Ensemble cast
From Free net encyclopedia
An ensemble cast is a cast in which the principal performers are assigned roughly equal amounts of importance in a dramatic production.
This kind of casting became more popular in television series because it allows for flexibility for writers to focus on different characters in different episodes. In addition, the departure of players is less disruptive to the premise than it would be if the star of a production with a regularly structured cast leaves.
Some films have ensemble casts usually revolving around one large theme like the Lord of the Rings or Star Wars movies or they revolve around interrelated themes persistent throughout individual subplots of the characters. The great American director Robert Altman is revered in the industry for his abilities in handling large casts.
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Television series with ensemble casts
- Arrested Development
- Boston Public
- Cheers
- Chicago Hope
- Crossing Jordan
- Dallas
- Desperate Housewives
- ER
- Firefly
- Friends
- Grey's Anatomy
- Knots Landing
- L.A. Law
- Lost
- M*A*S*H
- Newsradio
- Northern Exposure
- Picket Fences
- Seinfeld
- Stargate SG-1
- Star Trek spinoffs (Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Star Trek: Voyager, Star Trek: Enterprise)
- The West Wing
Movies with ensemble casts
- Grand Hotel (1932)
- the Star Wars franchise (1977), (1980), (1983), (1999), (2002), (2005)
- The Untouchables (1987)
- Dazed and Confused (1993)
- Short Cuts (1993)
- Even Cowgirls Get the Blues (1993)
- Pulp Fiction (1994)
- L.A. Confidential (1997)
- The Thin Red Line (1998)
- Cradle Will Rock (1999)
- The Anniversary Party (2001)
- The Lord of the Rings (trilogy) (2001), (2002), (2003)
- The Usual Suspects (1995)
- Love Actually (2003)
- Crash (2004)
- Sin City (2005)
- Bobby (2006)
Paul Thomas Anderson films
- Boogie Nights (1997)
- Magnolia (1999)
Robert Altman films
- Nashville (1975)
- The Player (1992)
- Gosford Park (2001)
- Dr. T & the Women (2000)
Steven Soderbergh films
- Traffic (2000)
- Ocean's Eleven (2001)
- Ocean's Twelve (2004)
- Ocean's Thirteen (2007)