit members to the church
2. John Travolta was elected by the church to sell the public on their beliefs
3. Anyone who sees this movie will lose their souls to the Scientologists

I cannot help but laugh at the rumors flying around about the movie as well as the motives of the writer, director and actors. I am sure they will grow and expand as time goes on and more people have seen the movie. Every word will become suspect, every glance by Mr. Travolta will be examined.

I still recall the almost apologetic release of Prince Of Egypt by Dreamworks. They let us know that the biblical story behind the storyline was toned down so as not to offend the general public. The most powerful group of studio executives and they are afraid of backlash on a simple bible story?

Well, I am of the opinion that it is time for a reality check for tinsel-town. From now on we will allow actors and writers and directors and producers to live their lives openly and without apology. We recognize that movies are made in Hollywood to make money -- that's all. We know that no one is trying to convert us to any way of thinking and we accept the odds that Jane Q. Public will not be marrying her favorite actor.

Until next time...