Starmaker

The price of fame is often reflected in the consequences, less so in the arduous journey beforehand. In Starmaker, an indie feature film penned by Krystal Lawton, Joshua David Pivato, and Nicholas Raponi, we see the terrifying ordeals a person would endure as a potential price to pay for their dream.

Lawton plays Katrina, an aspiring actor hoping for her first big break. With a potentially huge role at stake, she submits herself to an intensive coaching “retreat” with an acting coach called Simon (Pivato). The initial gruelling exercise and diet are bad enough, but they pale in comparison to the traumatic stress Katrina undergoes whilst in the isolated location with no access to a telephone or help. She must process and overcome her own personal demons, as well as the nightmarish teaching lessons from Simon, if she is to get the part.

Presented in black and white, with an, at times, melodramatic score, Starmaker has a slightly vintage feel, with subtle gothic undertones. The storyline is easy to follow, and the thrifty use of characters and locations makes sure the budget (approx 120k according to IMDb) goes a long way. Being the co-writers and with Pivato also directing here, it was strange that he and Lawton seemed to lack chemistry. This could be due to the fact that Katrina, as a character, is warm and Simon is a cold, mean figure, but their onscreen struggle never quite pulls the audience in as a whole, ultimately meaning we never get fully immersed.

By tapping into enduring themes of human inferiority, generational trauma, and the predatory nature of success, Starmaker has a wide appeal, and the tension increases proportionately as Katrina gets deeper into the retreat. Furthermore, the punishing nature of the acting lessons felt akin to movies like Whiplash and Foxcatcher, where the pursuit of glory can overshadow personal safety. Fame is a brutal mistress, and here we see the way someone’s dream can be turned into a nightmare.

An element of mystery is thrown in for the viewer, which is fun to grapple with. As an audience, we question the reality of what is being presented, especially when we see dreamlike sequences involving snakes, red carpets, and goo spewing from someone’s mouth (Katrina’s mother is a haunting presence throughout the story). Is the experience actually just character building? Or a sadistic power play with everything on the line?

Method acting has always been a controversial topic, and here the filmmakers have made it a cerebral thriller. Whilst the execution lacks the polished performances and compelling central dynamic many viewers will hope for, it has enough grit and determination to keep us watching.