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.
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.
In her newest well-tuned, witty, and altogether wonderful novel, bestselling author Elinor Lipman dares to ask: Can an upper-middle-class doctor find love with a shady, fast-talking salesman? Meet Alice Thrift, surgical intern in a Boston hospital, high of I.Q. but low in social graces. She doesn’t mean to be acerbic, clinical, or blunt, but where was she the day they taught Bedside Manner 101? Into Alice’s workaholic and wallflower life comes Ray Russo, a slick traveling fudge salesman in search of a nose job and well-heeled companionship, but not necessarily in that order. Is he a conman or a sincere suitor? Good guy or bad? Alice’s parents, roommate, and best friend Sylvie are appalled at her choice of mate. Despite her doubts, Alice finds herself walking down the aisle, not so much won over as worn down. Will their marriage last the honeymoon? Only if Alice’s best instincts can triumph over Ray’s unsavory ways.
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.
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.
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.
Challenging conventional wisdom on a range of issues, Todd Boyd examines the debates over use of the "N-word" and the "get money" ethos of hip hop moguls like Sean "P. Diddy" Combs. He also looks at hip hop's impact on a diverse array of figures, from Bill Clinton and Eminem to Jennifer Lopez.
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!
A biography of actress Natalie Wood, discussing her long career which began as a child, and looking at her life behind the screen, covering her youth, family, marriages, and mysterious drowning.
Moms who impersonate their daughters on JDate. Moms who try to set their daughters up with celebrities. Moms who can't stop taking selfies with their dogs. Moms who make their daughters' beds while their daughters are still sleeping in the other half. This collection of 28 essays is a heartfelt, hilarious tribute to mom and daughterhood, exploring the often complex, colorful and (at times) claustrophobic relationship. The Jewish Daughter Diaries features stories from some of the most compelling Jewish female voices today, who sound off on what it is like to be loved and adored by a modern-day Jewish mom. Mayim Bialik: "My mother met my bewilderment with a sympathetic glance and a modest recounting of my assets as she saw them.... if Barbra Streisand could be so famous and amazing and wonderful with her nose, why should mine be any problem?" lliza Shlesinger: "I knew my mom was special because once I asked her, "If a witch turned me into a bug, what would you do? Without missing a beat, she said, "I'd put you in my pocket to keep you with me always." Also featuring: Lauren Greenberg, Sari Botton, Abby Sher, Kerry Cohen, Meredith Hoffa, Anna Breslaw, Chaya Kurtz, Iris Bahr, Jena Friedman, Rachel Shukert, Leonara Ariella Nonni Epstein, Jenny Jaffe, Lauren Yapalater, Rebecca Drysdale, Emmy Blotnik, Arianna Stern, Almie Rose, Nadine Friedman, Deb Margolin, Gaby Dunn, Wendy Liebman, Mireille Silcoff, Dylan Joffe, and Mara Altman. The stories in this collection will make you laugh, cry, panic—and finally, pick up the phone. For anyone who has ever been overloved, overprotected or overmothered, this collection will feel like home.