carlos777alberto

You’ve seen all the pictures, heard all the paparazzi stories, seen an endless barrage of photos of celebs posing in front of and endless array of sponsored step-and-repeat red carpet backdrops. But have you ever wondered about the actual business of being a celebrity? Well, “Starstruck: The Business of Celebrity”, is a book that takes you behind the scenes of the real business of celebrification (yes, we made that word up) revealing what matters to whom and why. Did you know there is a rating system for determining celebrity “heat’? Do you know the difference between the A-listers (Tom Cruise, Angelina Jolie) and the residual celebs (Paris Hilton, Carmen Electra), those who have to work at being famous rather than letting their onscreen work speak for itself. Does it sometimes all seem a bit circular? From editors to airmiles, Currid-Halkett (an associate professor at USC) takes the wraps off the real world of the celebrity business – sometimes in a very data driven fashion – showing how it is much less spontaneous and more cut-throat than it might appear from a random glance at the supermarket tabloids. In its 310 pages “Starstruck” explores all the nitty-gritty; from the role of the publicist (some who make a reported twenty grand a month per client) to the studios to event planners to the ultimate lifeblood of the media itself, every aspect of the power struggle is exposed. Techniques like the “write-around” (when a journalist can’t get a direct interview), the L.A. vs. NY thing (stay away from Vegas, baby) to the often uncontrollable world of social networks and the internet are discussed in an intelligent, cohesive manner that sheds light on the various factors pushing and pulling the fast-paced world of celebrity media. Although the book primarily covers the here and now, it also looks back on the recent past where publicists held sway over who would get an interview and what the rules of engagement would be. (The Pat Kinsley/Tom Cruise relationship being a prime example of who gets access and who does not.) In the final analysis, “Starstruck” is a look behind the curtain of the trials and tribulations of the business of the beautiful people, where despite the spotlight, flash bulbs and glamour on the outside, the side you don’t see is not always a pretty sight.

2022-12-17 12:35