Worst case of nepotism in Hollywood?

Jaden Smith

Nicholas Cage

Jaden Smith, ahoy! Anyone who's seen "After Earth" would understand fully.

OP--are you a frustrated actor? Do you like to tell yourself you didn't succeed because other people had an unfair advantage?

Jaden ruined the remake of The Day the Earth Stood Still. The little shit.

Cage annoys me because you could pick people randomly off the street and 90% of the time get a better performance. And yet he keeps getting work.

Annette Bening. Terrible actress who is consistently the worst part of any picture she does. But she keeps getting work because for some unknown reason, Hollywood feels they must kiss her husbands ass.

[quote]Cage annoys me because you could pick people randomly off the street and 90% of the time get a better performance. And yet he keeps getting work.

Maybe, but no thanks to uncle Francis, who can barely get a movie financed these days.

Outdoing all the "I'm 60 but look 24 years old" bitches on DL, the Joan Crawford appearance on 'The Secret Storm', proving Mommie was not always good with soaps.

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There are lots of egregious cases of nepotism in Hollywood--some of them I don't mind so much because the person who benefits is decently talented. I don't think anyone has minded Leslie Mann getting good roles in Judd Apatow's films (she is a decent comic actress), or when Mia Farrow got such great roles in Woody Allen's films when they were together (since she is an excellent actress).

The problem is when you get a terrible or charisma-free actor getting good parts because of their relation to the director or movie star behind the film: Barbara Bosson always getting great roles in Stephen Bochco's TV series and the talentless Sherri Moon Zombie always getting the female lead in Rob Zombie's films.

Probably the 2 worst examples I can think of are Sofia Coppola in "Godfather 3" and Jaden Smith in "After earth." In both instances, the father winded up holding up the child to popular ridicule because it was so obvious the child did not have the talent or charisma required to carry off the role.

Back in the day Nic Cage could indeed act if he had a director who could rein him in, and also had a first-class body. So I actually like him very much in films where he gets to be sexy and controls his hamminess (such as "Red Rock West"--God, his ass back then in tight jeans!-- or "Moonstruck").

The trouble is that he got fat as he got older and started becoming a caricature of himself in terms of the scenery chewing.

Lea Dunham.

Of course I won't come up here, because everyone knows I made it through my dazzling looks and acting talent.

Jason Reitman and the Landis kid

Mamie

Jaden Smith has no equal, but Tori Spelling and Luke Russert are a close second and third.

Nobody beats Jaden Smith at this game

[quote]The problem is when you get a terrible or charisma-free actor getting good parts because of their relation to the director or movie star behind the film: Barbara Bosson always getting great roles in Stephen Bochco's TV series and the talentless Sherri Moon Zombie always getting the female lead in Rob Zombie's films.

The patron saint of all these ladies is Sheila Mathews (Who?! Exactly). She was married to disaster-film director Irwin Allen. So the next time you watch "The Towering Inferno", and you say to yourself, "who is this zaftig extra in the hot pink gown and big blonde bouffant, and why does she get to stand next to Dunaway and Holden and McQueen during all the big dramatic moments?"--well, now you have the answer.

Another big case: Lorraine Gary, the wife of entertainment executive Sidney Sheinberg, who got good roles in the Jaws movies and 1941 because her husband discovered Steven Spielberg.

R7, Annette was an Oscar nominated actress before hooking up with Beatty and most of her success came after Beatty became completely irrelevant in Hollywood.

You might think she's terrible, but her success isn't because of Warren. If anything, since she missed the prime years for an actress because of pregnancy, he hindered her career.

Tori Spelling..if she did not have that Jewish last name, she would be working at GoldenArches or with that face, collecting unemployment.

Not one mention of no-talent right wing asshole Melissa Rivers?

Does the "Today" show count?

Sam Robards, son of Jason Robards & (I think) Lauren Bacall

R13 has it. What a mess that thing is. Of course, her parents aren't in show business, but their "art" - dad's sex crap and the mother's sicko doll photos - make some sense of their anxiety-riddles, OCD-diagnosed mess of a gal.

Although she is talented, right? Right?

Leslie Mann owns this thread.

Scott Caan

Zoe Kravitz

How quickly we forget

jessica capshaw

All of these are true!

Lucy Arnez and Desi Arnez Jr.

I didn't get any help when *I* came to Hollywood.

Angelina Jolie

Jennifer Aniston

Miley Cyrus

GOOP

Shit, R32...I was going to mention those two!

But it's Arnaz, not Arnez

R33: Yes, just a little Georgie...from Dad Nick & Auntie Rosemary.

Anyone think that twatty Paris Hilton got whatever celebri-douche status she has, from her Daddy's money?

Bobby Brown; he'd be as over as the rest of New Edition if it weren't for Whitney.

R39: well, isn't he over?

Enrique Iglesias thinks he's made it solely on the basis of his stellar singing talents. Uh-huh.

Jane Fonda and Drew Barrymore. Period.

Norma Shearer

A lot of these people are deeply talented.

r40 True; I guess I meant to say he would've been over much earlier (like in the late-80s) if not for Whitney

Another vote for Drew Barrymore. That lisp is so distracting.

R44 = Tallulah Willis

Hard to say who is the worst BUT I can point out two that annoy the sh*t out of most people:

WILL SMITH'S kids and ALL of FRANCIS FORD COPPOLA'S relatives !!

Whoever that ugly incompetent bitch was who magically got the female lead in Magic Mike because her Daddy ran the studio.

Jaden Smith owns this thread.

r49 It boggles my mind that THOSE WERE THE GOOD TAKES. No wonder Soderbergh retired. Can you imagine having to see that thing do 4 or 5 takes? I honestly can't think of a worse performance in a good film in the last 5 years.

Any Kardashian and Kelly Osborne

Gwyneth Paltrow

Kate Hudson

Luke Russert

Washington DC: It's Hollywood for ugly people.

Kristen Stewart. She has one speed: bored.

The rise and almost immediate fall of the Gummer Sisters.

Jaden Smith.

No more calls! We have a winner!

Melissa Rivers

The fact that we even know the name B. D. Hyman is disgusting.

Lorenzo Lamas

Jason Gould

Chaz, nee Chastity, Bono

Bristol Palin

Jake Gyllenhall

julie chan

Annette is a gifted actress who was on Broadway long before she ever met Warren.

I am in casting and I have to say the most persistent over nepotistic push I have EVER scene has been done on behalf of Meryl's girls.

This happens all the time but her kids just don't have the goods.

These two very nice lovely but not very talented girls are represented by CAA who push them with mafia like intimidation.

And it works. These girls would never get into my office based on their own merits.

Kiefer.

Nicolas Cage, Jason Schwartzmann

Mame Gummer

Enrique Iglesias hair.

Someone probably named her before me, but for me the winner is Sofia Coppola who destroyed the already heavily flawed The Godfather part III with her shitty acting. I'm also not crazy about her directorial efforts. The only thing she ever made that I liked was Marie Antoinette, but that's probably because I'm a sucker for 1980's tunes.

nick kroll

Jake Gyllenhaal. Quite series of failed attempts to make him happen. They tried so hard to make him badass and edgy. I don't mind his sister though.

I liked Inventing the Abbotts, which Sofia directed. But what's not to like with Billy Crudup and Joanna Going? And Joaq, if you like Joaq?

Sofia Coppola in Godfather 3 is an embarrassment to everyone who thought it was ok to hire her.

I love Jake. He makes me believe nepotism is sometimes a good thing.

R30 Really? I am one of the few people who still watch Grey's Anatomy and Jessica has easily been one of the best things about it for the last few years.

R74 She was only in Godfather 3 because Winona Ryder got sick and they needed a last minute replacement.

Funny, all these mentions of Jaden Smith but not Willow. Or she not count as Hollywood because she's more of a singer?

Would it be racist of me to say that that girl is butt ugly? She looks like an in-drag version of her dad as a child.

Agreed, R76. I really like Arizona. Callie, too.

Alison Williams

r73 Sofia Coppola had nothing to do with Inventing the Abbotts.

I think the movie you mean is the Virgin Suicides, starring Kirsten Dunst, Josh Hartnett and Kathleen Turner. Sofia wrote and directed that movie which came out in 1999. I liked it a lot.

While I've never been impressed by Sofia's acting, I have enjoyed her directing. She also did Lost in Translation, Marie Antoinette and the Bling Ring.

Nicolas Cage, Angelina Jolie, the Smith kids, George Clooney, Sofia Coppola

Annette Bening deserved her GG for The Kids Are All Right, she was amazing in that one. Goop is a very fine actress, but I am sure being god daughter to Spielberg doesn't hurt.

And Sofia was the only available "actress" willing to or interested in working with Coppola?? He hadn't seen any other actresses auditioning for the part?? Come on!

"Funny, all these mentions of Jaden Smith but not Willow. Or she not count as Hollywood because she's more of a singer?"

She isn't being handed leading roles in Major Motion Pictures, unlike her no-talent brother. Okay, they tried to put in the "Annie" remake but that fell through; they said she turned it down but she was more likely fired.

I can't imagine what life is like for those kids; two narcissistic egomaniac Hollywood parents who expect the kids to be movie stars. I know what narcissistic parents are like, in private those kids are probably being told they're useless and unworthy, because they're not box-office champions.

Don't blame Sofia Coppola for "Godfather 3". Her father pushed her into the role when Ryder fell out; maybe he was so far up his own ass that he thought he could direct an untrained person to a great performance, or maybe he just wanted someone who'd do what she was told.

Nepotism may have helped Sofia's career as a director, but she did quit acting rather than behave like a Gummer sister.

R84 I think you are imaging what their lives are like.

Thank you, Francis R81. I wonder why I thought that.

*imagining

MacKenzie Phillips - and talk about biting the hand that fucked you!

The weirdest thing about Sofia Coppola's casting in TGIII is that there was no protest from the studio about it. The story goes that she was taking a shower when she received a call from her dad and two hours later she was already filming on the set. But aren't screen tests for such huge productions almost mandatory? Even Brando had to take one before being cast as Don Corleone. Maybe Coppola was such a big name back then that no one dared to doubt in him?

Come to think of it, the Coppola family functioned a lot like the Corleone family-once they had their man on the right position (Francis) he gave jobs to his dad, his sister, his daughter, his son, his sister's brats, his nephew Nicolas...All members of his dynasty were one-hit wonders (Talia Shire and Nicolas Cage faded pretty quickly, and Sophia hasn't had a hit movie in years) and were averagly talented at their best. I'm sure anyone who dared to defy Francis when he was still untouchable would wake up with a horse's head in his bed.

Re: Angelina Jolie - She was such a knockout stunner she probably would have made it without having Jon Voight for a dad. Even if he really helped her get her foot in the door once, you can hardly say he's been responsible for the rest of her career.

[quote]Re: Angelina Jolie - She was such a knockout stunner

I always thought she looked like a bug.

r73/r87

Inventing the Abbots came out in 1997, Virgin Suicides in 1999. They both deal with dysfunction families, both had up and coming actresses (Liv Tyler and Kirsten Dunst, respectively). Both had up and coming male leads (Billy Crudrup, Josh Hartnett) Both were very well received by critics and audiences (although neither was a box office smash).

Confusing the two is not that strange.

Angelina Jolie's career has a lot to do with finding a good plastic surgeon, botox injections and pimping her kids.

"Back in the day Nic Cage could indeed act if he had a director who could rein him in, and also had a first-class body."

Agreed. I also agree about that awful woman in "Magic Mike." I think it's a very good movie overall, but I've heard lots of people badmouth it, and I think that's largely because of the unbelievably bad performance of that one "actress."

R93, thank you, sweetie.

R92 and R94=Jennifer Aniston

The cast of Girls

R92 You are gay, you don't get her.

Watch "Peggy Sue Got Married" and you'll see how nuts Coppola got with his daughter. Casting her as the sister of Kathleen Turner and daughter of Barbara Harris and Don Murray -- so OF COURSE it makes sense when this ugly little big nosed Italian kid shows up in the family. Looking like absolutely NOBODY else.

I'm sure Wynona Ryder bowed out of that one too.

R97

Celebitchy board is offline today sweetie?

Funny thing is, Winona Ryder doesn't really look Italian, does she? Or was her dark hair enough?

The latter, R102.

Absolutely: Tori Spelling.

Tracey Ellis Ross, Diana's daughter

No one wants to mention Liza Minelli?

Tom Hanks's really ugly son Colin

The Kardashians

Michael Douglas

Patrick Wayne

Debbie Boone

Priscilla & Lisa Presley

Billy Bush

Melissa Rivers

How did GOOP become Steven Spielberg's goddaughter? She was born in 72 when he was a no-name tv director. That little Jewish weasel sure got himself in with the Hollywood elite. What did he become her godfather while they were filming Hook? Anything to be accepted and to play the Hollywood system.

r90, Coppola might have had a final say clause over casting. A lot of bullshit maneuvering can happen around it, but it is legally binding. Many A list directors have this; Coppola would not be a surprise.

Don't forget that the character also narrows the acting pool. Add to that availability and time constraints, and he might have had little choice.

I'm not defending him, but it's possible his hands were tied.

I've never forgiven him for destoying Apocalypse Now with bad casting. Sheen particularly ruined that fucking movie.

[quote] OF COURSE it makes sense when this ugly little big nosed Italian kid shows up in the family. Looking like absolutely NOBODY else.

Aaron Spelling used to cast one dusky kid in all his WASP-o TV families.

Dad called it the Jew in the Woodpile.

Speaking of Martin Sheen, he's to blame for the inexplicable omnipresence of Charlie Sheen.

Why that withered psychotic is still working is beyond me. There must be a deal with Satan involved.

Neil Simon's ex wife Marsha Mason. Once they split up her acting career was finished.

r108, that withered psychotic was the subject of a barely veiled blind item about a celebrity son who was a decent, nice kid until he was abused by the system. His father basically let him be exploited (implied abuse) until the son became an addict and a monster.

He also is a good actor when he's (relatively) sober, and can do drama and comedy. The latter particularly is considered hard to teach. You either have the timing or you don't.

The sympathy for his situation, and the fact he is talented enough to make people money, is why he's still around.

I think the public do sense there's a modicum of decency left, especially when he's sober.

This is his ice bucket challenge.

Somewhere was the biggest pile of crap I have ever seen (along with Tree Of Life), Coppola is WAY overrated as a director. If she hadn't gotten Bill Murray for Lost in Translation that movie would not have worked. Sorry but SC is a joke.

r111, in fairness, it might be just a case of a writer defending her work by directing it.

Sometimes that's the only way to ensure it doesn't get fucked with, especially in Hollywood.

The only 2 SC films I've seen are Virgin Suicides and Lost in Translation.

Virgin Suicides was boring beyond belief.

Lost in Translation I found very enjoyable (especially the music), but I never saw it again after it came out and have no desire to. Still I thought I would love it more, at the time. Meaning craving to re-watch it.

All her other films never felt the urge to see any of them. Marie-Antoinette felt vaguely obligated but never made the effort.

It could be. The dreamlike quality of her work would best be suited to music videos, IMO.

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Miss Coppola's career as a relevant and A-list movie director is pretty much over - her next project is "The Little Mermaid" starring Andrej(a) Pejic.

It's only a matter of time before she starts directing Bertolli commercials and music videos for hipster LA bands.

You bitches need to get over Sofia already! She, like R116 said, is pretty much over. But now there's a 4th generation Coppola brat already making her way into Hollywood.

Meet Gia Coppola, a film director, screenwriter and actress. She's 27 but looks like she's in her early 40s.

OUCH!

That's 27? Shit. I'm 36 and I look fresher.

The worst case of nepotism in Hollywood is all of the people we don't know by name who get the open jobs at the studios and production companies and opportunities in front of the camera or behind just because they know someone, are well connected, or are the offspring of someone famous. Instead of bringing people from outside of the system to reinvigorate it and contribute something knew, they turn inward, almost always. Anthony Minghella's daughter was a studio big shot before she was 30. Harvey Weinstein's extended family probably works with him. Malia Obama got a pa job on a Spielberg set with no film background whatsoever. The examples are endless.

When Malia Obama expresses interest in being on your film set, what do you do? Send her home to work on her resume?

r121, you politely decline and suggest another job, like in the production office, not on the set.

Wasn't Jeffrey Katzenberg a major contributor to Obama's campaign?

Slightly OT.

But Spielberg has made a career of being a kiss ass. So of course he would have the Potus daughter on his set. She's important and it makes him look good in the public eye.

Nancy, Tina and Frank Sinatra, Jr.

Gary Lewis, son of Jerry.

Christina Crawford

r124, if you're a power suck-up, sure.

But to answer r121's question, i.e. is there a way you keep it off the set while being politic, then r122 is the answer.

Princess Lee Radziwill

Luke Russert

Gayle King

allison williams jaden smith and his sister melissa rivers desi arnaz jr. gwenny benning gyllenhall(s) I would also nominate Julia Louis Dryfuss. whose family are zillionaires, always nice for an entry into show biz. any kardashian clint eastwood's children bruce willis' children

So many to choose from!

It helps if your Jewish.

Your Jewish what?

I think anon meant

Gwynnie

the Gyllenhaals

Julia Louis-Dreyfus.

U spel gud, anon.

R20,

[quote]Another big case: Lorraine Gary, the wife of entertainment executive Sidney Sheinberg, who got good roles in the Jaws movies and 1941 because her husband discovered Steven Spielberg.

But what ELSE did he do?

Jesus of Nazareth

A bazillion votes for any Kardashian.

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so true, R139, they are both terribly smug and of only ordinary talent

In Maggie G's case, I think she is actually quite good in the few things I've seen her in. I've been watching The Honourable Woman and she's terrific in it. That face, however. It just does not film well from several (most?) angles. I don't think she's ugly, but she does not have the conventional good looks that most actresses are expected have. That is the obstacle nepotism helped her overcome. An equally talented actress with the same look but without the connections wouldn't get a glance from a casting director.

Her acting was awful but Sofia Coppola is an amazing director. Just (finally) watched "Marie Antoinette" and it's gorgeous. Loved "Virgin Suicides" upon watching again. She has her own style and it works.

For some reason, the nepotism that felt most "down our throat" pushed was that Bryce Dallas Howard out of nowhere. Mainly because of that tired conceit that "nobody knew who she was" when they cast her, yeah, right, CAA repping this unknown and they didn't see her grow up around Daddy on the set. So disingenuous. She might be quite sweet (like her dad) but I never wanted to root for her because of that shit.

I can't watch Maggie Gyllenhaal in anything. Her face looks like it's melting. I don't think she's that talented as an actress, either. I think her brother's fine, though.

Whitney Houston.

ummm miley anyone?

Rob Reiner-thanks to dad

Penny Marshall-thanks to big bro

What an odd little thread!

R144 , Whitney Houston was many things but undeserving of her fame was not one of 'em. She was one crazy, coked-up bitch but let's face it...the gal could sing her ass off. Cissy & Aunt Dionne taught her well.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus?? Are you INSANE? The woman is talented beyond belief.

Rob Reiner owns this thread. I remember watching a profile on him on the Princess Bride extras and basically all they could say was: "he's a great director. He shows up on time, knows what we're going to shoot today..."

So basically he isn't a dick, and he's pleasant enough to work with.

Wow! Talk about vision!

That said, I enjoyed Misery. And I get that Princess Bride is the phenomenon that it is.

I see nepotism everywhere, except in STEM-professions/hard-science, where actual skill/talent is crucial in order to do the job.

Even in the arts a lot of people are successful because they are well-connected (trust-fund kids starting rock bands, etc.).

Actually, he's kind of famous for being a dick too. Hence, no Oscar nominations ever even when he made some popular films ("A Few Good Men" was up for Best Picture but he was ignored).

I knew him because he refused to guarantee an end date for Meg Ryan on "Harry and Sally" so she could do Shelby in "Steel Magnolias". So Julia Roberts was "born".

If you've got more to spill, go right ahead, R152.

If any one of you frigid queens even thinks about mentioning my name in this thread we'll discuss the matter privately in a calm, civilized manner in the elevator!

Who are Julia Louis Dreyfuss' famous relatives?

None, she just comes from a very wealthy family. Takes nothing away from her talent. The woman is funny, smart, gorgeous and is sexy too.

Well that's not really nepotism then r156. It's privilege but not really nepotism.

(although she probably did only get hired for SNL because of her boyfriend now husband)

From what I get mostly assholes have hiring power on SNL. And, agreed, that's definitely privilege and not nepotism.

Watching Veep and other Julia Louis-Dreyfus videos I have to wonder how much of a no-need-to-work you need to have to be able to deliver such consistently good performances, which are really out of the park.

Director John Huston's progeny: Anjelica, Jack and Danny.

R66 thanks for the insider gossip. I've wondered about Meryl's girls. Any more insider casting goss?

R158, I agree Julia Louis Dreyfus is great. And really attractive. She must have a small ego to go on Seinfeld and allow them to dress her like a total frump for over a decade when she had that killer body underneath. Anyway she's been consistently good in whatever she's been in. And she must do it for the love of acting since she's clearly never ever had to work.

I don't mind nepotism if the offspring are in fact talented. The Smith spawn are NOT.

r151 shut the fuck up you unemployed engineer piece of shit.

Julia Louis-Dreyfuss, Whitney Houston, hell, even Maggie G., and Gwynnie all benefitted from nepotism, but also had the talent to take the opportunities they got instead of others and build their own bodies of work from them. As mentioned, it really is only a problem when the lucky relative is talentless and wholly undeserving. But everyone hires people they know over people they don't when they are in a position to do so, whether it be family or friends.

Melanie Griffith is bad case of nepotism.

[quote] thanks for the insider gossip. I've wondered about Meryl's girls. Any more insider casting goss? [quote]

r66 here, I can add a few thoughts.

First of all, I am always surprised when I talk to people outside the industry about casting.

Many people seem to think that any actor can simply audition for anything and the "best" actor gets the job.

Nothing could be further from the truth.

In order for actors to be seen for a project, to even be considered by the creative and producing team they have get invited by the casting directors.

Every speaking role in a film, television or play is a highly coveted prize that many people want.

Agents represent actors and pitch their clients to us for the specific project we are working on.

Getting seen, getting an appointment for a project can be [and often is] very, very difficult for an actor to do.

Young actors who have no credits and no experience and no immediately marketable look or characteristic have an almost impossible task securing an agent and an even bigger hurdle when that agent has to pitch their client to me to get them in the door.

This means unfortunately some talented people fall through the cracks. If I see someone I think is special I try to find ways to bring them in if I think there is a chance the decision could go their way OR if I think the producing/creative team will be glad they saw them for future projects.

Bottom line for casting: YOU MUST BE ABLE TO DEFEND EVERY DECISION, THAT IS, YOU MUST HAVE A GOOD REASON FOR BRINGING IN EVERYONE YOU PUT BEFORE THE TEAM.

Some of this is CYOA. If the team doesn't like someone you brought in you can say "well she just did an arc on Grey's" or "we brought him in for Ang Lee and Ang said he was the best actor he had seen in a long time"

OR we might have to say "she is so and so's daughter, wife, etc" Everyone understands this. Let me put it this way: NOBODY would ever for a second question your decision to bring one of Meryl's kids in the room even though they don't deserve the chance and someone much better is not getting that chance.

The reason for this is that the industry is run on favors and ego as much as it is on talent and business acumen. Favors and ego, those are two hot pieces of currency.

The thinking varies but to make the point, in the case of Meryl's kids. Producers and creatives are interested in them for one of two reasons: The first and foremost is Meryl is one of the few actors that gives a production the prestige factor that many ego driven producer crave. They think if they hire her kid, they are currying favor with the big girl herself and thus they have a chance of working with her. Or so the thinking goes.

The other line of thinking goes: Whoever can get a good performance out of one of them, will have Meryl's undying gratitude and will be more likely to feel indebted to that producer/director and work with them.

Let me be clear: Meryl's daughters are nice, intelligent well behaved girls but they are not, by any definition at the level where they should be booking ANY job or having ANY agent let along getting prime jobs and being represented by CAA. It is just ludicrous.

Jane Fonda once said to me that she used to tell people somewhat defensively that her famous lineage "got her in the door" but "the rest was up to her" With a laugh she told met that years later when she finally realized GETTING IN THE DOOR IS 99% of the battle, she understood why people rolled their eyes when she made that remark.

Nepotism works when it benefits talented people. It hurts the industry when it benefits those who should be in another business because it takes the slot away from someone genuinely deserving.

Ronan Farrow - a broadcasting bore with no personality

Ronan Farrow is indeed probably the worstcase today.

[R165] And Ms Fonda wonders why people hate her. It's not just her politics. She is just clueless.

Thanks for the insights.

If you "hate" Jane Fonda, it is likely you're a tea-bagger; otherwise she's just another dippy actress. Why do you always try to hide it?

Meryl's daughters are nice, intelligent well behaved girls

haha best line all day

And I am sure they are. They just seem to be in the wrong line of business. They'll figure it out.

Is Kate Hudson really so bad? I enjoyed her performances in 200 Cigarettes and Almost Famous.

I want to hear more insights from our casting director at r165. The behind the scenes stuff is very interesting to me.

Yes, we want more stories from R165. Or just a general look at the working of things.

These are also useful in other lines of business.

Thanks so much!

A bad trickle down of multiculturalism is nepotism.

Seen now everywhere.

R165 = David E.

Always recycling the same story

Yep, the freeper has arrived, seeing the same boogeyman everywhere. He'll be ranting about Jews and Ferguson any minute now, because they're all "connected" to Hollywood, nepotism, and everything he doesn't have and won't ever have in his pea brain. Hate and envy dressed up as a political point of view.

Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie, etc.

Tori and Randy Spelling own this thread.

Lon Chaney, Jr. His "career", no doubt helped along by him being a legacy, went practically nowhere.

r165 here.

[[quote] And Ms Fonda wonders why people hate her. It's not just her politics. She is just clueless.Thanks for the insights. [quote]

Just want to clarify r168, the anecdote about Jane is actually favorable, not an example of her being "clueless"

Fonda is a genuinely talented intelligent woman who did benefit from nepotism and she knows it.

She realized after a few years in the business how much of an advantage she actually had. It was a "wow was I ever naive and stupid" type of comment she made, not clueless.

Also, Jane in her youth was one of the most stunning women you could imagine. My old boss said she was breathtakingly beautiful in person and perfect for the 60s / 70's look.

If people have specific questions about casting I will try to answer, but I need to remain anonymous.

Oh and LOL I am NOT David E

yes R165/180 Jane Fonda was stunning beautiful in the 1960s /1970s. Her father had gorgeous eyes but she was jaw-droppingly beautiful.

How about The Kardashians, one rather boring fuck tape begat that talentless dynasty.

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Jane Fonda is STILL pretty damn good-looking. She's aged incredibly well (or has has very good work done) and is always styled (hair, makeup, clothing) beautifully.

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Re: rich people's children

Isn't Stark Sands the offspring of bazillionaires?

Talented guy, apparently hard-working and amiable, and not entirely difficult on the eyes

Agreed. Just realizing now she makes me think of Léa Seydoux a little.

Melissa Rivers.

Probably already said, but my take:

Jaden Smith is Numero Uno

Tori Spelling

Melissa Rivers

The Kardashians

Nancy & Tina Sinatra, Frank Sinatra Jr

Lorna & Joey Luft

Paris Hilton & Nicole Ritchie

Goop

Kate Hudson

Sophia Coppola (as an actress), Nic Cage (although his early work was good, he's out to lunch now)

Ronan Farrow

Undefined gender Bono

Allison Williams.

Jaden Smith is VERY attractive. As soon as he's legal I will openly lust after him and choke DL with Jaden threads. Just wait.

KELLY OSBOURNE!

Not Hollywood, and not nepotism -- family business stuff, which is different:

Philippine de Rothschild dies at 80; grande dame of Bordeaux wine

Philippine de Rothschild, an energetic and self-certain grande dame of Bordeaux wine who halted an acting career to run vineyards owned by the family dynasty, has died, her company said. She was 80.

(That lot seems to be okay -- no crazies or druggies...)

Stuffing children in roles/positions seems to have started relly taking off in the 80s.

I don't think I've seen Rumer Willis come up yet. I can't imagine her getting work without connections. She isn't just not classically beautiful, her face is distractingly odd.

I was listening to a WTF podcast and a writer talked about getting fired so Regis Philbins daughter could have his assistant job at SNL. She went daddy's show and said she wanted to work on SNL, so they fired the unconnected guy to make room for princess. That seems pretty egregious to me.

Melissa Rivers

R90, I think the studio wanted the guaranteed $$ that would come with a GF sequel so badly that they were willing to let Coppola cast his daughter. FF Coppola resisted making a third film for years.

Also, Ryder bowed out within days of production starting. You can't just stop a production that size from filming at that stage, the costs would be astronomical. The scheduling headaches would be a nightmare. Why they didn't just fly over Julia Roberts or someone else on the short list is a mystery, but still.

At least Sofia had the sense not to continue trying to act.

Cooper Endicott, son of Melissa Rivers.

I think most nepotism cases eventually find their own level. The ones with talent, like Liza, Jane Fonda, and yes, GOOP, will be able to thrive. But, I doubt we'll hear much from the studio head's daughter who was in Magic Mike again because she was so awful. Rumer Willis hasn't really become successful, either, she's just known for being a famous daughter.

R102, she looks like she could be the daughter of non-Italian Kay (Diane Keaton) and Italian Michael (Al Pacino). The character would not have been fully Sicilian, so Ryder's softer features and dark coloring would have been perfect. Supposedly more of the story of GF3 revolved around her character, but once Sofia was cast the part was cut way down.

Fuck you, R159, Anjelica Huston is a GODDESS.

Jaden Smirh is a hideous actor.

Angelina Jolie. She can't act worth shit. Don't get me started on her fucked up blackula accents either.

Jaden is legal in most of Africa, the Arab world and Planet $cio.

Sean Penn's son and daughter. Both are trying to make it as actors/models.

[all posts by tedious, racist idiot removed.]

Since this is a Hollywood thread, I need some help --

How much can we get to let them use the outside of my Mom's house for an amazon show webisode?

R158, JLD is not especially talented, she is playing Elane in Seinfeld, Old Christine, Veep, and the short lived NBC show with the clock or timer in it's title. This is not deep breathtaking knock your socks off acting; it's just tv sitcom stuff, very vanilla. I also find her odd looking, kind of like a witch.

I am sure she is nice...why wouldn't she be? No problems or worries when you are a mega zillionaire.

Seinfeld was a one note show, annoying and does not hold up, seems very dated now. It was okay but not the end all and be all it was made out to be.

Let the queens come ahead with their bitching.

and I will add that Jane Fonda is TIRESOME.

R209, I think you're way off about Julia Louis-Dreyfus. She is very, very funny--that's why she's won five Emmys. I think even the bits she does at awards shows (such as with Bryan Cranston the other night) are funny.

R210 I found this Emmy show the worst of any I ever saw. Nothing was funny, it all seemed written by drunken teens who think they are just too funny. The host was the worst since Ellen, who has that dull dumb smirky aren't I funny sense of humor.

Guess I am allergic to the mainstream.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus is a once in a generation comedic actress talent. She was extraordinary on Seinfeld, incredibly inventive and plain funny. Look how she played being stuck on the subway or hating The English Patient or getting rabies or getting revenge on the Soup Nazi. She was the MVP of that show, and it's clear now that she has continued to great acclaim while the other's careers have fizzled. On Veep, you would think that it would be same old same old with her, but it really isn't. She bounces off her cast wonderfully and leads a fantastic ensemble. That woman knows comedy.

[quote]Lon Chaney, Jr. His "career", no doubt helped along by him being a legacy, went practically nowhere.

I thought marrying Liza would be my ticket to stardom. I thought, "why not? It worked for Peter Allen!"

Desi Arnez Jr. and Lucy Arnez

Linda Kaye Henning, is an example of nepotism in the classic TV era. Her father Paul Henning was a producer who created The Beverly Hillbillies and Petticoat Junction, which Linda was cast in. Gossip back then was that her Petticoat Junction co-stars hated her because she got some storylines changed to suit her character.

She was also the only "daughter" who kept her part throughout the run of the series. Several actresses played each of the other two daughters.

I imagine a lot of the Rin-Tin-Tins and Lassies were related to one another in some way.

A tad of topic, but Luke Russets just blows. Outrageous that this 22 year old out of BU got a DC network correspondent job. The political press corps basically admits they do nothing of substance and do not matter by hiring this kid.

R180 Slightly off topic (maybe someone could start a new thread?) how do Scientologists get so much work?

They usually join quietly after they have a big hit that puts them on the map. They become the cash cow for the Scientology.

I dont think there are many new ones signing up these days. But when I lived in Hollywood, they were buying up property everywhere.

Dear R209, I am guessing you have never acted professionally nor been on any production in your life. JLD is an excellent comedic actress, her timing and her instincts are impeccable. From having seen her in the romantic film Enough Said with the late James Gandolfini (also an exceptional actor), I can also guess she would be a very good dramatic actress. My guess is comedy has been more her interest so far.

I can only imagine you are trolling.

Veep is hilarious. She was the best (the only good thing?) about Seinfeld, which, granted, was itself unwatchable, at least here (Europe).

To anyone who has yet to know the brilliance of Julia Louis-Dreyfus, see collection of clips below.

What R212 said.

And now I have to track down that English Patient bit.

Out of all the actors who've made it (become a recognisable name) what percentage do you think are related to someone else in the business?

Interesting how Sean Penn, Bruce Willis, Michael Douglas, Belinda Carlisle, and their somewhat equally famous spouses made a pointed publicized move to raise their kids outside of Hollywood, only to have their spawn skip higher education and try to make it as actor/model/DJ/whatever.

R223, we've been over this subject before, and the vast majority of modern celebrities have family members in the entertainment business. Even B-listers like the Gylenhalls and Kristen Stewart are the children of people who work behind the scenes.

I think Maggie Gyllenhaal is a decent actress and Jake has been ok in a few things. There are some good actors who mostly work in TV who are children of people who worked behind the scenes. Katey Sagal's father was a director and he was close friends with Norman Lear. While Katey didn't become well known until Married With Children, she probably had an easier time in Hollywood than other people because of connections and she probably understood the business better.

Troian Bellisario from Pretty Little Liars is the daughter of writer and producer Donald Bellisario, who created several TV shows. She guest starred on some of his shows before landing on ABC Family. Her last name probably helped her. She is a decent actress and she usually gets more praises than her co-stars.

Emily and Zooey Deschanel are ok actresses in my opinion. Their father was a director and their mother was an actress who did mostly TV work here and there. The mom's most well known was playing Lara Flynn Boyle's mother on Twin Peaks.

I'm not first to say this, but one more time: its a crime that Luke Russert is employed in the job he has. Its the perfect example of the emptiness of Washington "journalism" - he's perfect for reporting on who's up and who's down in the cool kids game, though.

The worst case is actually Nick Kroll. He not only used his fathers connections but he's intent on being a businessman and has propped up the careers of some of today's least talented comics.

I DON'T REALLY KNOW

That's the most sincere answer one could give, don't you think?

Frankie J. Grande!!!

[quote]I see nepotism everywhere, except in STEM-professions/hard-science, where actual skill/talent is crucial in order to do the job.

Not since pre-packaged computer programs were released to do all the work.

Nothing worked better to make engineering a haven for nepotism and identity like NASTRAN and other such computer software.

Betty and Slappy White

Matt Bomer. Not the worst case but the best case.

Butterfly and Steve McQueen.

someone just posted her name here. Kelly Osbourne. People with 100 times the talent struggle to make ends meet.

ARG! Julia L Dreyfuss trolls or her agents are posting on here!

She is okay, nothing more, no comic genius, no great beauty, no wonderful timing etc. Better than the current gen of SNLers who truly have no talent and yes that's Amy and Tina and Kristin (ho hum.)

and that is true about nepotism except in the hard sciences--those careers take some actual brains.

R236, do enlighten us about who the comic geniuses are.

Kartrashians

Vadge has been posting lots of kiddie pics lately, I am waiting for Rocco & co to be foisted upon the public.

r236 I like tha Christine show , and she is far from a bad actress. As for beauty I think shes hot as hell especially I hr 50s. gets my dick hard

Thank you for that, R236, I thought I was the only one who thought that way.....I just done get JLD, either!

George Clooney wins this thread, not Jaden Smith.

Yes, R242, Rosemary Clooney was huge in the 1990s.

Nepotism doesn't bother me, because it exists in every field. How the hell do you think Rand Paul got into medical school? And the Kennedys into Harvard?

worst case by far is Nick Kroll from the League.

Hollywood accounting is a Byzantine morass of kickbacks and fraud

Insiders know this and school their kids on how the game is played

Studios can take the children of stars and make them into new stars knowing they won't rock the boat

[quote]Luke Russert just blows. Outrageous that this 22 year old out of BU got a DC network correspondent job.

Luke Russert's (not particularly attractive) face is the very emblem of nepotism, R218. There's something very wrong in the world now, and he proves it with every syllable he issues forth.

Nepotism? What would my kids do without it

Not to mention your husband

Or ex-husband

My kids look like potatoes, what would you do?

Chloe Lattanzi is the prime example that two attractive people will not have beautiful offspring. That unfortunate girl, who wasn't ugly, turned herself into a plastic surgery nightmare. She didn't get any of her mother's singing talent or charming personality, either.

She can't top the Smith offspring or the Willis spuds or the Kartrashians.

Angelica Huston. Where's the poster who claimed she was head of some coven and wielded power over all of hollywood?

Matt Lattanzi was so hot, R252, I could almost forget he was married to the world's worst singer.

Angelica Houston is a very good actress, R253.

That's the thing about Hollywood - it's so insanely competitive that even if you have great family connections and real talent and fuck the A-list... you can STILL spend most of your career on the B-list!

He was never married to me, R254.

Nepotism is alive and well throughout all professions. Frankly, it seems that one is far less likely to find an undeserving family-connected movie industry professional than an undeserving family-connected plumber, cop, doctor or lawyer.

[quote]Frankly, it seems that one is far less likely to find an undeserving family-connected movie industry professional than an undeserving family-connected plumber, cop, doctor or lawyer.

Yeah, it just seems that way.

The Noll brothers.

That hack m night shymalamadingdong

[quote]Nepotism doesn't bother me, because it exists in every field. How the hell do you think Rand Paul got into medical school? And the Kennedys into Harvard?

George W. Bush is an even better example.

Rand Paul's politics suck, but he's fairly intelligent. The Kennedys were all bright.

R198 Rebecca Schaeffer had an audition for the 'Mary Corleone' part in TGIII the day she was killed by her crazed fan. Do you think she would've been good?

R182 isn't Ryan Seacrest responsible for their rise? They wouldn't have gotten a show on E! without him. Asshole.

Paris Jackson

[quote]I knew him because he refused to guarantee an end date for Meg Ryan on "Harry and Sally" so she could do Shelby in "Steel Magnolias". So Julia Roberts was "born".

R152 Roberts would still have been a star without SM. Granted, it got her her first Oscar nod and Golden Globe win (for Supporting Actress), but she had PRETTY WOMAN immediately after, so her success with SM had nothing to do with her getting PW. SM was released in November 1989; PW was released in March 1990. The latter was a huge hit (#3 of the year) and garnered Roberts her second GG win and first Oscar nod for Best Actress.

Agree with R53.

Gwyneth Paltrow, who has some talent, and yet is a weird mixture of completely annoying with flashes of self-deprecation.

Kate Hudson - who has flown under my radar for her entire career, which seems dedicated to movies I would never see or have seen and forgotten instantly.

R74 That role in Godfather 3 should have gone to Rebecca Schaeffer. She was going to meet with Francis Ford Coppola on the morning she was murdered. She was waiting for the script, heard the buzzer, went downstairs to open the door and was met by Robert Bardo who shot her dead. She would have had to do a better job than Sofia.

R262 Didn't see your post, sorry.

Well thank heavens Sofia is a successful and talented director. She lived to see down her young failure.

Carrie Fisher, never would have gotten the Star Wars role without her mom's help.

Agreed R264 she is fucking annoying and has no discernible talent. She also looks quite manly. We may have found her real father....

Carrie Fisher gets the same pass as Sophia. Turned out Carrie had lots of talent. Debbie was never a compelling actress herself.

You never saw Charlotte's Web? Debbie was very compelling as the spider. And did a great job as Liberace's mom.

Ok I should have said "only seldomly"

"Thank you, Papa!"

"Carrie Fisher her gets the same pass as Sophia. Turned out Carrie had lots of talent."

Not really. She was quite terrible in "Star Wars", for some reason delivering her lines in a faux British accent. She was never really much talented. She was always more of a personality than an accomplished performer.

Sophia Coppola owns this thread. Unprepossessing and having no experience whatsoever as an actress she was given the plum role of Mary Corleone in Godfather III by her doting Daddy. Her performance was legendarily bad. Later she reinvented herself as a director and won an undeserved Oscar, no doubt because her last name is Coppola. She makes movies that aren't that great but get a lot of publicity and still wins awards in no small part due to her pedigree. Her career is nepotism at its worst.

Jane Fonda was mentioned earlier in this old thread, but I always thought her brother Peter Fonda was a far more egregious example of nepotism. Peter was an attractive guy but certainly not much of an actor.

The Carradines were rather obvous recipients of nepotism, although they tended to be talented enough to make it work for them after they were given a start.

I haven't seen Lloyd Bridges' sons mentioned here -- Beau and Jeff.

R276 Sophia just one BEST DIRECTOR (2nd woman ever) at Cannes. You know that silly unknown film festival somewhere in Africa. Doesn't count, not a sign of talent....

Carrie Fisher has A LOT of talent, and Hollywood valuable talent, but it wasn't in acting. She was a comic gadfly about town, and writer and script doctor.

I gave them a pass for nepotism because they proved their worth in show biz, just not as actors.

Dakota Johnson. Her acting is as bad as her mother's and father's COMBINED. Terrible.

Kate Hudson owns this thread.

Dakota was SMART to make that shit stain trilogy. That shit is doing well all over the world and she will be hired for a good 5-10 years.

"Sophia just one BEST DIRECTOR (2nd woman ever) at Cannes. You know that silly unknown film festival somewhere in Africa. Doesn't count, not a sign of talent...."

She's won awards and shit because of her last name, not because of any outstanding talent. Her remake of "The Beguiled" looks like a piece of shit, as remakes usually are, and she's been getting backlash from eliminating the slave character that was in the original movie. I guess having a black person in the movie (it's set in the South during the Civil War) didn't sit well with her "vision."

Sofia Coppola. She almost destroyed Godfather 3 with her lousy acting. Maybe she's better behind the camera.

Marisa Hargiaty. She's a terrible actress but has a long running television show. She'd be a washed up beauty queen if her parents weren't famous.

Sofia Coppola won TWO Razzies for "The Godfather: Part III" -- Worst New Star (beating out Donald Trump, of all people, in "Ghosts Can't Do It") and Worst Supporting Actress .

In fact, her role as Saché in "The Phantom Menace" earned her another Worst Supporting Actress nod, and her combined performances in both films got her nominated for Worst New Star of the Decade.

R179, Chaney, Jr. wasn't the greatest actor, but he was heartbreaking in Of Mice and Men. He created an unforgettable icon with his portrayal of The Wolf Man, and he gave one of the best performances in High Noon. His career was ruined by alcoholism of the worst kind, and to a certain extent typecasting. When the old monster movies gained new found popularity in the late fifties, casting directors wanted him to plot horror parts, and he was way past his prime for that kind of role. He was more suitable for playing old everyman type character parts, but instead they put him in crap like Face of the Screaming Werewolf and Dr. Terror's Gallery of Horrors.

Beau and Jeff Bridges may have gotten some initial breaks due to nepotism but any subsequent success and acclaim they've achieved has been well earned.

I KNEW that when Jeff Bridges won his Oscar that his parents would feature prominently in his acceptance speech and sure enough, there they were right in the first sentence. One of many things I like about Jeff.

I can think of only two current male stars who are as well liked as older stars like James Stewart, John Wayne and Gary Cooper were-Tom Hanks and Jeff Bridges.

Sofia Coppola is terrible in Godfather 3, but it's not like her father really wanted her in the movie. It was a last minute thing.

[quote]Julia Roberts was originally cast as Mary but dropped out due to scheduling conflicts.[8] Madonna wanted to play the role, but Coppola felt she was too old for the part.[9] Rebecca Schaeffer was set to audition[10] but was murdered. Winona Ryder dropped out of the film at the last minute.[8] Ultimately Sofia Coppola, the director's daughter, was given the role of Michael Corleone's daughter.

He had people dropping out, getting murdered, and then Madonna. No wonder he cast his own daughter.

Lily Collins is a bright new Hollywood actress, daughter of Phil Collins. She talks about growing up in the business with famous people always stopping by the house. Children of famous people tend to know a lot of important people and feel comfortable with them.

I had heard that Laura San Giacomo (briefly hot off of "Sex, Lies and Videotape") was ready reading to fly in and take over the role of Mary Corleone on a moment's notice after Winona Ryder dropped out. They should have used her instead of Sofia.

I caught "Picture Mommy Dead" on TCM a while back - the leading role of the troubled daughter was played by Susan Gordon who was the daughter of producer Bert I. Gordon. Susan Gordon got her start as a child actress in all her father's pictures - she was not that talented and quite awkward onscreen.

There were more show business children in "Petticoat Junction" - Meredith MacRae, the daughter of Gordon MacRae and DL fave Sheila MacRae (sister of Heather MacRae). I always liked her and she could sing too.

Tori Spelling is a mess nowadays but she has been funny in comic supporting roles in independent movies - so not really a no talent actually.

Frankie

The egregious Dakota Johnson. But nepotism is so rampant it would be easier to list the worst who aren't related to anyone in the business.

Peter Fonda was awful.

Henry Jaglom making whichever z-list starlet he's married to/fucking the lead in his pretentious "art films", as if they weren't boring enough.

Sofia Coppola. She's a self important, untalented, dull director, an amateur, and a rich, well connected dilettante. I've seen more inspired work from an infomercial. I'm sure she ruined "The Beguiled". I

A lot of these people can actually act. I find Drew Barrymore charming on screen, and she was terrific as Little Edie. The Fonda clan all can act (although Bridget--the most beautiful--has very little charisma). Kate Hudson is beautiful and charming, even though she has very little range; her brother Oliver is quite good and deserves a better career than he's had.

Jaden Smith was a decent child actor, but he was asked to carry too much in "After Earth," and the part was his father's huge ego trip for himself (projected onto his son).

Jason Gould was quite good looking as a kid, although he wasn't very believable as a football player in "The Prince of Tides."

The worst profiteers of neptoism are usually wives rather than children, because husbands/lovers are very blind to where their wives/mistresses excel and what their talents are. Julie Chen, for example, is not untalented as a presenter, but she comes across as so artificial and fake, and "The Talk" would benefit from someone who is more human and relatable. Marion Davies was famously a gifted comedienne but Hearst only wanted to see her in romantic dramatic roles, where she wasn't suited.

The worst of all I think was the wildly uncharismatic and unlikable Barbara Bosson, whose husband Steve Bochco gave good parts to in all his TV projects.

Kate Hudson

Zosia Mamet is awful, but part of the problem is she's so spectacularly homely. She can't do anything about it, but she has no business being an actress.

Zoe Kazan is the granddaughter of famed director (and McCarthy era HUAC informant who testified against colleagues) Elia Kazan. Zoe is homely, not terribly charismatic and was terrible the two times I saw her onstage. Yet she keeps getting hired for very good roles onstage and now in Hollywood. Her parents were screenwriters and she has written plays that get mixed reviews with critics pointing out rookie mistakes. But they get produced at Manhattan Theater Club and now she is writing for films and television. I don't think she is more talented a writer than lots of people who can't get anyone to read their drafts. I don't think she would have gotten roles like Nina in "The Seagull" or Harper Pitt in "Angels in America" if she didn't come from the Kazan family.

Zosia looks like 33% of the jewish girls of my youth and I wouldn't say she is spectacularly homely at all. I'd rather her than that awful and anorexic Williams girl.

[quote]Jason Gould was quite good looking as a kid, although he wasn't very believable as a football player in "The Prince of Tides."

His character wasn't a jock, but he desperately wanted to be. His specialty was the violin, which he eventually returned to.

R179 OMG yes! Lon Jr, had none of his father's charisma or talent. It's nice to know I'm not the only one who was wondering about his "career".

R211 you sound like a pretentious, douche bag, hipster, turd troll. I don't care about the difference of opinions...its the "Guess I am allergic to the mainstream." that makes you INSUFFERABLE.

As others have noted noted, Jaden Smith owns this thread, though I'd also throw in their Carrie Fisher's daughter. Now there is definitely someone who would not be cast without their family connections.

I never understood the hate for Sofia Coppola; granted, she wouldn't be that big of deal without her family connections, but I thought the Virgin Suicides was beautifully done.

R165 Thank you so much for your insight. I'm not going to ask you anything personal (it's just rude imo) and I respect your anonymity, however why is it some casting directors have a sort of "magic" at casting the right people? I would say it's like a 6th sense or something. Also, (forgive my ignorance) but I'm guessing in order to become a casting director College is involved...what would one study in order to go into that field? -Thank you for your time and patience.

R275 - Yes! I absolutely loved Mira in Mighty Aphrodite and a few other things at the time like Beautiful Girls but whenever I've seen her in anything recently, it's as if she somehow forgot how to act since those early days. She's just horrible now. WTF?

I see Rob Lowe is hard at work pushing his sons into having a career in front of the cameras. Ugh.

R278 Just because she was at/won awards at CANNES...doesn't mean shit. You live your life by awards and yet you keep your eyes closed to the system of control? Yes she is the 2nd woman to win it....but HOW MANY FEMALE DIRECTORS get a shot and being able to make a movie in the system of Hollywood. Oscars aren't given just for talent you know. She got a shot at making movieS....a female director in Hollywood gets A shot and if it isn't successful....BUH-BYE. Yes men can make bomb after bomb (M. Knight Shamlayan...you know who I mean) gets MANY. Many male directors get second and third chances.

[quote]Peter Fonda was awful.

People complained about the budgets of musicals and costume dramas, but in terms of real-world negative social impact, [italic]Easy Rider[/italic] was probably more costly.

[quote] I never understood the hate for Sofia Coppola; granted, she wouldn't be that big of deal without her family connections, but I thought the Virgin Suicides was beautifully done.

It's because she was so lousy in [italic]The Godfather Part III[/italic] in a role that should have gone to Winona Ryder and would have had it not been for Johnny Depp.

Sofia Coppola has genuine talent, "The Virgin Suicides" and "Lost In Translation" alone being a proof of that.

R309 what's Johnny Depp got to do with it?

Sofia Coppola would be nowhere without her father. She has money, the Coppola name through her father and she has access to all his colleagues and friends in the business. Nobody would have given that spoiled, entitled rich princess a dime to make any of her dull, pretentious movies if it weren't for Francis Ford Coppola. I have more respect for a truly talented director, male or female, who makes it on their own. When Sofia fails, Daddy just picks up the pieces and she moves on to the next project. Of course, the money is there, everything is available for the next movie she ruins. She couldn't direct traffic, let alone a movie. I'd say she could have a career as an infomercial director, but she'd fuck that up too.

They were dating at the time, R311.

R313 but what does that have to do with her getting the part ?

Or rather, NOT getting the part?

Sofia is pretty talented, in my opinion. There are far worse examples of nepotism. At least she realized she was no actor pretty quickly. I blame her father and Winona Ryder for the disaster of Godfather Part III.

Scientology

I've never seen it -- actually, I've never watched any of the trilogy -- but if GODFATHER III is so awfully bad, how did it get a Best Picture nod (among 7)? I realize that the Academy has nominated crap before, especially recently, but this was still the era when there were only 5 slots.

The cast of Girls,,and of course Kate Hudson,, they should have drowned her at birth,

I think Zosia Mamet will disappear now that Girls is finished. She's not attractive and even some indie type directors want actresses that are little prettier for their movies.

Another for Kate Hudson. She's an average looking white trash bastard factory who'd be working at Wendy's. And she's not a good actress.

What ever happened to Kate Hudson? Did she go "lifestyle route" like Paltrow?

Emma Roberts

Bryce Dallas Howard

Jaden and Willow Smith although Willow recently stated that she has had an "absolutely terrible life" growing up in the spotlight.

Poor thing. She tried so hard to fly under the radar. [html removed]

I owe everything to my parents and Uncle Harvey.

Dakota Johnson. She may not be the worst case, but she is worth mentioning.

No talent. No passion. No skill.

Rumor Willis.

There's a rumor, R327, that it's spelled "Rumer."

Blame it on Rio, I mean spellcheck R328

Lens Dunham's only appealing quality is that her existence is an ongoing discredit to the SJW movement.

Only idiots blame spellcheck, idiot r329.

Well, aren't you the humorless twat R331.

Fuck off.

One of Mamet's wives ruined that "State and Main" movie. I couldn't figure out why that woman was cast until someone told me the connection.

Bryce Dallas Howard annoys me because she refuses to cop to the fact that her dad made it happen for her. Instead she pretends nobody knew they were related (at CAA, right).

There are few where nepotism SHOULD have worked and I wouldn't have minded. Josh Evans was cute and a decent enough actor (and a nice guy, no big Hollywood kid problems) and his dad was as big a player as one could get but after a couple of movies... nothing. Maybe he just plain didn't want it.

Nora Ephron

R111 Sc pretty much stole the concept for Lost in Translation from a 2001 Hong Kong film called In the Mood for Love.

Two people married but not to each other, in an unfamiliar City.

Even during her Oscar speech she thanked the director Wong kar-wai

Kendall and Kylie Jenner!!!!!!!!!! Everything handed to them off the back of Kim's ASS!!!!! And there mother Kris Jenner working her magic and using her high powered connections to make it all happen. Kylie is on her way to becoming a billionaire from her Kylie cosmetics line. Which she actually owns. Believe it or not. And everything was handed to them. Because of there older sisters success. Now these bitches are set for life in the lap of luxury. And they never had to lift a finger. Courtesy of PMK.

I will forever hate Ryan Seacrest for giving the Kardashians their own reality show ten years ago. That started it all. Before, they were just know the spawn of one of OJ's lawyers, and Bruce Jenner was the most famous of the family even though he was pretty much C-list by then.

I also hate Kanye for legitimizing Kim. I remember when she was a persona non grata at some Oscar afterparty 5 years ago, but as soon as she hooked up with him, it made her A-list via his connections.

R309 The part should have gone to Rebecca Schaeffer but unfortunately she was shot to death the morning she was to audition for Coppola.

Brooklyn Beckham, photographer extraordinaire.

Max Landis. Everything he says or does begins with "my dad...".

Dakota Johnson.

Kate Hudson very nasty spoiled woman . Gweneth Paltrow another narsisstic spoiled entitled clown .

R337 in a recent article on the kardashians celebrating the 10 year anniversary of Kardashian reality show. They discussed the back story of KUWTK came to be. And originally E! Passed on the show. And Kris was going to take it to bravo. But Ryan Seacrest talked the head of program development into letting them shoot some test footage of the family. And when E! Saw the finish product. they loved it and gave the show the go-ahead green light. And the rest is history. Now they have a billion dollar empire. Thanks to Ryan Seacrest. Remember he also gave us the shahs of sunset too. So Ryan really loves trash. And he's greedy just like the kardashians. So they have so much in common.

Oh that article was in the Hollywood reporter. I forgot to mention that. Sorry.

Things have reached a pretty pass

When someone pretty lower class

Graceless and vulgar, uninspired

Can be respected and admired!

[quote]Jane in her youth was one of the most stunning women you could imagine. My old boss said she was breathtakingly beautiful in person and perfect for the 60s / 70's look.

R180 Yes. Jane Fonda was a model before turning to acting, and also had a spectacular body. (Sadly, this was partially due to anorexia...but what can you do?)

Talia Shire

That Dakota Johnson creature. Bland looks, utterly charmless and totally talentless, yet landed that 50 Shades franchise.

Bunch of jealous assholes on this thread. Losers!!!!!!

This annoying little cunt & her twatty brother.

Impossibly untalented, spoiled & ugly

R350 Jaden is older than Willow, actually.

I hope someone has mentioned Rita Wilson, a.ka. Mrs Tom Hanks, who is SOMEHOW allowed to do this crap in her sixties and no one says a word about it:

R352 are you implying that her marriage to Hanks got her the gig? Wasn't she an actress in her own right before she married Hanks?

Melissa Rivers gets my vote for most worthless nepitism beneficiary. She grates on me...but then her mom did, too. Both are utterly clueless without a drop of class. Adding insult to injury, I don't think Joan Rivers made me laugh once.

One thing that makes me want to vomit about this clip is how Melissa gets all babyish diva after she's voted out, refuses to deal with the camera crew and goes into high-handed flight mode. Like, okay, you want to be filmed when it's going your way, then bail on a show when it makes you look bad? We all know "reality" TV is rigged and fake, but can't she even play along a bit and TRY to be diplomatic (ie, show us her interests aren't ALL about HER??)

[quote] are you implying that her marriage to Hanks got her the gig?

It is a nepotism thread. Just seems she wouldn't have had half the opportunities she's had without Hanks.

Now the Hollywood mafia is going to see this and come for me. Don't fuck with Hanks.

[quote]He had people dropping out, getting murdered, and then Madonna. No wonder he cast his own daughter.

They were shooting in ITALY when Winona Ryder got sick. It's really too bad they needed a young Italian actress for the role. Because obviously it was utterly impossible to cast the role from the local talent pool!

[quote]Just seems she wouldn't have had half the opportunities she's had without Hanks.

Not to mention their son Chet, who is a rapper wannabe or something and has a recurring role on SHAMELESS this season as Lip's nemesis.

I can see why Dakota Johnson got the role oin the big "Fifty Shades" franchise. The heroine is supposed to be totally ordinary -dull-witted, wimpy, and nothing special to look at, etc. And instead of trying to act the role of a totally ordinary, uninteresting girl, Johnson comes off as an ordinary, uninteresting girl who wandered in off the street!

There's a certain authenticity in that, but if she ever gets cast in anything else it'll be due to nepotism.

It seems like a lot of Hollywood stars can't act. They can only play versions of themselves.

[quote]R360 It seems like a lot of Hollywood stars can't act. They can only play versions of themselves.

fuck off

I'm enjoying the people here who obviously don't know what "nepotism" means. R55, I suppose Kristen's parents Patrick and Martha Stewart helped her get Twilight. Sad, really.

R362 obviously allowed to post here thru nepotism

You have to give credit to Andy Garcia, who gave a really good acting performance in "Godfather 3" despite having to act in the most scenes with Sofia Coppola.

Wow, R362, I'm not sure I've ever seen someone getting so much wrong in one post. First of all, there's the fact that both of Kristen Stewart's parents work in the entertainment industry (father as a producer for Fox, mother a script supervisor and director), and secondly there's the fact that nepotism isn't limited to just parents.

Gwyneth Paltrow

Kate Hudson

Dakota Johnson

Tori Spelling

Emma Roberts

Rumer Willis

Jaden Smith

Willow Smith

Sofia Coppola

Kelly Osbourne

Charlie Sheen

Carrie Fisher

Sarah Gilbert

Drew Barrymore

Melissa Rivers

Melanie Griffith

MacKenzie Phillips

Bijou Phillips

Milie Cyrus

Tatum O'Neal

Kristen Stewart

Jennifer Aniston

The things I find funny about Tori Spelling and her "breakout" role on 90210 is she insisted she auditioned under a fake name, and no one had ANY IDEA (no, really!) that she was the producer's daughter. Yes, of ALL the young actresses in Hollywood, Tori was the BEST!!

The other joke is her dad said the character of Donna was just supposed to be in the pilot, but then (wait for it) America joined together and wrote into the network, pleading for more episodes featuring her.

Why, it's all just AMAZING!!!

R365, you should really get out more, then. Her mother was a script supervisor, hardly a power player, and only directed a movie in 2012. If there's nepotism at play, the mother is the recipient, not Kristen. Her dad is a stage manager. Did he pull some strings to get her Panic Room with Jodie Foster and David Fincher? They're not exactly the Barrymores, are they.

R367 why is that unbelievable?

R364 is that why he got the Oscar nomination?

[quote]R367 why is that unbelievable?

Have you seen her?

I liked Donna Martin. She was more the "normal" girl than Brenda. The Walshes were supposed to be the "normals" in their new zipcode, but there was nothing normal about Brenda. She fit right it.

Jessica Capshaw

Kendall and Kylie Jenner/ Gigi. And Bella Hadid/ and Paris and Nicky Hilton. All come from wealthy families and everything handed to them on a silver platter. Literally.

It's much easier to get into show business if you have a parent or parents who are involved in the industry. The parents don't have to be big stars; just having a parent who works in that field gives their offspring a step up over people who have no show business connections at all.

It's all who you know, like that old adage says. I've seen more talented people in community theater than I have on Broadway or Hollywood.

R353 Yes, she was quite an accomplished day player.

I did not see these two listed: Scott Eastwood (total cardboard). And now they are trying to foist his sister Francesca on the public as well.

What R375 said.

And more from R66, R165, R180, if he is still around.

R375, but that's not what nepotism means, is it?

Alexander Ludwig. His father is chairman of Lionsgate.

Brody Jenner.

Lauralee Bell

What's so bad about nippletism? Totally opens doors.

Lily-Rose Depp

Kate and Oliver Hudson are talentless voids.

When I look at Oliver Hudson, I want both of us to take our pants off.

I liked Donna Martin.

Do Jared and Ivanka Kushner count?

Kate Hudson and Gwyneth Paltrow. Kate being charismatic in her breakout role and not taking nary an acting lesson to finesse any "talent", then doing dumb rom coms as if not aware that her obviously bitchy side and age will slow her down in that sphere. And the fact that she insists on publicity for no good reason instead of taking acting lessons now that she is severely underemployed. Gwyneth Paltrow for actually having talent back in the day, but not being able to show a modicum of humility and going down the lifestyle route. She actually said that once a-list one is always a-list. Who would have thought that Liv Tyler another child of nepotism, but far more self aware and humble and far less of a famewhore, considering that her father was better at his craft than either Goldie, Kurt, Bruce or Blythe AND three sheets to the moon whilst being so, would have the far more valid and lasting career with less talent than Paltrow and less "thirst" and need for camera space than Hudson ? What both Paltrow and Hudson lack is the ability to go with the waves that any canny "artiste" has to have. Nobody is entitled to camera shine , after all. I can't stand those two busy bollocks and irrationally hate their kids too, in the knowledge that they will be foisted on us. Apple Martin and Ryder Robinson," here we come!" regardless of the fact that they are the epitome of Milquetoast . Neither of them cute, beautiful, ugly good looking, or straight up fug of a "character" having disposition, even though one of 'em has an eye a smooth few noticeable millimetres lower than the other. Something that I have never seen in life and yet still renders the kid "nothing special" outside of her kin and friendship circle.

Hollywood?? The Trump clan in the White House has broken all the records.

Goop. Adequately talented but no more than thousands who didn't make it big without their relatives.

Put in another vote for Max Landis, the most untalented hack writer working today in Hollywood. Every single one of his projects have failed yet he keeps getting movie after movie and having everyone kiss his ass and blaming "studio interference" for his lack of talent.

I hired my alter ego, does that count?

[quote]Kate and Oliver Hudson are talentless voids.

I kind of like Kate and she isn't totally awful in everything. But, Oliver is worse.

Not in Hollywood but I despise chubby, mean and ignorant Liz Cheney.

The Coppola family which includes ugly children and mildly talented sister Talia Shire and relative Nicholas Cage.

Katherine Waterston, Sam’s daughter. True, she’s been in some big budget pictures, that Harry Potter spinoff and the latest Alien extension. But she’s neither particularly good-looking, nor that good an actress. Makes one wonder how she got those roles.

To [R77]: The story I heard about Ryder’s departure from GIII was that she finally got fed up with Francis constantly coming on to her, and she quit.

If interested, you can see rehearsal footage with her, included as a Bonus with yet another of those GIII video releases.

Even Mia Farrow’s career could be considered the result of nepotism. Daughter of former MGM star Maureen O’Sullivan and director John Farrow, she had all the proper connections, and even achieved temporary fame from a leading role in the TV soaper Peyton Place, which was the first time a network soap played at night. Huge hit at the time.

A notorious marriage to Sinatra was later followed by a decent performance starring in Rosemary's Baby. But, without being constantly cast in husband Woody Allen’s films, her quirky voice and spindly body would never have garnered much attention. And her career pretty much died with the death of that relationship.

Then there’s poor Tatum O’Neal. Winning the Oscar as a child has been the highlight of her life, and it’s been mostly downhill since.

Perhaps it’s far better not to be the offspring of celebrity.

Noah Cyrus.

Willow Smith.

Asslee Simpson.

[quote]Then there’s poor Tatum O’Neal. Winning the Oscar as a child has been the highlight of her life, and it’s been mostly downhill since.

She followed PAPER MOON (1973) with BAD NEWS BEARS (1976) and LITTLE DARLINGS (1980) which were bigger hits. Her problem was a fucked up upbringing, jealous father, insane first husband, and drugs.

Mia Sorvino.

Oliver Hudson was a total energy-suck on Dawson's Creek, he looked mad in every scene. He played the boyfriend of Katie Holmes' character.

R402 LOL! I went to high school with a kid that I just thought looked mean. He had low eyebrows and his eyes didn't seem to have any creases or anything when he smiled. His natural expression was one that looked aggravated. I heard a friend of his teasing him one day, saying he looked angry all the time and he tried to smile about it, bit it was true.

Jaden Smith, Bryce Dallas Howard, Scott Eastwood, Patrick Schwarzenegger And his bastard half brother.

Oona Chaplin

Sofia Coppola/Nic Cage

Take your pick.

the Willis/Moore girls ....uck!