From the beginning of the movie industry, through the studio system, when an actor or actress has a film that is very popular, and they start getting lots of fanmail, the industry notices. Bit parts for some actors have gotten so much mail that the actor or actress was rushed into another movie to capitalize on the buzz.
I know because I'm old enough to have seen it happen to a few of my favorites back in the 'good old days.' Van Johnson, Marilyn Monroe, Lana Turner, and even Paul Newman were either bit players who were discovered by fans and written to, or were talents who were deluged with mail after their first appearance on the screen and the studio made sure they were given a role in another picture immediately. Some new stars were glad to have the studio staff write back to fans who wrote asking for pictures or autographs. I had a huge collection back in the 1940's. It's nothing new.
Now, it is the agencies and each actor who has to be the entity to capitalize on the buzz and mail, and blogs and fan sites after a big film hit. Which is what happened after "300". I would imagine the flood of snail mail, email and blogging going on about the film and Gerard Butler, was so much it could not be ignored.
And Gerry is reaping the rewards of offers for more projects. And he is doing what a smart actor should do. Get the next few projects nailed down, do good work, and hope it all continues.
The public that becomes an audience, and an audience that becomes fans, are all part of the whole picture. :)
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