New Hollywood Celebrity

New Hollywood Celebrity
New Hollywood Celebrity
New Hollywood Celebrity

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New Hollywood Celebrity

Common Qualities of Hollywood's Top Actors and Actresses

When it comes to the acting profession, many aspiring actors and actresses spend decades pursuing dreams of fame and fortune. For the vast majority of performers, that opportunity will never come; thousands of people struggle for years without achieving any level of fame. The requirements for success in Hollywood are simple, but many performers never reach the highest echelons of the acting profession. Most of the top stars in Hollywood are beautiful and talented and possess a strong stage presence. At the very least, the most successful performers fall into two of the aforementioned categories.

One of the most important traits successful performers share is a striking appearance. Performers that make an impression on viewers usually have a memorable face or body. Plain people rarely make a splash on the big screen, mostly because they don't stand out in viewers' memories. Not all stars are attractive, of course. Many of Hollywood's top stars have a standout feature, an unusual face, or a particularly large or small frame. Although John Goodman does not look like most leading men, he is well known for his large size and dramatic facial features. Rachel Dratch is another prime example. The "Saturday Night Live" star has landed roles in numerous big-name movies, despite the fact that she is not classically attractive. Her unique face-not to mention her outstanding comedic talent-set her apart from the crowd.

When it comes to leading ladies, however, beauty is a distinct asset. Most of Hollywood's most successful actresses are dramatically beautiful in a way that makes them stand out. Angelina Jolie, Jennifer Aniston, and Jessica Alba are shining examples of women whose beauty plays a big factor in their appeal. These three women regularly make it onto most beautiful lists, magazine covers, talk shows, and gossip websites. The same holds true for leading men. Hugh Jackman, Bradley Cooper, and Ryan Reynolds get just as much attention for their appearances as they do for their acting abilities. In many cases, actors' looks are more important than their talent. Many viewers look to television and movies for an escape from reality, and beautiful performers help feed the fantasy.

One of the most obvious common traits for successful Hollywood performers is the ability to act. Talent is important for any actor or actress, and even more so for people who do not fall into the stereotypical definition of beauty. A great performer has immediate appeal, no matter what he or she looks like. Actresses like Meryl Streep and Helen Mirren are known more for their stellar acting abilities than for their beauty. Tom Hanks and Christopher Walken are in the same position. They do not fall into the traditional definition of stunningly attractive leading men, but their acting abilities outstrip the talents of their more handsome peers.

Contrary to popular belief, acting is not the most important common trait among Hollywood's biggest stars. Many popular actresses and actors who have been criticized for their acting abilities still continue to get regular job offers. In those cases, beauty and likeability play a big role. Audience approval is an important factor in casting. A performer who looks great on screen and gets a positive reaction from fans can be successful regardless of his or her acting abilities.

An actor or actress who is both beautiful and talented will not make it as a star in Hollywood without an important trait: stage presence. This intangible trait is nearly impossible to teach, but is crucial for a performer. It allows a person to pop on screen and look good in front of the cameras. It is possible for an actor or actress to improve on some of the factors that go into a strong presence, such as sparkling eyes, confident physical movements, and a lively sense of energy. When it comes to film and television actors, stage presence is often measured by a screen test. The actor is placed in front of the camera so the director can tell if he or she comes to life on screen or fades into the background. A strong stage presence is perhaps the most crucial trait shared by the top actors and actresses in Hollywood. Without it, performances would not be pleasant to watch on screen and viewers would soon lose

Networking in Hollywood

So you want to work in the film industry? It's not all showing up on set, drinking coffee and chatting with mega stars. Producers and people that want to hire you seem to settle on a 50/50 ratio in what they look for; "Can you do your job well" and "Do I like you?"

Allow me to elaborate.

Let's say that you want to be a cinematographer, you know that you need to start at the bottom, as a grip or electric. You need to know the skills associated with that job, how to wrap cable, the proper way to set up a C-stand, the difference between a single and double scrim, and a million other things (you'll learn more as you work, don't worry). The point is that you need to be competent, and smart enough to learn the things you don't know. The other side of the coin is that you need to be easy to work with. If you're a likable, helpful, and an upbeat person, you're good to go. If you're a dick, lazy, and complain all the time, you won't be working much, unless your uncle is Steven Spielberg. In which case, you don't need to read further, also email me, because I have a great script that he NEEDS to read (every one in Hollywood has a script, don't pester people with).

You need to have a 50/50 mix of these aspects. If you're great at your job, but no one wants to work with you, you probably won't get brought onto the next project. Flip side, if you're super nice, but completely useless on set, and don't know the difference between a 5K and a sheet of CTO, you also won't be hired often. Granted, if you are new to the business, no one expects you to know everything.

The way these experience are passed along from project to project is through the most important aspect of film making. Networking. Crew on sets love to talk. When you aren't around, you'll be evaluated, talked about, and ultimately decided on. Especially when you're the new guy.

You don't have to make friends with every one you work with, that actually might get annoying. But you do want to cultivate professional relationships. Keep a good attitude, DO NOT COMPLAIN, don't talk trash about people, and don't talk bad about the production. Always keep up with the work, and be proactive, even if you don't think any one is watching. You will be noticed, no matter what kind of impression you make, be it positive or negative.

My success came from networking, and not even my own. Because when you get plugged into a network of good people, you are plugged into their networks! Great example, I am fortunate to come from a film family, my father has a vast network that I was able to take advantage of.

He recommended me to his friend, who needed a very specific position filled at his visual effects production company. My resume fit with what the general manager was looking for, and I was hired. No interviews, no meetings, I cut a vacation short to start on a Sunday. Proving that I was willing to bust my hump for the company. Three months later, I'm being trained on a cutting edge film making technology that only a hand full of people are even