Neverending nepotism in Hollywood?

[Too Much Garlic]

I've always thought big stars should be more willing to take smaller supporting roles in other movies. It's cool when the movie is good. Top stars usually don't do it (during their peak years) because they fear it will damage their status/pay grade. But I think that fear is kind of overblown. It usually won't damage their career unless the movie is crap, and the big star's name gets used all over the marketing to sell it.

There may also be the fear that a viewer seeing a star in a smaller supporting role may take them out of the experience.

 

[batguy]

There may also be the fear that a viewer seeing a star in a smaller supporting role may take them out of the experience.

Yeah that's a factor.

 

[Riceball]

Also, why do we want to keep seeing the same actors over and over in different roles? Yes, we like good actors for their abilities and feel that it's more likely a project will be good if they're involved, but it also kind of ruins the suspension of disbelief seeing the same people over and over. Shouldn't we want to see new people whom we don't have any preconceived notions about? Or do we just like that certain recognizable people can "trick" us (for lack of a better term) into making us believe they're a different character?

I guess some of these things are just human nature, wanting to like and be liked based on shared experiences and such. Lately, I've been thinking about lot about why we do things, our motivations, and basically how everything we do is driven by our animal impulses. Wanting to be liked and going along with trends is herd mentality - in nature, animals are safer as part of a group. Even things like why we like shiny things - Christmas-type lights, a shiny car, etc - and found that, while no one knows for sure, the prevailing opinion is that we're attracted to shiny things because of shiny things in nature that humans need, like water. Or, a brightly colored, shiny piece of fruit - I assume the bright color and shine are usually denoting ripeness.

It's because of human nature that we like and, for the most part, crave the familiar. We see someone on screen, the radio, the stage that we liked and enjoyed, we naturally want to see more. Then the execs in charge recognize that and give us more of them because they know that it sells, which makes them money and making money, after all, is the name of the game. This has probably been going since the first entertainers came about, people in Medieval and Renaissance Europe probably had their favorite minstresls, trubedours, and actors that they loved to see over and over again. Even before then, back in the time of the Roman Empire, gladiators and gladiatorial games were a huge thing, and people had their favorites that they loved seeing fight in the arena time and time again. So wanting to see your favorite actors over and over again is just an extension of that and is nothing new.

 

[Captain Dunsel]

It's because of human nature that we like and, for the most part, crave the familiar. We see someone on screen, the radio, the stage that we liked and enjoyed, we naturally want to see more. Then the execs in charge recognize that and give us more of them because they know that it sells, which makes them money and making money, after all, is the name of the game.

Does this explain Pedro Pacal??

The man is in everything…I think he’s even playing the part of my neighborhood mail man…

 

[Riceball]

One thing to consider about nepotism/being a nepo baby is the expectations placed upon you. Sure, having famous parents gets your foot in the door but once your foot in the door you have to perform and the expectation is often that you perform to the same level as your famour parent(s). An example of this, not acting or even directly nepotism related, but following in your famous parent's footsepts is the son of famous Marine Corps General Chesty Puller. Chesty was and still is a very famous person in the Marine Corps. right up there with R. Lee Ermey and is loved and revered by Marines. His son, once he got old enough, went and followed in his Dad's footsteps and became a Marine himself. This was during the '60s so he got shipped off to Vietnam, where he eventually lost his legs. After coming home, not being able to continue his Marine Corps career, and probably disappointed in himself because he couldn't live up to the reputation of his famous father, he committed suicide. So, sometimes being a neop baby or simply following in your parents' footsteps can add extra pressure that someone who has no prior connections to the industry might have.

 

[batguy]

One thing to consider about nepotism/being a nepo baby is the expectations placed upon you. Sure, having famous parents gets your foot in the door but once your foot in the door you have to perform and the expectation is often that you perform to the same level as your famour parent(s). An example of this, not acting or even directly nepotism related, but following in your famous parent's footsepts is the son of famous Marine Corps General Chesty Puller. Chesty was and still is a very famous person in the Marine Corps. right up there with R. Lee Ermey and is loved and revered by Marines. His son, once he got old enough, went and followed in his Dad's footsteps and became a Marine himself. This was during the '60s so he got shipped off to Vietnam, where he eventually lost his legs. After coming home, not being able to continue his Marine Corps career, and probably disappointed in himself because he couldn't live up to the reputation of his famous father, he committed suicide. So, sometimes being a neop baby or simply following in your parents' footsteps can add extra pressure that someone who has no prior connections to the industry might have.

Yeah it's definitely a double-edged thing.

But the downside is mainly after you have already gotten your big shot(s). Most people never get that far. Hence the jealousy/resentment.