Being a creative person in 2025 also means being social media savvy. It's not just about how quality the work is but also how you package it and get people to see the work. This is especially the case for newer and independent creators, where the marketing process is just as prevalent as the work. Ideally, there comes a time where you don't need to fixate on it so personally and people will come naturally. However, rising actress Maya Hawke says that your online visibility holds even more weight than the work itself.
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Recently, Maya spoke on the Happy Sad Confused podcast to talk everything from acting and Stranger Things to her music career. However, one thing that stands out in particular is her criticism of the modern film industry, where the celebrity outdraws the acting.
"What I always wanted to be is an actor where the work is what the draw is, not the personhood. But the industry keeps changing, and you have to change with it and understand that all of these things are getting blurred," Maya explains.
Maya Hawke Reveals That You Can Get Funding for a Film If You Bring in Plenty of Social Media Attention
Consequently, lots of actors like Hawke end up figuring out where they stand in the age of social media. For some, it's seamless, their personality can beam in an instant. Then, all they have to do is be around and share themselves enough where people can engage. However, people like Maya find it difficult, and sometimes, opportunities slip because of it.
"I don't care about Instagram, Instagram sucks. But just so you know, if you have over this many followers, you can get the money movie funded. Well, I want to make the movie, so it's a really confusing line to walk," she says.
Maya digs deeper by recalling conversations with directors where they reveal that follower counts often dictate who gets the final casting for roles. They'll get a list with a number they have to reach when coming up with a cast of actors. It's only when you're working with prestigious directors that this goes out the window.
"You can really focus and sit there and make a film with them. And I've been privileged enough to really work with three in my life. I got to work with three sets that were like this. I got to work with Quentin [Tarantino], I got to work with Bradley Cooper, and I got to work with Wes Anderson," Maya says.
