How Decide A-List Star: A-list star does not just mean that if an actor is popular then he is a list star. In the film industry, this A-list star is called the one whose presence has a big impact on the earnings, people's interest and market value of a project. Crores of followers on social media, a big hit or an award can definitely make an artist famous. But A-list stardom is much bigger than that. This includes many aspects like box office, producer's trust, opening power, brand value, international recognition and track record of consecutive hit films. The most important thing is that there is no official post of A-list which is given to the artists. Let us understand this in detail.
How did the term A-list originate?
The roots of the term A-list are believed to be linked to Hollywood's old studio system. In the middle of the 20th century, people associated with studios and casting used to make lists of those artists who were most expected to do films. In these lists, artists were kept in different categories and the names of A-list came at the top. With time this word became popular in the entire film industry. Today it is used for an artist whose name in itself has the power to sell a film.
Not just popularity, bankability is also a parameter
The most important identity of an A-list star is bankability. In simple words, it means that as soon as the name of an actor or actress is associated with a film, producers, investors and distributors view that project with more confidence. If because of a star it becomes easier for the film to earn money. Not only this, if it is released on a large scale and there is already excitement among the people, then its market value is considered strong. Along with Hollywood names like Tom Cruise, Leonardo DiCaprio and Dwayne Johnson, Shahrukh Khan, Salman Khan and Rajinikanth are counted in the category of A-list stars in Indian cinema.
Who decides whether a star is A-list?
The biggest question here is who takes this decision. The answer is not any one person or organization. Film producers, studios, investors, distributors, theater owners, casting agencies, trade analysts and above all people's behavior together decide the market value of a star. Award giving organizations may honor acting or achievements, but they do not officially declare anyone an A-list star. Therefore, the A-List is decided on a commercial and market basis, and not on any government or award related certificate.
How is star value understood from the Ulmer scale?
Journalist and expert James Ulmer's Ulmer scale has been popular to understand the market value of an actor in Hollywood. According to the given data, this scale tracks the data of more than 1,400 actors and the artists are seen in categories like A+, A, B+, B, C and D. In this, not only popularity but also aspects like track record, recent box office value, global distribution value, acting skills and professional attitude are taken into consideration. However, this should not be considered an official rule of the entire industry. This is a famous formula to see the commercial power of a star.
Why are distributors and theater owners important?
The real market value of a star is determined even before the release of the film. Distributors see how much risk is involved in buying the rights of that actor's film. If distributors are ready to pay higher prices in the name of an artist and release the film on a larger scale, then it can be considered to have strong market value. Theater owners also see which star's film can attract the audience on the first day. This is called opening power. If not only the trailer of an actor's film but also his name starts selling tickets, then he can be called a list star.
Advance booking and opening power are also important
The clearest indication of an A-list star's power is seen in the opening earnings of his films. If a film is getting great advance bookings just in the name of the star, despite not having a big song or a very popular trailer, then it shows its star power. The film's huge earnings in the first weekend can also be a sign of confidence in the market value. This does not mean that every film of every A-list star will be a hit. Rather, the thing is that his presence can give a start to the film in the beginning.
Why does stardom persist even after a flop film?
The specialty of an A-list star is that his market value does not reduce even after one or two flop films. The big star's record of previous films, fan base and initial demand give him some security. On the contrary, an actor with less popular or low market value may face difficulty in getting further work after consecutive flop films. This commercial security is an important part of A-list stardom. Nevertheless, continuous flop films can affect any actor, hence this security is not permanent.
International recognition also makes a big star
Today stardom is not limited to just one country or one language. The artist whose films bring people to theaters in different countries. Its international value increases. Just like Shahrukh Khan's films are seen abroad and Tom Cruise's films are still seen in many countries, people recognize him in more countries. This means that the identity of an A-list star is not limited to his own country only. The selling power of a film in different markets also determines its value.
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