Ethan Hawke is the latest Hollywood veteran to voice his concern over the growing trend of casting actors based on their social media following rather than their talent. The celebrated actor, known for his thought-provoking performances in films like ‘Boyhood’, weighed in on the subject.
To Hawke, this shift in the industry standards was jarring. He believes that acting is about storytelling and emotional depth, not social media followers.
Ethan Hawke On Young Actors Who Perceive Acting As Going To The Gym And Looking Good
While talking during a press interview at the Berlin Film Festival, Ethan Hawke shared his feelings on the matter. Hawke’s remarks were prompted by recent comments from his daughter, Maya Hawke, who revealed that many filmmakers are being pressured by producers to cast actors with a high number of Instagram followers.
“I really feel for these people. It’s really hard,” Hawke admitted. “Sometimes I’ll be setting a movie up and someone will say, ‘Oh, you should cast Suzie.’ I’m like, ‘Who is she?’ ‘She has 10 million followers.’ I’m like, ‘OK cool, has she acted before?’ ‘No, but…’ And you’re like, ‘Wow, so this is going to help me get the movie made? This is crazy.’”
This shift in the industry, where an actor’s ability to bring in an audience is sometimes measured by their social media presence rather than their acting prowess, is something that troubles Hawke. He fears that this trend could dilute the art of acting. Additionally, Hawke didn’t hold back when addressing the superficiality of the situation.
“So if I don’t have this public-facing platform, I don’t have a career? And if I get more followers I might get that part? What?” he questioned. He also pointed out a growing misconception among young actors about what it means to be a performer. “I meet so many young actors that think being an actor is protein shakes and going to the gym,” he stated. The actor, who has been in the industry for decades, emphasized that acting should be about storytelling and not about how many likes or followers someone has.
Ethan Hawke’s Transformation For ‘Blue Moon’ And How It Led To Women Treating Him Differently
While Ethan Hawke is known for his candid takes on the industry, he’s also making headlines for his drastic transformation in ‘Blue Moon’. The actor takes on the role of Lorenz “Larry” Hart, a Broadway lyricist known for his brilliance, but also for his struggles with addiction and self-worth.
In case you missed it: Ethan Hawke Reveals Why He Hated Being Gen X Poster Boy
To embody the 5-foot-tall, balding genius, Hawke underwent an extreme makeover, including shaving his head and appearing physically shorter on screen. “It was demolishing my vanity,” Hawke admitted. Hawke pointed out that his appearance led to people treating him very differently and women laughing at him.
“It’s very interesting how people treated me differently, particularly the way women treated me… Everybody giggles at you, they poke your ear, they pat your head, and they don’t take you seriously,” he explained. Moreover, this physical transformation helped Hawke better understand the challenges Hart faced throughout his life.
