If buying the expensive mustard is about the riskiest thing you’ll do this month, it’s time to let loose and drop by the Hollywood Stock Exchange (www.hsx.com).
Instead of buying and selling shares of boring computer companies or silly pharmaceutical firms like everybody does, you can buy and sell shares of Meg Ryan, Mel Gibson or whatever movie star lights your fire.
Now the Hollywood Stock Exchange is just what it sounds like: an on-line stock market that lets visitors invest money in the movie industry.
It’s just a game of course . . . but hey, forget the Dow Jones — this place has got Tommy Lee Jones!
By offering shares of movies (MovieStocks), actors and actresses (StarBonds), the Hollywood Stock Exchange, which is affiliated with the Chicago Tribune’s on-line product, gives people the chance to hone their stock market skills and learn basic investment strategies in a fun environment.
Want to own a piece of Eddie Murphy’s new movie “Dr. Doolittle” . . . or even a piece of Eddie himself?
First-time visitors just have to go through a simple five-minute registration process to get $2 million credited to their accounts. It’s certain to be the quickest million you’ll ever make.
To succeed at the Hollywood Stock Exchange, all that’s required is a cursory love of movies and a little common sense. Instead of investing everything into the next megabudget star vehicle, try speculating on unknown actors . . . maybe you’ll hit paydirt.
Or maybe let someone else do the thinking. Invest in a mutual fund and sit back to watch the dough roll effortlessly in (or out).
The beauty of this site is its wealth of information: useful tips, daily advice columns, cast breakdowns of new movies . . . it’s all just a click or two away.
Don’t be fooled into thinking it’s all just a frivolity, though. The Hollywood Stock Exchange is all business. There’s no “who’s dating who” gossip here.
But like illegal narcotics, lawn ornaments and baby toys, the Hollywood Stock Exchange can be very addictive.
Shortly after setting up an account, panic attacks will hit in the middle of the night: “Did I remember to buy into Chris Rock yesterday?” But take comfort in the fact that the novelty will wear off after a while.
A lot of people take this game very seriously. In fact, some have set up separate Web sites to give out investment tips.
Two of the coolest fan sites are the HSX Suicide Lounge (www.rpsd.com/hsx/suicide.html) and dial 555 (www.paladisiac.com/hsx/hsx555.shtml). They both have witty columns, suggestions and minutiae that will make the Hollywood Stock Exchange feel more like a community than just a way to kill time at work or school.
