Coe Operations Film Stars is an app about film stars where you can learn or be tested on your ability to identify them. There are links from their pictures to their corresponding Wikipedia bio page and to their filmography from in character shots. In character shots are predominately chosen from films suitable for a younger audience
There are three modes, two display modes that show film stars as themselves or in one of their fiim roles plus a test to see how well you can identify them. Display modes comprise hyperlinks from their picture to their respective Wikipedia bio page and from their film role to their filmography, which can sometimes be difficult to find when browsing on a phone.
Rolling Display Mode moves on every five seconds so the screen stays on in
the Android app because of its slideshow characteristics. You shouldn't leave
your device unattended as it could drain the battery so you are asked whether
you are still watching after 10 minutes of inactivity.
You may type single characters for rapid selection in display modes to jump to stars beginning with that letter or to the next available option, rolling over to the first if there are none. You can use the option list if you prefer to go straight to your chosen selection. Backward and forward buttons are also provided for navigation; the Left and Right Arrow keys can be used instead when viewing on a computer.
Adjacent images are preloaded while pictures are displayed to make viewing as seamless as possible. Click the Mode button to cycle through all three.
There are two views, Film Stars as themselves or in one of their film roles. As nearly all photographs of film stars are copyrighted they have been sourced from Wikimedia Commons. The year of the photograph along with its accreditation is shown with in character shots being attributed to the film rights holder, some of which are in dispute. They can, if necessary, be taken down should they be deemed copyright infringement.
Tap or click the button to switch views.
There is one further test option, 10 or 20 random questions. Correct solutions are shown after three wrong answers and shall be asked again. You may skip or go back to earlier questions as you please, but it does reset the question's wrong answer counter before the correct one is shown.
The other button is not actually a test option but used for switching name order. The default is the usual forename-surname order but surname-forename can be chosen if you prefer. Options are likely to filter more quickly with the latter when more movie stars have been added. Switching changes the order in Display Modes too to maintain Quick Selection but does not affect tests.
Typing is the preferred input method. Options beginning with entered text are filtered and autocompleted as you type, as shown above and in the following image. Since options are limited to those in the list, you are audibly warned when none exist, most likely the result a typing error, and the offending character is removed. Just accept the free hit if it wasn't a typo.
Press Enter/Go once filtered to the first or last remaining option, as shown above, to submit that as your answer. No further typing is necessary. Use the Backspace key as usual to correct mistakes.
Selection can also be made by directly interacting with the option list itself. Tap or click the input field at any time to show or hide it. Nothing is displayed where no options match the text in the input field, whereas all options are available when there is none.
The list can be swiped as usual on touch screens or scrolled with the mouse wheel on computers. Items are selected by tapping or clicking them. Press the Submit button or the Enter/Go key to submit your answer. Of course you may use a combination of typing and the option list.
The Down Arrow key can also be used on computers to activate the option list if hidden. Use the Up and Down keys to scroll and dynamically make selections, then press Enter when ready. This can also be done in Quick Select mode.
Gathering material for a Film Stars app began in early September 2025 as a surprise for my granddaughter's thirteenth birthday. Not exactly educational in the academic sense of the word, it is attuned to her interests. She is an attendee of the Pauline Quirke Academy of Performing Arts and something of an aficionado when it comes to films.
You are free to use and distribute this software or web package provided it is accredited and supplied in its entirety with no alteration and that no fee is charged. All source code remains the property of Coe Operations.
© Coe Operations Sep 2025