Lecture 10Lecture 10: Actors and Stars

Professor Aaron Baker

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Previous LecturePrevious Lecture

• Different media: capabilities, assumptions.

• Representation of place.

• King of the Hill

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Today’s LectureToday’s Lecture

• Movie and Stage Actors

• Stars and their Images

• George Clooney

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Acting on stageActing on stage

• Generally receives less recognition than movie acting.

• Emphasizes roles that aren’t confused with the actor’s real life.

• Can be evaluated by one’s ability to succeed in well known roles (e.g. Hamlet, Willy Lohman, Lady Macbeth).

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One and DoneOne and Done

• Film roles are usually done just once. Movie actors perform a part and go on to others.

• There is no repertory in the movies as in theater to evaluate acting.

• Roles reprised in sequels, James Bond and Batman are minor exceptions.

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• Some stars are known for doing many different roles.

• Others for repeatedly playing similar characters—”playing themselves.”

Acting Vs PerformingActing Vs Performing

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Stage PerformanceStage Performance

• Is done in one space and time, before a live audience

• It requires sustained focus for the 2-3 hours of a play.

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Movie Actors Movie Actors

Generally perform for just a few minutes Generally perform for just a few minutes at a time, spread out over the weeks or at a time, spread out over the weeks or

months in which a film is shot.months in which a film is shot.

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Film ActorsFilm Actors

• Often have less control over their performance.

• The director, editor, producer may decide how the actor will appear.

Cinematographer Janusz Kaminski, director Steven Spielberg and actor Diego Luna on the

set of The Terminal 2004.

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Some ActorsSome Actors

“…will learn more about other aspects of filmmaking to “increase their control over the construction

of their performances.”

(Lehman and Luhr, p. 149)

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Marlene DietrichMarlene Dietrich

Learned about lighting and

cinematography to have more

involvement in how she was shown.

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InterviewInterview

With Jeff Kurland, the costume

designer from Ocean’s Eleven, he describes Brad Pitt’s

interest in the costumes his

character would wear.

Click on picture to watch interview.

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StarsStars

Often earn the biggest salaries in a

film’s budget.

George Clooney’s Paydays:

Intolerable Cruelty (2003)$15,000,000

Ocean's Eleven (2001)$20,000,000

The Perfect Storm (2000)$8,000,000

O Brother, Where Art Thou? (2000)$1,000,000

Three Kings (1999)$5,000,000

Out of Sight (1998)$10,000,000

Batman & Robin (1997)$10,000,000

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Why?Why?

• Because of the film industry assumption that audiences will pay to see them.

• A star’s Q Score measures his/her

familiarity and appeal with audiences.

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What defines a movie star?What defines a movie star?

A Featured performer in a film but also, an image that generates interest beyond

individual films.

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Star ImageStar Image

• Personality• Work Habits• Style• Private & Public Life• Love Life

Jennifer Lopez and Ben Affleck at a Red Sox game

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How’s a movie star image How’s a movie star image created?created?

• Film Roles

• ProfilesProfiles

• InterviewsInterviews

• Gossip ColumnsGossip Columns

• TV talk and TV talk and Tabloid ShowsTabloid Shows

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Typecast Typecast

“Sometimes a star image becomes so fixed that even when he or she tries to break it by doing roles directly opposed to that image, the public ignores such

deviations and continues to support the original image.”

(Lehman and Luhr, p.150)

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Sylvester StalloneSylvester Stallone• Tried to move beyond

his action hero image with comedies like Oscar (1991).

• The box office failure of these films forced him back into action roles.

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The ContenderThe ContenderIn 2005 he returned indirectly to the

role that defined his image more than any other, Rocky, by producing and

starring in the TV show about boxing The Contender.

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The Star SystemThe Star System

• For the first 15 years of commerical cinema (1895-1910) there were no stars.

• Early producers worried if actors were publicized, they would ask for big salaries.

• Other producers introduced the concept of movie stars because they believed audiences would pay to see them.

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Classic Hollywood 1930-1950Classic Hollywood 1930-1950

• Saw the creation of stars by studios.

• Stars were under exclusive contract,

• Studios built their images by selecting film roles and publicity campaigns.

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Independent ProducersIndependent Producers• As the studio

system declined in the 1950s and 60s, major stars became independent producers.

• This is still the a common practice today.

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Stars and RaceStars and Race

• Before the 1960s very few Hollywood stars were African American.

• Sidney Pottier broke this barrier in the late 1950s and 1960s.

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Linear AnalysisLinear Analysis

As with directors and genres, star images can be analyzed in terms of how

they develop and change.

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George Clooney George Clooney

• Got his first big role in a TV series, ER 1994-99.

• His character, Dr. Doug Ross was attractive, charming, talented—but a rebel.

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Charming OutsiderCharming Outsider

• Clooney has maintained this attractive rebel image in numerous roles.

• He has played thieves in six films.

Click on Image to Watch ClipClick on Image to Watch Clip

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Expanded RangeExpanded Range

He has also modeled He has also modeled his leading man image his leading man image with self-deprecating with self-deprecating

comic roles in comic roles in O O Brother, Where Art Brother, Where Art

Thou Thou (2000)(2000), Welcome , Welcome to Collinwoodto Collinwood (2002), (2002),

Intolerable CrueltyIntolerable Cruelty (2003).(2003).

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ExampleExample

As you watch the following clip from Intolerable Cruelty, compare

Clooney’s character with those in Oceans Eleven or

Out of Sight.Click on Image to Watch ClipClick on Image to Watch Clip

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OffscreenOffscreen

Clooney’s image has been that of a

fun loving bachelor:

• “Sexist Man Alive” in People Magazine

• Bet Michele Pfeiffer and Nicole Kidman $10,000 he wouldn’t be father before forty.

• Bought a villa on Italy’s Lake Como

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PoliticsPolitics

• Produced the HBO series on Washington lobbyists, K Street.

• In 2004 Clooney supported his father’s, Nick, candidacy for a congressional seat in Kentucky.

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Like many stars…Like many stars…

Clooney downplays the idea of stardom as mainly a commercial phenomenon:

“It’s not about the opening weekend, It’s about career, building a set of films

you’re proud of. Period.”

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eBoard QuestionseBoard Questions

After you watch Three Kings, answer the following question:

How does Clooney’s role in this film fit or vary from his star image?

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End of Lecture 10End of Lecture 10

Next Lecture:

Gender