the list of 9 for august 13, 2010:
THE NINE STAGES OF A TYPICAL MOVIE STAR'S CAREER
This list is just for fun. (Like the others aren't?) Of course many movie stars owe their fame to
the opportunities afforded to them from having show biz parents (Kiefer Sutherland, Gwyneth
Paltrow, Angelina Jolie, Jake & Maggie Gyllenhaal, etc.). Others get a break by being cast in a
major role by a director seeking an unknown (Jennifer Lopez, Tom Cruise, etc.). But for those who
start from nothing and slowly work their way to the top, here are the "chapters" of their
professional lives:
- Total Obscurity. The hell of starting out. Failed
auditions... Trying to land an agent... Going broke from the costs of acting classes and
headshots... Most actors never get past this stage.
- A String of Small Parts. The people we call "working
actors" wind up here. Short 1-3 day gigs in TV shows, commercials, and movies large and small. You
can make a living, but no one will recognize you on the street.
- The Breakout Performance. What every actor longs for: a
small but juicy part in a hit movie, where your work stands out even if you're not among the
top-billed. Think of Steve Carell in Bruce Almighty, Brad Pitt in Thelma and Louise,
or Sandra Bullock in Speed. This is when an actor becomes a star. (This also goes
for those TV actors whose series becomes a hit, be they Tom Hanks or Jennifer Aniston.)
- The First Vehicle. Congratulations! You've earned enough
"buzz" from your breakout performance that a studio is willing to let you headline a feature. Not
everybody survives this stage. To wit: Carell's Office costar Rainn Wilson, whose first and
so far only vehicle The Rocker was a flop. Back into the Supporting Cast box with you!
- Ubiquity in Studio Fare. This comes after a Hollywood movie
starring the actor turns a profit. Suddenly, through a calculated plot hatched by various
producers, managers, casting directors and agents, said actor is in everything, good and
bad, big and small. This is designed to establish the actor as a "lifer", a bankable star who's
going to stick around for years to come. That's why there are so many James Franco and Amanda
Seyfried movies these days: they're at this stage right now.
- The "One Movie a Year" Phase. After the star's name and
face have been ingrained upon the collective unconscious, and said star can now command salaries of
over $10 million per picture, it's time to stop saying yes to every offer and focus on the annual
big-budget "tentpole" release. This is the true domain of the A-list, where people like Leonardo
DiCaprio and Denzel Washington dwell.
- The Oscar Bid. What do you get the movie star that has
everything? An Academy Award, of course! While actors are arguably always ego-driven, this
is the point where the star's desires for Oscar glory supercede the handlers' hopes for riches. If
you're not really that good an actor, this means you get the "character" part in an Oscar Hopeful
(Eddie Murphy in Dreamgirls, Dan Aykroyd in Driving Miss Daisy). If you're a decent
actor, then it's a showy role in a Message Movie (DiCaprio in Blood Diamond, Charlize Theron
in Monster).
- Post-Oscar Malaise. Not all Oscar bids are successful. But
for those that are, a sense of "what now?" creeps in. This happens particularly with female stars.
You're rich, you're famous, you're an Oscar winner... what's left? Well, this is when you "take
time out to be with your family", perhaps accepting small roles in films that interest you, showing
your "fun" side in a big studio comedy, or going for the Oscar again.
- Elder Statesmanship. Years have passed. You're now too old
or passe to headline a tentpole release like you used to. Your credit usually begins with the word
"and". You're often playing the kooky parent and/or mentor of today's hottest stars. But hey -
you're working. This is the "I made the cover of AARP magazine" realm of Dustin Hoffman, Jane
Fonda, Jon Voight and the like. Beats doing nothing!
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