8. how films use stars
DESCRIPTION
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 - PowerPoint PPT PresentationTRANSCRIPT
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
• 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