Hollywood Exclusive by Marilyn Beck & Stacy Jenel Smith

Adorable teen star on the rise Cymphonique Miller is all too aware of the extra scrutiny often awaiting the offspring of the famed when they try to launch their own careers. (Case in point: the flap over Jim Carrey's daughter's progress on "American Idol.") So Miller, who is a mere 15 years old, says that when she heard about a general audition for Nickelodeon's forthcoming "How to Rock" comedy, "I didn't want my brother or my dad to be any part of it. I wanted to do it on my own."

She flew to New York, leaving behind her famous family members, father Master P and brother Romeo. And when she went in to the audition, she insists, "They didn't know my affiliation at all."

Cymphonique did a scene in which, she says, "I had to sing, dance and act all these different emotions," and when it was done, she flew back to Los Angeles. According to her, it was only after the audition that the "How to Rock" forces realized she was the daughter/sister of two of Nickelodeon's former stars.

"That's why I feel like my accomplishment came from my hard work rather than just from being related to someone. If you are a kid of a celebrity, or related to a celebrity, sometimes I think it's a great motivator," she adds. There's no doubting her drive. She's already released a studio album and guest starred on several other shows.

Cymphonique says she received a call about a month after her audition and was told her video had been circulating around the network, "and we want to do something with you." Now, she's shot 15 episodes of the Feb. 4-debuting show — and her brother is about to make a guest appearance.

"My dad has never been one to push me into the entertainment business at all. He's always saying, 'Education is No. 1.' That's another reason I wanted to do it on my own," she says. "My family — they were definitely supporting me but always telling me, 'No matter what happens, make sure you're doing it for the right reasons. Never do it for the fame or the money, or you will not be happy.' When I said, 'This is what love to do, what I want to do for the rest of my life, and this is my dream job,' they were for it."

AN OSCAR IRONY: "The Artist," which is up for 10 Academy Awards and has won just about every other award in sight, along with the hearts of the film community here, is the only film among the nine Best Picture Oscar nominees that was actually made in Hollywood.

Yes, if a French filmmaker, director Michel Hazanavicius, had not felt passionately that he had to make his film about Hollywood in Hollywood, there wouldn't have been a single movie made exclusively in Movietown among the nominees.

Hazanavicius also made sure that moviegoers would see Hollywood faces on the screen. Sixty-six of the 68 actors in the film were Hollywood actors (67 out of 69 if you count Uggi, America's new canine heart-throb).

The film could have been shot in Paris, but the director wanted it to be done on the streets and in the sound stages that were around more than 80 years ago, when movies were making the change from silent flicks to talkies.

You'd better believe that many in this town, home to the greatest reservoir of film-acting talent and craft talent and site of the world's best movie-making facilities, are hoping that the spectacular success of "The Artist" serves as a reminder that it can be done best here.

'MANAGEMENT' ISSUES: So, it's going to be Shawnee Smith of "Saw" film fame playing Charlie Sheen's ex-wife in his forthcoming "Anger Management" series. Perhaps that horror-movie experience will come in handy should Sheen return to his horrible ways once the current good-behavior period ends.

Also reportedly likely to come aboard to play Charlie's therapist is Selma Blair — of the "Hellboy" films. Now, there's a title with an appropriate ring to it. According to Deadline.com's Nellie Andreeva, Julie Benz was also among those testing for an "Anger Management" role. You'll recall her gruesome end on "Dexter," in a bathtub full of her own blood. Seriously, they've been talking about the show being more complex and edgy than "Two and a Half Men," so it stands to reason there wouldn't be any cotton candy in the cast.

To find out more about Marilyn Beck and Stacy Jenel Smith and read their past columns, visit the Creators Syndicate Web page at www.creators.com.

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