2. Starter Task
‘Neither audiences, nor producers need film stars anymore’
How far do you agree with this statement?
Write down the names of your THREE favourite films of 2014
Now write down the main reason you wanted to see these films
Title Reason
Interstellar Director & Genre
The Raid 2 Genre / Sequel
Exodus Director/Genre

3. Starter Task
‘Neither audiences, nor producers need film stars anymore’
How far do you agree with this statement?
Write down the names of the THREE film you are most
anticipating in 2014
Now write down the main reason you want to see these films
Title Reason
Star Wars Episode VII Franchise
Inherent Vice Director
Mad Max Franchise

4. Learning Objectives
Identify the ways film stars can be considered a
Negative
Explore the reasons for the decline in ‘STAR
POWER’
Evaluate our findings in a detailed essay plan

5. Using the information we learnt in our previous lesson,
make a list of the ways film stars can HELP attract an
audience and increase profits
To good to be true…
• Reinforce the IDEOLOGICAL PERSPECTIVE
• Stars usually play ‘TYPES’
• ‘TYPES’ offer security to audiences as they know
what to EXPECT
• Producers can predict the types of films audience
want based on a Star’s popularity
• Star Qualities can be focused upon in trailers and
marketing materials
• Star images are constructed to appeal to
mainstream audiences – they can reflect how
people view the world etc
How may these
things be
construed as
negative to
modern
audiences?

6. Screenwriter William Goldman defines a film star as:
Film starts?
“Someone who can reliably open a movie at Number 1
(at the box office)
Now look at the list of the Top 10 grossing
films of 2014:
1 Transformers: Age of
Extinction
Par. $1,087.
4
2 The Hobbit: The Battle of
the Five Armies
WB $781.8
3 Guardians of the Galaxy BV $772.7
Could any modern star be said to do this?

7. Think back to our exam question… How can we
use this information to answer this question?
Star power(less)?
It seems clear that film franchises, re-makes,
sequels and effects driven blockbusters are
more appealing than the stars who appear
within them
‘Neither audiences, nor producers need film
stars anymore’
How far do you agree with this statement?
Why do you think this is?
Films are no longer self contained entities, but
instead can be part of expansive and varied
‘UNIVERSES’

8. Expanded Universes…

9. Expanded Universes…

10. It seems that Franchise filmmaking has become a
major factor in the decline of STAR POWER
Star power(less)?
Films now offer an on-going story that requires more
attention and commitment from their audiences
Film Franchises offer audiences a chance to see
characters go on longer, more engaging and
ultimately more rewarding journeys
Harry Potter franchise 2001 - 2011
What does a franchise like Harry
Potter offer audiences that stand
alone, star driven films do not?

11. As we have seen, larger film ‘universes’ offer a richer
and more rewarding entertainment experience that
star driven films
Star power(less)?
Franchises also highlight the social experience and it’s
importance to film goers
An entire generation of film goers grew up watching
Harry Potter and as a result it became more that ‘Just
a film’
Each HP release became a social experience for
audience who most likely went to see each film with
the same groups of people, who could enjoy a shared
experience

12. What other reasons could be behind audiences’
shift away from stars?
Star power(less)?
• Audiences now have much more choice
than ever before
• Modern games are complex, narrative
driven worlds that offer audiences a
greater challenge
• Games now offer up to 100 hours game
play and online, inter ACTIVE experiences
• Games are social experiences that offer a
cheap alternative to an expensive cinema
trip
• Home Entertainment
ACTIVE Audiences
…contribute to the
narrative process by
interacting with the
medium
PASSIVE Audiences
… do not contribute to
the narrative or story
of the medium. They
simply watch another
persons vision

13. What other reasons could be behind audiences’
shift away from stars?
Star power(less)?
• Since the late 90’s TV Drama has evolved in
to a complex, varied and challenging genre
• The quality of shows has increased and
shows now offer long, open ended stories
that require hundreds of episodes to
conclude
• Shows like Lost, The Wire, The Sopranos,
Game of Thrones, Breaking Bad etc… have
become immensely popular and a genuine
alternative to the cinema
• The popularity of box sets also offer the same
opportunities
• Television Revolution
A common misconception is
that ‘TV makes you dumb!’
Stephen Johnson's ‘Sleeper
Curve’ theory suggests the
opposite
Read the hand-out and
highlight the key points

14. What other reasons could be behind
audiences’ shift away from stars?
Star power(less)?
• TV has always lagged behind cinema
technology and cinemas where the only
place to experience Widescreen, Surround
Sound, 3D films
• Modern films face a much harder challenge
when drawing in audiences
• Technology is no longer an advantage
• Audiences can build 4K, 3D, 110” Television
sets with 7.1 Surround Sound systems
• Audiences also have an ENORMOUS choice!
• Television Revolution

15. What other reasons could be
behind audiences’ shift away
from stars?
Star power(less)?
Peter Guber, a former chairman of Sony Pictures, said
• Social Networking and phones in cinemas
"You look around the [cinema] and can see the glow, not
on people's faces from watching the movie, but on their
chins – from the Blackberries and iPhones,"

16. Read the article… and highlight
the key points.
Star power(less)?

17. What are the key factors in the decline of Star
Power?
Summary

18. We will now attempt to answer a previous exam
question using information from our lessons.
Summary
‘Neither audiences, nor producers need film stars anymore’
How far do you agree with this statement?
Working in pairs you are to write an essay plan for
the question above
You must cover all areas of star study we have
looked at

19. You MUST comment on ALL of the following
areas:
• Christine Gledhill
• Stars as Capital Value
• Stars as Constructs
• Stars as Deviant
• Stars as Cultural Value
• Star Qualities and how they create:
• Character ‘Types’
• Audience expectations
• What are the positives of stars playing
similar roles again and again? Think of
how this may benefit audiences and
producers. What are the potential
negatives of this?
• Ideological Perspectives – How can stars
reinforce this?
Essay plans
You MUST comment on ALL of the following
areas:
• Expanded Universes…
• How do Franchises offer a greater, more
demanding experience?
• Franchises
• Decline of Star Appeal
• Sleeper Curve Theory
• Greater number of alternatives to cinema
• Ideological elements?
• Are we looking for fantastical heroes
to escape from our own reality?
• Video Games
You must include case studies of film stars
You must also use quotes from the articles
you have read!
‘Neither audiences, nor producers need film stars anymore’
How far do you agree with this statement?