Question: How many actors does it take to change a light bulb?

Answer: 2231. That’s one actor to change the light bulb and 2230 to stand at the bottom of the ladder bitterly lamenting, ‘That should have been me up there.’

The basic concept of the star-driven box-office hit is clearly coming progressively under threat. The reasons are various and many, though the wane at the top end can be largely attributed to the huge mega-budget spectacle of the studio flagship special effects films that appeal to global audiences and now dominate the worldwide box office. Movies such as Avatar, Transformers, 2012, Star Trek et al don’t have pricey stars, because the films themselves are the pricey stars. This is a trend that looks set to stay with us. Continue…