1. 8. How films use stars

2. Objective
To understand how film studios capitalise on the success of certain actors and use them to market movies more effectively

3. 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

4. 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?

5. Stars and Marketing Name on the poster? No name on the poster?
Look at Tom Cruise

6. Top Gun (1986)

7. Cocktail (1988)

8. Days of Thunder (1990)

9. Mission Impossible (1996)

10. MI: Ghost Protocol (2010)

11. 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

12. The 1950s

13. Ocean’s Eleven – 2000s

14. 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’

15. 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