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