Hollywood stars' transition from big to small screen

Kevin Spacey in "House of Cards". [Photo/CNTV]

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For Hollywood's big stars, the traditional dividing line between film and television is blurring. This had a seminal moment back in 2004, when "Angels in America" sent Meryl Streep and Al Pacino up the Emmy red carpet. Since then, more and more actors of the big screen have transitioned to the small screen.

Movie stars and filmmakers are turning to television in record numbers. Names like Martin Scorsese and Steve Buscemi of "Boardwalk Empire", Claire Danes in "Homeland", David Fincher, Kevin Spacey and Robin Wright of "House of Cards", and this season Halle Berry in TV show "Extant" – big names in film have turned to television and the trend shows no sign of slowing.

It is becoming quite clear that there are many new trends cropping up in the entertainment industry. One recently prominent trend involves film actors transitioning to TV shows. The stars themselves are the ones who can explain the sudden jump from big screen to small screen.

Lucy Liu made her jump from the big screen - like "Charlie's Angels" and the "Kill Bill" franchise - to starring in the TV hit "Elementary".

"I think it's wonderful. Television has a wonderful way of getting out there so quickly. You'll shoot it and it's already on air, and in films sometimes you'll do a wonderful film but it takes a long time to get bought or sold or seen," Liu said.