Im sitting around my girlfriends watching Lakeview Terrace, and it occurs to me that the main star of the film – Samuel L Jackson, is often playing the cop role in his movies. This makes me wonder why this is. Is it because Jackson is no good at any other type of role? Is it because he wanted to be a cop when he was growing up? Or is it because he doesn’t get offered roles of any other nature?

I have seen 51st State, Shaft, SWAT, Long Kiss Goodnight, and Coach Carter and all of these films symbolise Jackson’s typical role of authority and power of some kind, all pretty much on the right side of the law. I then start thinking about other actors such as Brad Pitt, who have more of a versatile approach to their acting careers.

This all makes me want to learn more about the cast screening process that film directors go through an how stars of the film are chosen. Although Im rambling, it does interest me….