Starsuckers

Chris Atkins explores humankind’s desire to be in the limelight and its impact on society. His film Starsuckers showcases the lengths publicity agents will go to in order to keep celebrities in the limelight and in gossip rags. One example reveals promoters’ efforts to keep Avril Lavigne’s name prominent in UK tabloids by planting a false story, and how few, if any, tabloids have any interest in investigating a juicy claim.

The documentary features archival footage of several celebrities, such as Bob Geldof and Elton John, and also consults forensic psychiatrist Park Dietz on why so many people are drawn to schadenfreude through the notion of celebrity downfall. It further highlights how the ‘industry’ of celebrity thrives on this fascination in order to draw in new talent, resulting in a never-ending cycle of rising stars whose downfalls only serve to inspire more aspirants.