Actors often say they desire to by a director, except the majority don't live up to this ambition. Instead they start a screenplay and never complete it. Some stars have come round to directing after their acting peak (Robert De Niro, Tommy Lee Jones and Dustin Hoffman) and the odd one managed the full transition from actor to director (George Clooney and Ralph Fiennes).
The newest trend now though, is being the writer, director and actor. The most recent one being the film Don Jon, which is an indie romcom. Joseph Gordon-Levitt wrote and directed this film as well as playing the title role. He has also starred in the films 50/50, Looper and Premium Rush. Other actors who have gone along this line were Ryan Gosling and James Franco. Although, James Franco has completed at least 12 features as a writer-director-star and he still has plenty more to go.
This trend could possibly revolutionise the movie industry. As rising stars whilst acting, writing and directing, they are currently 'pin-ups' and very much respected by critics. They are following in the footsteps of Johnny Depp, Will Smith and Tom Cruise by making a film their own.
Gordon-Levitt's film, Don Jon, is seen as "engaging". Although it is "rough at the edges", due to it being made on a low budget.
Actors find writing and directing as a relief from acting non-stop, as well as taking part in other creative activities such as photography and studying. All three actors prefer to have an interesting job role, rather than a 'mainstream' movie that isn't going to give them any benefits.
Gordon-Levitt believes the entertainment industry is collapsing, due to anyone being able to make anything and post it on the internet. Before we know it, it's viral. "The way it's going, there's going to be artists, and they'll make their shit, and they'll connect to their audience, and you don't need any of the middlemen – the studios or the agents." With this concept, he has set up hitRECord, an online production company, through investing £313,000 of his personal money.
"The concept is that anyone can upload creative work to the site, whether it's a poem, drawing or snippet of music. Other hitRECord users can then tinker with it. "Everyone on the site," says Gordon-Levitt on the introductory video, "has permission to remix everyone else's stuff, so whatever you put up here, get ready to have it downloaded, sampled, built upon, refined, revised." The result may become part of a book, record or concert, and the profits are split between the contributors and the company. Don Jon is credited as a hitRECord production, and a televised hitRECord variety show is in the offing."
These celebrities are moving the film industry into a new diverse and independent era.
References:http://www.theguardian.com/film/2013/nov/10/rise-pinup-director-don-jon
CATEGORY: MEDIA and FILM and TECHNOLOGY
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