Synopsis

Madonna moves through a surreal parade of Hollywood fantasies, shifting between glamorous starlet, seductive pin-up, aging celebrity and artificial beauty. Surrounded by mirrors, lavish costumes, vintage jewelry and theatrical studio settings, she presents fame as both dazzling and hollow. Beauty treatments, sexualized poses and exaggerated performances expose the pressure to remain desirable in the entertainment industry. The video turns Hollywood's promise of transformation into a strange, colorful spectacle where success, youth and identity are constantly staged and repackaged.

Factoids & Trivia

• "Hollywood" was released in 2003 as the second single from Madonna's album "American Life."

• The video was filmed at Universal Studios in Universal City, California, over June 2-3, 2003.

• Its visual style drew heavily on the fashion photography of Guy Bourdin, known for highly staged, provocative and often unsettling compositions.

• Samuel Bourdin, the photographer's son, filed a copyright-infringement lawsuit in September 2003. The complaint alleged that at least 11 images in the video closely imitated his father's photographs.

• Madonna used approximately $20 million worth of vintage jewelry and gowns for the production, including jewelry associated with Mae West's appearance in the 1933 film "She Done Him Wrong."

• David Kish, a real physician, appeared as the Botox doctor. Madonna reportedly wanted the injection scenes to look convincing rather than resemble ordinary stage business.

• The video was later included in Madonna's 2009 compilation "Celebration - The Video Collection."