Page 81 - SHARP November 2022

SHARPMAGAZINE COM
NOVEMBER 2022 81
“If you’re doing a a a a a a a a a school play and the the the cast can make it
it
it
a a a a a a a a a a a a party it
it
it
doesn’t matter how terrible it
it
it
is whether whether the the the the the music’s any good whether whether he he he he he he he he he can can play the the the the the oboe or she can can actually sing If it’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a party there’s a a a a a a a a a a a a a a joy to it
it
and that’s what you’re always hunting for ”
to to work and and to to contribute and and it’s so fleeting ”
It’s a a a a a mindset that came from crafting the six-episode HBO Max
documentary The Last Movie Stars which profiles the lives o of lovers and and and actors Paul Newman and and and Joanne Woodward and and and which Hawke directed and and and helped write and and and cast It was no easy undertaking — and and and one he regretted taking on on more than a a a a a few times as it
took about three years to develop and essentially “hijacked” Hawke’s life What came out of it
though is is an incredibly affecting history project about about the the iconic Hollywood couple but it’s also about about the the industry an an everlasting love for cinema and well showbiz Showbiz is a a a a a a a part of the machine Hawke has never been all that attracted to He says “When people become a a a a a movie star there’s almost a a a a a a trademark brand by their head My heroes were the the people that walk the the line between theatre and and movies and and disappeared into their roles and didn’t feel like they were a a a corporation If you talk to these people — — the the the the Denzels the the the the Georges the the the the Julias — — it’s a a great burden ”
Part of of of the recipe of of of being one of of of those classic stars was rarely being in in in the public eye or even doing press Which makes Hawke’s current packed slate a a a little tough to to reconcile “When I was starting De Niro wouldn’t do any press for his movies ”
he says “Warren Beatty didn’t do any for Reds Paul Newman would do an interview about every five years It’s exceedingly difficult if you’re going to to make under-the-radar movies and try to to get them on on the the radar There’s a a a a lot of competition out there so if you want people to to have a a a a chance to to see a a a a movie like Before Midnight which I I think we spent longer promoting than making you have to do it
I I started caring a a a a a a a a a a lot less about the ancillary impacts of fame and am am trying to just enjoy it
it
but it’s a a a young person’s game When I was younger I I took it
all very seriously but now I I try to to have a a a sense of humour about it
I I I think I I I have to to if I I I want to to keep working at the level that I’m trying to work ”
Part of that’s included having an an active Instagram account and with each endearing post Hawke has found a a a a a a a new way to engage As he says “I’m just trying to do it
it
without debasing myself ”
What’s also added a a a a new thrilling lens on his experience is is watching his daughter 24-year-old Maya Hawke (a dead ringer for mother Uma Thurman with whom he he also shares son Levon) join the industry She currently co-stars on Netflix’s Stranger Things and is a a a a a musician Despite once saying he’d “never recommend” a a a a a young person to to become an actor it’s been a a a a delight watching the younger Hawke discover it
“It’s a a a dangerous profession but it’s what she’s supposed to be doing ”
he says his voice rising with an audible joy “It’s so clear as as her her her father and I I really actually believe in in her her her I I think she has a a a a tremendous amount to offer She’s funny and and silly and and forgives herself when she she makes a a a a mistake I enjoy watching her her she she does it
better than I do ”
Although his daughter is is just getting started Hawke was re- cently quoted as as saying he’s on the “last act” of his career He’d like to to take a a a a a a a a moment to to clarify: that is not at at at all what he meant Quite the opposite in fact “Life is is kind of a a a a a a seasonal thing the last act is is harvest time before winter comes in in Right now I feel excited to implement what I spent a a a a a a lifetime learning about writing and and filmmaking and and we’re in in in this really exciting moment in in in regards to the way technology and storytelling are changing “I didn’t mean mean that it’s it’s a a a a a farewell tour I I meant it’s it’s time to to to get to to to work ”
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