Born into stardom?

YOUR article “Faces to Watch 2008” [Dec. 30] reminds me of a reality that is rarely investigated or talked about: how “pedigree” enables stardom.

For example, in your story about Zoe Kazan [granddaughter of Oscar-winning director Elia Kazan and daughter of screenwriter Nicholas Kazan], where you actually use the word “pedigree,” Ms. Kazan relates how she went through “six rounds” of auditions for a major movie role that she was continually told she was wrong for.

It is a fact that in the real world where thousands of “unpedigreed” but gifted actors live, they don’t even get the chance to be in the same room with directors like Sam Mendes to begin with, let alone be allowed six rounds of auditioning for him for a major role they were told they are wrong for and then sitting down for a chat about the script, etc.

And why not? Because, in time- and hype-driven show business, there is only so much time for auditioning actors, and “pedigree” cuts to the chase; it saves time. Agents, casting directors, directors and producers like a hook to sell with, and nothing sells an actor like “pedigree.” It gives everyone something to talk about. It is marketable.

Gifted or not, the “pedigreed” are penciled in for at least a shot at stardom, because, in this numbers game, they are born at the head of the line and they get every chance to stay there.

Don’t ever believe the stories about how being born “pedigreed” can be a liability. That is laughable. “Pedigree” equals opportunity, and, for actors, opportunity is literally everything. For the hapless unpedigreed actor, the only seemingly consistent antidote is being British.

Joel Anderson

Studio City