How the intrepid Tony Hewson and two other hopeful cyclists set off to conquer the European racing scene in an old, converted ex-WD ambulance. Variously mistaken for gypsies, terrorists, undertakers, these were our original cash-starved, have-a-go pioneers, who inspired a generation of would-be stars to cross the Channel.
Acclaimed actor and rap artist Will Smith has achieved a level of Hollywood fame rarely attained by a Black celebrity. Early in his career, Smith aspired to be the world's most famous movie star and being named the world's top film attraction in 2008, fulfilled his goal. While his rise to a place of worldwide prominence and cultural relevance has made him iconic, his accomplishments have not received the full and thorough acknowledgement and analysis they merit. This is the first full-length critical look at the significance of Will Smith's achievements over a more than 30-year career. Many of his films have broken cultural norms by depicting Black men in groundbreaking social settings, like the role of the world-saving hero in his most popular films. In addition to analyzing Smith's filmography, this work contextualizes other popular and common portrayals of Black men in media and society. Finally, this book examines Smith's work in his middle age, ruminating on his ability to adapt to the realities of a new Hollywood.
Kyley Winfield grew up in a broken home, his father was absent and his mother suffered from her own demons. Troubled and miserable, Kyley found happiness in music and taught himself how to play instruments in the dark corner of his room. Once he joined a band, his rise to fame began and, as they say, the rest is history. But the spotlight wasn't all that he thought it was ...
Fame tracks the inner world of celebrities from TV, film, music, and sports to find out what it takes psychologically to achieve stardom, outlining their common traits and backgrounds.
Driven by a shared dream of stardom, Izvy and Liam forge a powerful musical bond. Liam, Izvy's unwavering supporter, helps him navigate the complexities of navigating the music industry while grappling with insecurities about his sexuality. Together, alongside Liam's girlfriend, they create Velvet Concord, a band that becomes Izvy's chance to prove himself. Velvet Concord experiences the exhilarating highs and crushing lows of the music industry, ultimately forcing Izvy to define what success truly means. But the intoxicating allure of fame soon takes hold. As Izvy's ego inflates, he prioritizes chasing stardom over the friendships that got him there. Through a series of triumphs and heartbreaks, Izvy learns a harsh lesson about what truly matters. This is a story of ambition, friendship, and the price of fame, set against the backdrop of the unforgiving music business.
Horror has found a resurgence on television in the post-millennial years. This book will investigate the changing and challenging roles that gender has undergone in TV horror, examining a range of shows, including Hannibal, American Horror Story, The Walking Dead, Penny Dreadful, Supernatural, The Exorcist, iZombie, and Bates Motel.
Since the golden era of silent movies, stars have been described as screen gods, goddesses and idols. This is the story of how Olympus moved to Hollywood to divinise stars as Apollos and Venuses for the modern age, and defined a model of stardom that is still with us today.
HOW DO I MAKE IT BIG ON SOCIAL MEDIA? WHAT IS MY STORY—AND WHO IS MY AUDIENCE? WHAT CONTENT SHOULD I POST TO ACHIEVE #SUCCESS? HOW DO I GO VIRAL...OR HOW LONG WILL IT TAKE ME TO GET NOTICED? Selfie Made is a one-of-a-kind guide to creating a digital identity, finding an audience, and building a powerful brand—your own!—on the Internet. Whether you want to be in front of or behind the camera, produce click-worthy content or start your own business, this book is the place to begin. Written by Meridith Valiando Rojas, the hugely successful (and super friendly IRL) founder of DigiTour who has worked with every major star from YouTube to Musical.ly, this collection of personal anecdotes and professional advice, tricks of the trade and behind-the-screen secrets, will give you everything you need for your social media toolkit. Here, you’ll get to know the true stories behind some of today’s most successful multimedia stars and influencers, including: Max And Harvey - Blake Gray - Danielle Cohn Bryce Xavier - Lauren Godwin - Nathan Triska Trevor Moran - Messy Monday - Simon Britton ...and others who learned the ropes, beat the odds, and took social media by storm. And so can you!
Los Angeles is an ideal city for film noir for both economic and aesthetic reasons. The largest metropolitan area in the country, home to an ever-changing population of the disillusioned and in close proximity to city, mountains, ocean, and desert, the City of Angels became a center of American film noir. This detailed discussion of nine films explores such topics as why certain settings are appropriate for film noir, why L.A. has been a favorite of authors such as Raymond Chandler, and relevant political developments in the area. The films are also examined in terms of story content as well as how they developed in the project stage. Utilizing a number of quotes from interviews, the work examines actors, directors, and others involved with the films, touching on their careers and details of their time in L.A. The major films covered are The Big Sleep, Criss Cross, D.O.A., In A Lonely Place, The Blue Gardenia, Kiss Me Deadly, The Killing, Chinatown, and L.A. Confidential.
As the leading fan magazine in the postwar era, Photoplay constructed female stars as social types who embodied a romantic and leisured California lifestyle. Addressing working- and lower-middle-class readers who were prospering in the first mass consumption society, the magazine published not only publicity stories but also beauty secrets, fashion layouts, interior design tips, recipes, advice columns, and vacation guides. Postwar femininity was constructed in terms of access to commodities in suburban houses as the site of family togetherness. As the decade progressed, however, changing social mores regarding female identity and behavior eroded the relationship between idolized stars and worshipful fans. When the magazine adopted tabloid conventions to report sex scandals like the Debbie-Eddie-Liz affair, stars were demystified and fans became scandalmongers. But the construction of female identity based on goods and performance that resulted in unstable, fragmented selves remains a legacy evident in postmodern culture today.
