The Star System

One of the most important aspects of the studio system was the star system. The star system is when a studio uses the popularity of a star as the primary force to get people to see movies. Stars would be in several movies in a row and became some of the most remembered figures of their time.

Unlike today’s times, where actors often surprise audiences with their versatility, in the early 20^th century actors would always fit a similar role. Movies and characters would often be rewritten just so a specific actor could fulfill his or her typecast. Studios presumed that they knew what audiences wanted from specific people and would not allow those actors to veer from that idea.

An example of how the star system has moved into modern times is the career of actor Will Ferrell. When you go to watch a Will Ferrell movie, you know it’s going to have at least some goofy comedy in it. Even one of his more serious movies, Stranger Than Fiction, still featured some over the top comedic moments from Ferrell. When Will Ferrell’s name is on a movie it is often assumed that he is solely responsible for whether the film is successful or not, showing the huge power one star can have over audiences and studios.