The Zaucto Revenge of the Great Camera Shootout 2012 has, like most Zacuto shootouts, caused quite a stir among professionals and amateurs alike. Many chose specific cameras in Part 1 that were finally revealed in Part 2, and we actually conducted our own poll before Part 2 was released that showed what the audience felt was the best scene. While surprising to some (and not to many others), the Panasonic GH2 was selected as the top scene followed by the Arri Alexa and Sony F65. The fact that a camera under $1,000 is even in the same league as two cameras well over $50,000 speaks to how far digital technology has come in the last 5 years. If you haven't seen Part 2, it's finally embeddable (below) and downloadable, and if you go to Vimeo, you can get the full 3.2GB 1080p file.
I saw the shootout in person and was already able to give my thoughts on the matter. Since I didn't have the luxury of watching the video over and over again when I made my choices, it was very telling for me personally that the cameras I picked all turned out to be the digital cinema cameras (as much as the FS100 can be called a digital cinema camera). While my number one choice was a toss-up between the FS100, F3, and Epic, I still very much liked the Alexa and F65 before knowing which camera was which. Looking back on it now, I may have moved the FS100 down slightly, but it still would definitely be in my own top 5. Of course, the great thing about the entire shootout is that personal preference plays a huge role in the scenes that were picked. In fact, our poll just proves that dedicated DPs and colorists can get a lot out of an under $1,000 camera.
Camera technology is moving forward at an incredible pace. Choosing the right camera for your film is a big decision, and it's only gotten harder now that there are so many more options to choose from. Blackmagic has thrown their weight in the game, and it would certainly be interesting to see the Cinema Camera in a shootout similar to the Revenge Shootout.
Every weekend, movies are opening, and we're seeing a real-time test of who is actually a movie star in Hollywood.
Stars used to be the reason people saw movies in the theater. They were responsible for huge opening weekends, for movies having legs, and for them doing well overseas.
But in the current climate of IP-driven Hollywood, the titles have become the draw themselves. Those tentpoles and sequels outshone stars, and changed the entire platform of Hollywood.
Now, we're stuck in a very weird situation—one where there are very few, or maybe even no, movie stars anymore.
So, how did we get here?
Why Are There No Movie Stars?
There isn't a singular reason why the classic "movie star" seems absent nowadays. Instead, it's a shift due to several factors.
The first is that studios prioritize established franchises over original stories, lessening the impact of individual actors.
Think about your favorite Marvel actors, they haven't had the best time opening movies outside of that franchise on their own.
Another reason we're lackin in stars is that studios are also less likely to finance mid-budget films, which used to be where actors went to prove their stardom, before being given franchises.
While this doesn't mean there's a lack of incredible actors, the definition of a "movie star" is changing rather than disappearing.
The only test to see if someone actually is a star is to put them in an oirignal film and see how that opens in theaters.
Only then can we truly tell if they have power and draw.
Stardom is also spread thin. We have so many movies and TV shows now, that there's got to be thousands of names and faces competing for our attention at any given moment. Sometimes that makes stars burn brighter, but only for a quick moment until our attention spans move onto someone else.
I also think Social Media has had a larger factor in this than anymore wants to admit. The idea of stardom used to be elusive and mysterious. We almost knew nothing about htese people, except what they revealed in magazines.
Nowadays, stars are on social media, acting just like us. We have access to them, so they're losing the ethereal quality that made them so wonderful in the past.
Without Movie Stars, We're in Trouble
Ocean's 8
Credit: Warner Bros. Pictures
Hollywood's ecosystem is completely built around the need for stars. The bigger stars we have, the better the box office will do.
As filmmakers, we want there to be a lot of stars. That means if we're lucky enough to get them in our projects, we can get higher budgets.
Movie stars are an incredibly important part of the Hollywood ecosystem. We need them to open movies at theaters and pull in the big bucks. That keeps theaters open and making money, and makes creating theatrical movies sustainable.
Without star-opening films, studios will abandon original ideas and move the industry entirely to IP over specs. Without specs, it'll be nearly impossible to break into the industry without being rich or connected.
Hollywood just functions better when they know the people they're casting are going to get them a return on their investment. It opens up way more storytelling lanes and allows them to take risks in other areas.
What Makes a Movie Star?
Jumanji
Sony Pictures
Movie stars are not born that way, they need to have a careful succession of hits, connect with audiences, and also have the charisma to stick around.
We really need smaller movies to help put stars on the radar of bigger filmmakers, then let them spread their wings when they get those chances, and excel from there.
Factors of Stardom:
Box Office Draw: Actors whose names consistently bring in huge audiences for their films.
Global Recognition: Known and popular internationally, across cultures and demographics.
Critical Acclaim: Have garnered awards or consistent praise for acting abilities, not just popularity.
Versatility: Ability to play diverse roles and succeed in multiple genres.
The "It" Factor: A certain charisma and intangible quality that makes audiences captivated by them.
Who Are Our Movie Stars?
Anyone But You
Sony Pictures
Right now, the biggest movie star in the world is probably Margot Robbie, with Zendaya a close second. They both can open movies and create a box office draw that transcends IP.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Tom Cruise are up there as well. They each have the ability to open a movie, although Cruise has not been in a non-IP film in quite some time.
Other notable mentions would be:
Jennifer Lawrence
The Rock
Ryan Reynolds
Emma Stone
Tom Holland
Bradley Cooper
Michael B Jordan
Keanu Reeves
Scarlett Johansson
Timothée Chalamet
Robert Downey Jr.
Chris Pratt
Kevin Hart
Mark Wahlberg
Emily Blunt
Ryan Gosling
Chris Hemsworth
Jake Gyllenhaal
Tom Hanks
Jamie Foxx
Christian Bale
Denzel Washington
Samuel L. Jackson
Hugh Jackman
Vin Diesel
Will Ferrell
Brad Pitt
Angelina Jolie
Sandra Bullock
Meryl Streep
Jessica Chastain
Adam Sandler
Harrison Ford
George Clooney
Morgan Freeman
Glen Powell
Sydney Sweeney
That's by no means an exhaustive list, but if you're trying to package your project, you want one of these people on it.
The bottom line is, the idea of the classic "movie star" is changing, not disappearing. Success is now less about solely carrying a movie on star power alone, and more about the right combination of talent, a compelling character or project, and connection with the audience.
We need stars to support the ecosystem in Hollywood, so I hope we can find new ways to help achieve box office success for the next generation.