Hollywood Reporter Releases Star PowerÆ í99 WinnersBy Laurie Sevano

Whatís in a name? A big opening weekend boxoffice according to The Hollywood Reporter and their 1999 Star PowerÆ survey.Previewed in a recent issue, the survey was designed to rate actors and actresses based on their ability to influence the boxoffice success of a movie just by having their name attached to the project. Look Whoís TalkingIn the fifth annual installment of the survey, 135 individuals were asked to participate. They included development executives, film buyers, producers, studio executives and others who play an integral role in the business of movie making. Those polled were asked to assign a rank to each performer that best described their ability to contribute to or accomplish the following on an international scale: their ability to ensure financing, ensure major studio distribution, ensure wide theatrical release and open a film to significant weekend boxoffice based on the strength of their name alone. The rankings were assigned numeric ranges and were designated as follows: Maximum Star Power, Strong Star Power, Moderate Star Power, Minimum Star Power and No Star Power/Donít Know. The points that could be assigned to a performer ranged from zero to 100.Participants were encouraged to assign a rating on what they did know of an actor or actress if they were unfamiliar with them rather than assign a ""Donít Know"" rating and if they were only familiar with their particular region, such as Europe or Japan, they were requested to select their rankings based only on that area.Reality BitesThe compiled list of 525 actors and actresses was not meant to be all encompassing nor to imply those excluded from the list lacked significance. In addition, the ratings given to each performer were purely subjective and based on their ability to enhance the business side of the success of a movie. It was not designed to be a reflection of talent. It was also acknowledged that an actor in the middle of the Star Power range might do more for an independent, niche market film than someone from the higher end. Field Of DreamsSo, who came out on top in this ""Power"" Struggle? Actor Tom Hanks snagged the top spot posting a perfect 100 Star Power points in the global results. ""Lethal Weapon"" man Mel Gibson scored the second position with a 99.44 global rating (scoring perfect 100s in both Australia and the United States, his rating in England of 97.92 dropped him just below the top spot). Tom Cruise (99.05), Harrison Ford (98.69) and Jim Carrey (97.22) rounded out the top five.Single White FemaleThe lone actress to crack the top ten was ""Pretty Woman"" Julia Roberts at number eight (94.63 global score) beating out Robin Williams (94.44) and Brad Pitt (94.22) who finished off the Top Ten. Meg Ryan (90.49) and Jodie Foster (88.52), however, also scored in the ultimate Maximum Star Power category.AwakeningsOther notables in the survey are those whose ratings have made significant jumps over their 1998 Star Power scores. They include Ben Affleck who increased his rating by 44.67 percent (1999: 73.70/1998: 29.03), Cameron Diaz with a 29.61 percent leap (1999: 85.26/1998: 55.65) and that ""Big Daddy"" Adam Sandler scoring a whopping 47.33 percent gain (1999: 80.93/1998: 33.60).For more on the Star Power survey, contact The Hollywood Reporter atwww.hollywoodreporter.com.