There are countless mediums that artists use to complete their work, from paint to marble to wood to urinals (thanks, Duchamp), but for us filmmakers, our medium is light. However, there are fewer filmmakers that know how to control light than there are ones that know how to use a camera, which is why this video by Jay P. Morgan of The Slanted Lens is so helpful. In it you'll learn the basic "laws of light" (particularly for lighting spheres), like light/shadow ratios, types and qualities of light, as well as how to create dimension and separation.
This video is incredibly helpful to learn basic terminology of light, like "highlight", "cast shadow", and light "quality" (which has nothing to do with the caliber or value of your light, by the way), but it's also great as a demonstration to show you how to practice lighting a subject. Now, clearly a majority of us practice our craft most when we're out in the field shooting/lighting a film project, but setting up a practice stage like Morgan did with a sphere and white background can help us focus on specific elements and behaviors of the light we're using.
When you're new and lighting a scene for a project, it might be difficult to wrap your head around what the light is doing. Sure, you might be able to shape and control it to a certain degree—using diffusers to even and soften light and flags to reduce spill—but I've found that practicing and experimenting with smaller setups can actually teach you things about how light works and what it does that at least I know I have missed while lighting scenes with hundreds of elements in them. (Basically what I'm trying to say is that it's easier to understand how light interacts with one subject than many.)
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.