Star system (filmmaking)
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The star system was the method of creating, promoting and exploiting stars in
The star system put an emphasis on the image rather than the acting, although discreet acting, voice, and dancing lessons were a common part of the regimen. Women were expected to behave like ladies, and were never to leave the house without makeup and stylish clothes. Men were expected to be seen in public as gentlemen. Morality clauses were a common part of actors' studio contracts.
Studio executives, public relations staffs, and agents worked together with the actor to create a star persona and cover up incidents or lifestyles that would damage the star's public image. It was common, for example, to arrange sham dates between single (male) stars and starlets to generate publicity. Tabloids and gossip columnists would be tipped off, and photographers would appear to capture the romantic moment. Tabloids reported stars' drug use, drinking problems, divorce, or adultery.
Beginnings
In the early years of the cinema (1890s–1900s), performers were not identified in films. There are two main reasons for this. First, from the perspective of actors who were trained in the theatre, they were embarrassed to be working in film and feared it would ruin their reputation. Silent film was thought of as mere pantomime and one of theatre actors' main skills was the command of their voice.
Thomas Edison and the Motion Picture Patents Company (MPPC) forced filmmakers to use their equipment and follow their rules, since they owned the patents of much of the motion picture equipment. The MPPC frowned on star promotion, although, according to research done by Janet Staiger, the MPPC did promote some stars around this time.
The main catalyst for change was the public's desire to know the actors' names. Film audiences repeatedly recognized certain performers in movies that they liked. Since they did not know the performers' names they gave them nicknames (such as "the Biograph Girl",
Producer
The development of film fan magazines gave fans knowledge about the actors outside of their film roles. Motion Picture Story Magazine (1911–1977) and Photoplay were initially focused on movies' stories, but soon found that more copies could be sold if they emphasized the actors.
Also, precedents set by legitimate theater encouraged film to emulate the star system of the Broadway stage. Broadway stars in the late 19th century were treated much like film stars came to be treated by the middle of the 20th century. The main practitioner of the star system on Broadway was
Moreover, the star system existed in forms of entertainment before the cinema and may be tracked back at least to
Decline of the star system
From the 1930s to the 1960s, it was common practice for studios to arrange the contractual exchange of talent (directors, actors) for prestige pictures. The star system found new stars such as
The conspiratorial aspect of the star system manipulating images and reality eventually began to falter. By the '60s and '70s, a more natural style of acting "the
Contemporary stardom
The phenomenon of stardom has remained essential to Hollywood because of its ability to lure spectators into the theater. Following the demise of the studio system in the 1950s and '60s, the star system became the most important stabilizing feature of the movie industry. This is because stars provide film makers with built-in audiences who regularly watch films in which their favorite actors and actresses appear.[7]
Contemporary Hollywood talent agencies must now be licensed under the
See also
References
- ISBN 978-1-4000-4130-5.
- ^ Stanca Mustea, Cristina. "Carl Laemmle." C Laemmle In Immigrant Entrepreneurship: German-American Business Biographies, 1720 to the Present, vol. 4, edited by Jeffrey Fear. German Historical Institute. retrieved 21 July 2021
- ^ Star System retrieved 20 July 2021
- ^ "'Feud' Proves Bette Davis Is Empowering AF". Romper. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ Lang, Brent (2020-07-27). "How Olivia de Havilland Took on the Studio System and Won". Variety. Retrieved 2022-03-09.
- ^ Hanrihan v. Parker, 19 Misc. 2d 467, 469 (N.Y. Misc. 1959)
- ISBN 978-0-07-338615-7.
- ^ a b McDonald, Paul, and Janet Wasko. The Contemporary Hollywood Film Industry. Malden, MA: Blackwell Pub., 2008. Print.