"I think Hollywood has a class system. The actors are like the inmates, but the truth is they're running the asylum"

Robert De Niro's quote is a commentary on the power dynamics of Hollywood. He suggests that the stars resemble prisoners, implying that they are helpless and at the mercy of the system. However, he also indicates that the actors are really the ones in control, as they are the ones running the asylum. This suggests that the actors have more power than they are provided credit for, which they are the ones who are actually in charge. This quote is a tip that the actors are not simply pawns in the Hollywood system, however that they have the power to shape the market and the stories that are told. It is a suggestion that the stars have the power to make a difference and to develop change.