Emma Thompson Isn’t Here For Actors Who Get Work Just Because They’re Popular On Twitter

May 9, 2016 / Posted by:

Thanks to Calvin Klein, I know that models nowadays book jobs based on how many people follow them on Instagram. Although I wasn’t aware that there was a hiring practice in Hollywood where your chances of getting cast in a movie were higher if you included your social media stats on the back of your headshot. But apparently that’s a thing, and Emma Thompson isn’t happy about it.

On Friday, Emma attended an event for British Academy Award winners that was hosted by Prince Charles (speaking of people who were handed their job…). According to The Telegraph, it was there that she went off on the current system. A system which sounds like audition slates begin with an actor reciting the number of followers they have on Twitter and Instagram.

She said that one of the things that “really worries” her about social media is “we’re casting actors who have big followings so the studios can use their followings to sell their movie.” She added: “The actors are becoming attached in the sort of business way to their social media profiles, and I think that’s a disaster.”

Michael Caine, who was there as well, also chimed in with his thoughts on the Kardashianizing of the casting process.

“These days they just say I’m going to be an actor because I want to be rich and famous. And then they do a little part on television and everyone knows who they are. They can’t really act. They’re very young now. I was 30 before I became well known. I’ve watched it ruin people. By the time they’re 30, they’re through.”

I’m willing to give Emma Thompson and Michael Caine the benefit of the doubt here. They came from the old school of acting, where you needed talent to be successful. But if I’ve learned anything from Emma and Michael, it’s that faking-it-till-you-make-it in Hollywood is a whole lot easier than it looks. All an aspiring actor or actress needs is a couple dozen fake Twitter and Instagram accounts. Then it’s as simple as replying to their own posts with “Follow me back pls???” and “PLEASE COME TO BRAZIL QUEEN.” Eventually strangers will start following them, and before they know it, they’ll be like: “Hi, I’d like to meet with Harvey Weinstein. I don’t have an appointment, but as you can see from my Instagram profile, I’ve got a hot face and 950k followers.

Pic: Wenn.com

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