is it an avodah zarah to make a fictional film? does it depend on the subject? is a love story ok, for example, but a fantasy that ascribes supernatural powers to a person or entity not ok?
and on the subject of the sun, moon, and stars, is a movie shot which takes you through space an avodah zarah? examples abound of this kind of shot, ranging from star wars to the recent superman film.
i guess i'm asking if you find the entire field of filmmaking and film watching idolatrous?
sal
Avodah Zarah is - strictly speaking - worshiping anything other than Hash-m (RAMBAM, Hil. Avodah Zarah 2:1). I don't think that making or watching a fictional film comes within the definitional borders of Avodah Zarah. The problem, however, that might be encountered in making a fantasy film that ascribes supernatural powers to a person, is the prohibition of Kishuf (sorcery) that includes Achizas Einayim (what we call "magic") (RAMBAM, same 11:9 and 11:15). This is a well-known issue that magicians encounter in their work. As far as I know, this prohibition only applies to a real person performing supernatural feats, but not to a movie depicting such people. Perhaps in the making of the film, the actor was actually violating this prohibition, but my hunch is that it is not the actor who is creating the illusion but rather the special effects that are incorporated into the film itself.
You raised a valid issue, however, with your question about movie shots of the sun, moon, and stars. It could in fact be forbidden to make images of these things even if they are not intended for idol worship. The RAMBAM (same, 3:10) and Shulchan Aruch (YD, 141:4) say that it is forbidden to make images of the sun, moon, and stars even if they are flat images (making an image of a person is only forbidden if it is Bolet (raised). The reason for the distinction is that the celestial bodies appear to our eye as being flat and therefore even flat images are forbidden (Tosfos, Avodah Zarah, 43b DH ve'Ha Raban Gamliel). The prohibition, however, would only be in making the film, but not in watching it.
To address your last question: I don't think that filmmaking and film watching are idolatrous, but there may be other problems involved. The Shulchan Aruch (OC 307:16) says that one shouldn't read fictional novels because at best they are not edifying and at worse they may, especially in the case of love stories, stir up one's Yetzer ha'Ra. It's safe to say that whatever they had to say about books applies to movies as well.
Kol Tuv,
Yonasan Sigler