"The idea is placing yourself in a different set of circumstances and that what we think of as ourself is not as unique as we believe it to be...I'm an actor because I want to be a part of the conversation." - Ethan Hawke, December 3rd.

New England landmark and Brookline staple, The Coolidge Corner Theatre, honored legendary actor, filmmaker, producer, and author Ethan Hawke with The Coolidge Award on December 3rd. After a Q&A and two screenings of his latest film, Blue Moon, in which he delivers a career-defining performance as lyricist Lorenz Hart, Hawke sat down for an insightful discussion with members of the community.

He was introduced with a brilliant highlight reel of his work that wove a thread of truth and curiosity through all his varied roles. Hawke gave The Coolidge's reel the stamp of approval, recounting the odd experience of reliving his career in a few quick minutes as a "spiderweb" of who he is and what he loves about his craft.

The Coolidge Award commemorated his extraordinary contributions to film and culture. Hawke has pursued roles and projects that continue to defy expectations and champion creativity since he was 13, with a large part of the discussion focusing on his start as a child actor. He shared his perspective with the added experience of a four-decade career under his belt, recalling the 2001 film, Tape, being a transformative moment that helped him have "a breakthrough in my own level of relaxation and playfulness...When you start as a child actor, you see yourself as a child actor. Most of you are not doing the same profession you were doing at 13, unless this is a room full of paper boys, but I am. I am doing the same job that I was doing at 13 years old, so my relationship to it has to keep changing, and there are certain moments that [helped] it change."

Part of the process includes becoming a perpetual student and learning from those with more expertise than you. Hawke "self-identifies as a student. I knew I was on set, and I knew less than everybody, so I saw every experience as a possible learning experience. And then that becomes a habit."

One of his standout memories following this practice occurred while observing Denzel Washington, someone he deemed "truly one of the greatest to have done this profession," on the set of Training Day. Hawke paralleled the disservice of athletes becoming diminished versions of themselves in the presence of greatness with his work with Washington. Instead of hesitating and overthinking, he studied the way Washington learned lines and handled hair and makeup.

This hunger and curiosity led him to experiment with roles. Acting is a deeply personal and vulnerable profession to Hawke, making it only natural that he prepares for a role by finding similarities between the character and himself: "The game for me is to make each one of them me."

As the night went on, Hawke's passion for film shifted more into focus, narrating how "part of you is playing the character and another part of you is saying, 'Isn't this magnificent?' " His love extends to both sides of the screen, with Hawke relishing his time in the audience. He believes that a "really good movies start when the end credits roll," when they become a conversation with loved ones, coworkers, and friends in the lobby. Film is a great connector, and Hawke acknowledges that sharing moments in theatres like The Coolidge is a fundamental part of consuming them.

Launched over 20 years ago, The Coolidge Award recognizes artists whose work has created a lasting impact on film history. The discussion shed light on one of the great creative minds of this time, someone who has dedicated their life's work to bringing audiences together. Hawke joined a prestigious list of past honorees, including Meryl Streep, Francis Ford Coppola, Werner Herzog, Jane Fonda, and more. This event was a fundraiser for the Coolidge Corner Theatre Foundation, a nonprofit supporting mission-driven film programs and pro bono initiatives dedicated to educating youth. Visit coolidge.org to support the theatre and learn more about future screenings and programming.