Are you A-list Material?

If you have seen Kathy Griffin’s reality TV show my life on the D List. You may have wondered about the title. To the causal TV viewer, this is just a catchy title for a TV show. To those in the know, it makes another statement. It’s a tongue in cheek reference to the list Hollywood assigns to its stars to determine their “bankability”. What is bankability? With all the glitz and glamour, it’s very easy to forget that Hollywood is a business, a billion dollar business. Making films requires a lot of financing. So directors, investors, and producers need to know if they are going to get a return on their money. To be honest most of movie making is still hit or miss but James Ulmer a contributing writer for the New York Times came up with a celebrity ranking system to assess which Hollywood stars are mostly likely to make a movie a success. So here is a breakdown of the list and some general tips on where you might try to fit in.

At the top of the food chain is the A list celebrity, this is a person who possess a huge acting range or some other amazing talent. But wait; now here is the part where you too can shine. The Ulmer Scale factors in professionalism. This means that being professional, showing up on time and doing a great job can go a long way in putting you in the A list category.

Next is the B list celebrity, these are stars that are able to demand a certain salary for projects, they are working on, but they have less public appeal due to personal issues or lack of star appeal. One notable thing about B-listers is their proximity to A-listers. The marriages of A-listers to B-listers always make the front pages of newspapers and magazines. So if you find yourself on the B list in Hollywood, one way to move up is marry an A-lister.

Third are the C list celebrity, many have been in the industry a long time in one shape or another. They are content to assume whatever role that will keep them in the spotlight for as long as possible. C-lister tend to come from another entertainment profession before turning their attention to acting. Rappers, reality TV stars are two examples. So if you had another entertainment profession before turning your sights on Hollywood, welcome to the C List.

Fourth is the D List, these are stars whose moment in the limelight has passed. That being said, this is Hollywood in America and America loves a comeback. So round and round it goes, being on the D list may be just the break your career needs to make it to the A list.

Lastly is the Z list, these are people who make a living in the entertainment industry doing other things. These are the movers and shakers of the industry. The people you have never heard of but are known by industry insiders from A lister to D lister. These people are far from the spotlight but are always in the center of the action. Z listers tend to have a long career life span then any other group on the list. So if longevity in Hollywood is your goal, then you need go to no farther than the Z list.

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