Transcript 8. How films use stars - A-Level Film Studies at Shire Oak

8. How films use stars
Objective
• To understand how film studios capitalise on
the success of certain actors and use them to
market movies more effectively
What is a star?
• A star is more than just an actor
• The star may refer to someone who is famous
for acting well in a film
• The star may also refer to someone who
outshines film and becomes famous
regardless of the quality of the film
Hollywood is full of stars
• The term ‘star’ can be overused
• How do you know who is a ‘star’ and who is
merely a star?
Stars and Marketing
• Name on the poster?
• No name on the poster?
• Look at Tom Cruise
Top Gun (1986)
Cocktail (1988)
Days of Thunder (1990)
Mission Impossible (1996)
MI: Ghost Protocol (2010)
Ocean’s Eleven
• A star vehicle – designed specifically to show
off a group of actors
• In the 1950s, the Rat Pack (as they were
called):
• Frank Sinatra, Peter Lawford, Dean Martin,
Sammy Davis Jr (plus others)
• In the 2000s, a new generation of Hollywood
stars
The 1950s
Ocean’s Eleven – 2000s
Cameos
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A cameo is an uncredited appearance in a film
Usually for a short period of time
May be playing themselves
Does not appear on the production credits
Does not appear on the poster
Famous cameos: Tom Cruise in ‘Tropic Thunder’
and Stan Lee in Marvel comics adaptations; also
Michael Jackson as Agent M in ‘Men In Black II’
Celebrity Production/Endorsement
• Celebrities start production companies
• Their films become the star attraction
• “A Steven Spielberg Production” (he didn’t
direct it, but everyone is still going to see it)
• Or celebrity directors:
• Clint Eastwood, Ben Stiller, David Schwimmer
(yes, really), Quentin Tarantino