Ethan Hawke Compares Acting to “the Joys of Doing Drugs,” Talks About Being “Slightly Disappointed That I’m Not a Wizard or a Jedi”

As a seasoned film enthusiast, I find Ethan Hawke‘s words resonate deeply with me, echoing my own sentiments about the art of cinema. His profound appreciation for the medium and his continuous quest for knowledge are qualities that I greatly admire.

At a master class held in Venice on Monday, actor-director Ethan Hawke discussed various aspects of filmmaking, such as the pleasure, enchantment, and commercial aspects of it; his perspectives on indie and blockbuster films, including Star Wars and Harry Potter; collaborations with directors like Richard Linklater and Peter Weir; and the scarcity of projects he’s worked on with many female filmmakers.

At the start of the broadcasted event, Ethan Hawke reminisced about his initial visit to Venice for the filming of “Dead Poets Society”. “It was my debut at a film festival,” he said, “I was just eighteen. We screened the movie nearby, and it was an unforgettable experience. Many of those who worked on the film were there for the premiere, and you could sense the movie had cast a magical spell, and the audience’s response to the film was palpable.”

He went on to praise director Peter Weir, stating that “at that time, and even now, he is one of the rare master craftsmen I’ve encountered. To collaborate with him as a young artist, learn from his wisdom, and witness its impact was remarkable. It was a shared act of creative vision. … He excelled at inspiring a group of artists to share the same imagination and dream, and then to watch that dream materialize and be embraced by others. That’s quite powerful.”

Afterward, Hawke humorously remarked, causing laughter: “Experiencing acting is similar to hearing about the pleasure of using drugs. You just can’t help but want more. It’s such a fantastic sensation because you don’t feel lonely.” The artist then elaborated: “There’s a peculiar catch-22 in being an actor, as on the surface, you are praised for success, but the true delight lies in losing yourself… vanishing and merging with the dream. That’s the feeling that is so exhilarating. And it’s seeing the dream reflected in others where the excitement originates from. As soon as I left Venice at 18, I yearned to do it again. And now, looking out at you all, I am incredibly grateful to be here with you and to continue being a part of this journey.” The audience responded with a hearty round of applause.

Hawke noted that he has made a lot of films with many different, but mostly male directors. “I’ve worked with a lot of men from all over the world,” he said. “And I’ve only worked with a handful of female directors, which is, I would say, embarrassing for me, but it’s embarrassing for the industry because I want to.”

During an extensive conversation, the actor expressed his admiration for filmmakers who take financial risks and sell their properties, like Francis Ford Coppola did with Megalopolis, to pursue their artistic dreams. “Avarice governs our universe,” Hawke stated. “If you say you’re only after money, people understand your intentions, and they are okay with it. ‘Good for him, he sold a billion Big Macs.’ No, you have just contaminated the entire planet.” The actor further explained: “I appreciate it when people continue to nurture the dream of creating something extraordinary, but it’s challenging because the movie industry is primarily focused on making money – and most of our beloved films are not driven by financial gain.” Finally, Hawke declared: “I would never want to be someone who wouldn’t risk their home to make a film. I think it’s amazing. I truly admire that.”

Starting with “Before Sunrise,” Ethan Hawke described it as the initiation of his mature cinematic partnership. He further mentioned that this collaboration has blossomed into a longstanding friendship, with the pair having worked on approximately nine to ten films together, depending on how you choose to count them.

“Richard, an artist from my generation who I’ve met, was unlike others in the limelight. Although we were friends, he didn’t aspire to be famous or impress people. Instead, he deeply valued the art of filmmaking itself and continually learned and explored its possibilities.”

Additionally, Hawke mentioned: “He has always been fond of European films and global cinema. As a youth, he was intrigued by the evolution of this art form throughout our era and was eager to be part of shaping its future conversation.”

Occasionally, Hawke humorously touched upon the ongoing learning process for movie makers. “At sixteen, I believed I was all-knowing,” he said with a wink, “but at fifty-three, I feel as if I know nothing.”

As a passionate enthusiast, I can’t help but view myself as an apprentice in the realm of this craft. There seems to be a unique geometry that governs all films, a subtle difference that varies depending on the genre and budget. This is what Ethan Hawke referred to as “the math of the genre” when discussing his perspective.

Hawke on Monday also compared making independent films with Linklater and others to tentpole movies. “If you go see Harry Potter or Star Wars or something, which I’ve seen a million times, and I love them, but when they are over, I feel slightly disappointed that I’m not a wizard or a Jedi,” he quipped. “And I walk through my life thinking, I wish I were a Jedi. And when you see a Richard Linklater film, you walk out feeling ‘well, I’ve done that. I’ve met a person, I’ve connected with another human being, and that was important, and that was magic.’ It’s like that old Zen quote: ‘You don’t have to walk on water, you get to walk on Earth’. Isn’t that amazing? I feel that’s what Richard Linklater’s movies do – remind you that it’s a miracle that we walk on Earth and that we breathe at all, and that there’s whales and giraffes and life is unbelievable if you don’t hyperbolize it.”

As a gaming enthusiast dipping my toes into film criticism, I’ve got to say, I initially had no intention of starring in a horror flick, but thanks to Joe Dante and my appreciation for the genre, I found myself drawn to the chilling tale of Sinister. To me, a great horror movie should be genuinely terrifying at its core, while also seamlessly fitting within the genre. Even if these films tackle broader socio-political issues, they need to keep that essence of fear intact.

When asked about his passion for music and directing, Hawke expressed that the process of working with music is what he enjoys most when directing. He mentioned that memorizing lines as an actor can sometimes feel mundane and dull, but doing so in connection with music transforms that experience. Later, the star commended Brady Corbet’s film “The Brutalist“, which garnered acclaim at Venice on Sunday, particularly its musical aspect.

I’m thrilled to share that in a few weeks, I’ll be graced with the Golden Panther Award at the enchanting Lucca Film Festival held in Italy. On September 26th, I’ll unveil my latest creation, “Wildcat,” where I had the privilege of directing my remarkable daughter Maya.

Previously, the Venice 2024 master classes have showcased figures like Sigourney Weaver, who delved into the enduring impact of her Ripley persona from “Alien”, Australian director Peter Weir reminisced humorously about intervening to improve Mel Gibson and Weaver’s on-screen smooch in “The Year of Living Dangerously”, and Richard Gere jokingly admitted that he and Julia Roberts lacked spark in “Pretty Woman”.

2024-09-02 12:25

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