The Future of Hollywood

A couple of girlfriends and I went to see MAGIC MIKE on Independence Day. Because what says American patriot more than sexually exploiting Channing Tatum? Not much, in my book! About a third into the movie, Andie leaned over and asked if the lead actress was Elvis Presley's granddaughter.

"No," I replied. "Her daddy is the head of a studio."

Her being Cody Horn, and "her daddy" being Alan Horn, chairman of Walt Disney Studios.

About twenty minutes later, Riley Keough appears on screen as a pink-haired party girl. Riley's mom is Lisa Marie Presley; Lisa Marie's daddy, of course, is Elvis.  This got me to thinking about all the other Hollywood kids that are shaping the current movie industry landscape, and the ones that always come up in casting sessions as being "so-n-so's kid."


A trailer in front of MAGIC MIKE that looks like this year's (500) DAYS OF SUMMER is entitled RUBY SPARKS.  Ruby is being played by Zoe Kazan. Zoe is the granddaughter of Elia Kazan and daughter of screenwriter Robin Swicord.

Another Zoe who is being rumbled about is Zoe Kravitz. She, of course, is the daughter of Lisa Bonet and Lenny Kravitz. Lenny being the son of actress Roxie Roker and news executive Sy Kravitz.

Kazan also reminded me of Kasdan, Jake Kasdan son of Lawrence Kasdan -- whom "everyone" was rooting for when BAD TEACHER came out. It bombed, but I don't think we should be worried for Jake. Hollywood kids always get a second chance...and a third...and a fourth...and a, well, you get the picture.

Jake reminded me of director Jason Reitman, son of director Ivan Reitman. Jason gained some indie cred with THANK YOU FOR SMOKING before scoring big a couple summers ago with JUNO and then was up for an Oscar with UP IN THE AIR because Hollywood loves nothing more than a dynasty. (Drew Barrymore will get an Oscar. She just isn't trying hard enough. One Holocaust movie, Drew, or a bio pic that isn't on HBO. They will throw rose petals for you on your way to the stage.)

Jake and Jason reminded me of Jeffrey Jacob Abrams, better known as JJ.  JJ is the son of producer Gerald Abrams. If you haven't heard of JJ, you're dead.

There's Lily Collins who starred in MIRROR, MIRROR this summer with Julia Roberts (whose brother Eric helped her get her start, and who is helping Eric's daughter Emma in return). Lily doesn't like to mention it, but her daddy is Phil Collins. Against All Odds?  Not likely. Her co-star was Armie Hammer.  Armie is the great-grandson of Armand Hammer. I know this because we were looking at him for a role before THE SOCIAL NETWORK came out and the casting director made sure that we knew that he was a Hammer of the Los Angeles Hammers. Speaking of Money...

Rooney Mara, the newest of the new It Girls, is NFL royalty. Great grandpas Rooney and Mara were founders of the Steelers and the Giants respectively. You might argue that the NFL isn't Hollywood, but I would say, "have you seen the SuperBowl ratings?" Entertainment is entertainment, and more importantly, money is money, darling. This is the USA.

Speaking of It Girls, this entry wouldn't be complete without bring up GIRLS, the new HBO comedy coming to an Emmy show near you. Lena Dunham's mom is Laurie Simmons. Allison Williams is the daughter of NBC news anchor Brian (who is rumored to be friends with GIRLS producer Judd Apatow, but we have been assured that Allison had to audition).  Jemima Kirke's dad is the drummer for Bad Company. Zosia Mamet's father is none other than David Mamet.

And the list goes on and on: Kristen Stewart is the daughter of a producer dad and script supervisor mom; Blake Lively's dad is actor Ernie Lively; Keira Knighley's mom is playwright Sharman MacDonald and dad is stage actor Will Knightley. Rashida Jones, of course, is the daughter of music producer Quincy Jones and MOD SQUAD actress Peggy Lipton. Chris Pine's dad was on CHIPs. Mamie Gummer and Eva Amurri Martino are the daughters of Meryl Streep and Susan Sarandon respectively. But these guys are sooo last year, I shouldn't have even brought them up. 

Occasionally, I'm called upon to give advice to people trying to break into the industry. I give them all the same crap advice I got when I was trying to get my first job. Look at the UTA job list. Make friends. Make more friends. Network. Be thin and pretty/hard bodied and hot. But really, it comes down to good old fashioned nepotism. If you got a family member in the business, then you can get into the business...how else do you explain Jim Belushi?