Please treat Hudcon as role models responsibly
Though I know reddit tends to skew slightly older than other social media platforms, this is mostly directed at younger members of the fandom, or anyone who needs to hear it. I’m writing this because the department where I’m completing my master’s degree shares many classrooms with the bachelor’s course focused on theatre history. A lot of aspiring actors take said course, and since it’s arts-adjacent, many of them are queer. Unsurprisingly, Heated Rivalry is very popular within these circles, and a lot of people felt inspired by Hudson’s and Connor’s stories.
Unfortunately, I also feel like Hudcon’s success has encouraged some unrealistic expectations and fed some delusions, with the general mindset being: “They did it, so I can too.” Some students I know are considering quitting their studies to pursue auditions full-time without financial stability or a backup plan. This mindset also extends to other creative spaces and art forms, especially in online echo chambers.
To preface, I consider Hudson and Connor to be excellent actors. HR would not have achieved its success without their performances and charm. It’s clear they’ve put hundreds of hours into their craft, and that deserves respect. Their dedication is absolutely something worth admiring. However, while success in acting does demand hard work, it also requires a supportive environment where people are given the time, space, and opportunity to develop the required skills. At the end of the day, we’re all products of our environment to some extent.
Hudcon are the new “it boys” of Hollywood, and of course there’s a tendency to create a narrative around their rise to fame. I think a lot of people buy too heavily into the “rags to riches” shtick. Both of them had already been professionally pursuing acting for around 6-8 years before HR. Hudson’s early education was also heavily focused on drama and theatre, which undeniably gave him a head start over many others in the industry. The same applies to aspects of Connor’s background.
And when I say "the industry,” I don’t just mean Hollywood stars. I also mean the countless actors struggling to make ends meet and treating acting as an expensive hobby because they can't afford to dedicate themselves to it full-time. Even before HR, both Hudson and Connor had accumulated an impressive amount of work experience for young actors. Very few manage to land that many roles over the same timespan.
Yes, they were working as waiters a year ago, but that’s also one of the most common jobs for people in acting because it’s flexible and allows them to accommodate auditions and filming schedules. More importantly, they clearly had enough financial stability to continue investing in themselves and their careers over many years. Even stuff like the editing and music softwares they'd been using, their body builds, the fact they could afford acting classes and courses, gym memberships, in Hudson's case expensive skincare, is proof that they were never truly broke. That doesn’t diminish their hard work at all, but it does mean that there were additional forms of support they had access to.
They also come across as articulate, thoughtful, and well-adjusted people for their age, which again suggests that they likely benefited from strong support systems and environments. Not everyone's family gives their children freedom to pursue an arts-focused education or unconventional career path, and that’s okay. These two are not deities or proof that talent alone guarantees success though. If anything, they’re an example of luck favouring the prepared and maximising opportunities through hard work. They also have genuine passion for their craft and weren't chasing fame.
Additionally, for my fellow neurodivergent people, especially those with ADHD. Hudson has mentioned having ADHD and being unmedicated. ADHD presents differently for everyone, it's a spectrum. You are not somehow lesser than him because you struggle, need medication, or don’t have the same level of success and productivity. Maintaining that work ethic for years is difficult for many people with ADHD, bordering on a miracle in his case (imo). I consider it to be more proof of him having a tightly knit support system in place.
In short, please be responsible with the way you idolise these two. Aspire to be hardworking and passionate about your craft the way they are. Be inspired by their performances. Don’t compare your entire life or future to their level of stardom. Their rise to fame was unusual even for Hollywood. Though hardworking, they also clearly took advantage of opportunities when they appeared, and those opportunities mattered.
Dream big, absolutely, but don’t let those dreams cloud your judgment to the point of irrationality. Creative industries are financially unstable. You need stability, support, a solid education, connections, or at the very least a realistic backup plan to even try to make it. Don’t throw everything away chasing a fantasy.
Hudcon were not complete unknowns before their breakout. The fact that they were cast in leading roles already suggests that they had built a reputation within industry circles beforehand. Casting directors and producers don’t suddenly discover actors out of nowhere. They definitely don't watch all the hundreds of audition tapes they receive. Hudcon had already established themselves, at least witihin the casting world, long before Heated Rivalry. Yes, they worked hard for that position, but they were also fortunate enough to have the opportunity to aim for it in the first place.