Most difficult actors to work with?
07-14-15, 04:05 PM
#51
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
And we were all trapped out in Pittsburgh shooting this movie, which is the middle of nowhere, so whenever people had a few days off they would ask if they could go to New York, or back to Los Angeles, or elsewhere. I always said "sure", because why would I want to make anybody sit in Pittsburgh if they've got something else to do?
I don't get why Pittsburgh gets all this hate. If it was Arizona I would leave since it is so dam hot there.
Is Robert Downey Jr difficult? It seems like he might have a big ego.
07-14-15, 04:21 PM
#53
07-14-15, 04:28 PM
#54
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
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07-14-15, 04:30 PM
#56
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
If Pittsburgh was so bad, why do directors keep filming there? I seem to remember one of the Nolan Batman movies being filmed, at least partially, in Pittsburgh.
07-14-15, 04:33 PM
#58
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
Didn't Jeremy London and Jason Lee have more screen time than Forlani in Mallrats? I don't remember her having so many scenes. Were a lot of her scenes cut?
I've heard Kevin Spacey is hard to work with. That could just be a rumor, but that's why he hasn't done a lot of movies and feels fine doing other stuff like House of Cards.
I've heard Kevin Spacey is hard to work with. That could just be a rumor, but that's why he hasn't done a lot of movies and feels fine doing other stuff like House of Cards.
07-14-15, 05:17 PM
#62
DVD Talk Legend
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
Dustin Hoffman has been known to be demanding and sometimes difficult....but he falls in with others such as Burt Lancaster and Kirk Douglas who are passionate/perfectionist about their work and are sometimes labelled as difficult because of it, especially when they don't see eye to eye with the director.
I can accept behavior like that, but not behavior due to having a big ego and inflated self importance.
I can accept behavior like that, but not behavior due to having a big ego and inflated self importance.
07-14-15, 05:21 PM
#63
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
07-14-15, 06:18 PM
#64
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
Oops, wrong movie lol nevermind. Still, there were a bunch of scenes without her. Smith could have easily given her some breaks. I'd argue Affleck was in the movie almost as much as her.
07-14-15, 08:32 PM
#65
DVD Talk Limited Edition
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
They filmed Salton Sea at my place of business and one of our security guards worked overtime and was surprised to see Kilmer eating with the rest of the grunts. Granted, no one would look at him or make eye contact let alone talk to him - but Kilmer took a bite of his steak, chewed on it for a bit, made a face of discomfort, and spat it out on the floor, got up and walked away. My friend was all like: what an ass.
It took 2-3 years for The Salton Sea to finally be released and it was a really good neo-noir piece.
It took 2-3 years for The Salton Sea to finally be released and it was a really good neo-noir piece.
Yeah, but when every other cast member gets a break and you don't, that starts to wear on you. Fiorentino may have had second thoughts after a couple of weeks of that pace. Directors can pull that with actors they've worked with a lot and who depend on them for various reasons, but if it's your first time working with someone and the pace gets grueling and you're expected to keep up but no other actors in the cast are, one can get upset. If Smith hadn't vetted her properly to see if she could put up with that kind of workload, it's on him. I haven't looked up her filmography to see if she'd worked with him before and I'm not going to bother. I'm just trying to look at it from her perspective, while everyone here seems to be adopting Smith's perspective. Since I can't stand Smith anyway (for reasons I'm none too clear about), I may be a little biased.
07-14-15, 08:35 PM
#66
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
Tom Hardy has publicly stated that he had a lot of "creative differences" working with both Charlize Theron and George Miller on Fury Road, but is cool with them now.
07-14-15, 10:35 PM
#68
DVD Talk Hall of Fame
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
There's an anecdote in If Chins could Kill where Bruce Willis didn't come to shoot some scene where his dad in the movie was having this conversation with him, like Frasiers dad came so Bruce Willis could read his lines to act off him, but Willis couldn't be bothered for Frasiers dads half of the scene.
07-15-15, 07:44 AM
#70
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
He's saying that the scene involved Bruce Willis and the other actor talking to each other. In the shots of just the other actor (Bruce off screen), Bruce Willis didn't read his lines to the other actor for him to react to.
Apparently this is from Bruce Campbell's book.
Apparently this is from Bruce Campbell's book.
07-15-15, 09:10 AM
#71
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
Marlon Brando pulled the same thing on Rod Steiger in the famous cab scene in ON THE WATERFRONT. He left the set when it was time for Steiger to do his lines in closeup and someone else had to stand in for Brando and read his lines to Steiger off-camera. Steiger complained about it in interviews till the day he died.
07-15-15, 10:02 AM
#72
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
Gene Hackman is usually a pleasant person but :
http://www.cracked.com/article_21772...st-movies.html
The Royal Tenenbaums was the film that cemented symmetry-obsessed director Wes Anderson's career after first getting the attention of independent film critics and liberal arts students with Rushmore. Anderson had a very clear vision for it from the get-go: from the moment that vintage typewriter type bar clapped against paper, the grumpy patriarch character of Royal Tenenbaum was written specifically to be played by Gene Hackman. That was a bold decision, considering Hackman really, really didn't want to be in the movie.
When Anderson started courting Hackman for the role, he sent the actor some preliminary artwork to help convey the tone of the film, which Hackman never returned, possibly because he tossed it straight into the trash. A portion of his shit-boiling rage was stirred by the fact that he resents being offered roles that were written with him in mind, which he told Anderson in a face-to-face meeting before Anderson had even started writing The Royal Tenenbaums. The other reason was money -- The Royal Tenenbaums didn't have much of a budget, and Hackman's character is in nearly every scene, which means he'd essentially have to work every single day of filming for a much smaller salary than he was used to.
Hackman eventually let his agent talk him into accepting the role, but not before making a solemn vow to be the biggest son of a bitch he could during filming. Making sure everyone working on The Royal Tenenbaums knew he'd literally rather be beaten to death with coat hangers than be in their fucking movie was just below "turn in a good performance" on his list of priorities. According to the cast and crew, Hackman became increasingly intolerable as filming went on, venomously snapping at people for the slightest transgression and generally making Anderson's life miserable. He treated Anderson like his no-good, hipster nephew, telling him to "pull up his trousers" and straight up calling him a c**t in front of the crew.
Things got so bad on set that the rest of the cast, including veteran actress Anjelica Huston, were scared to be anywhere near Hackman. In an effort to try to ease the tension, Anderson eventually asked Bill Murray to come in on his (Murray's) days off, because Murray, in addition to being Anderson's friend, was apparently the one person who just wasn't intimidated by Hackman. Murray gladly showed his solidarity by supervising the filming of several scenes, including one where he stood on a ridge overlooking the shoot in a cowboy hat, because nobody messes with Bill Murray in a goddamned cowboy hat. The experience was so negative that when asked what it was like to work with Hackman, Murray begins his response by calling Hackman a cocksucker.
http://www.cracked.com/article_21772...st-movies.html
The Royal Tenenbaums was the film that cemented symmetry-obsessed director Wes Anderson's career after first getting the attention of independent film critics and liberal arts students with Rushmore. Anderson had a very clear vision for it from the get-go: from the moment that vintage typewriter type bar clapped against paper, the grumpy patriarch character of Royal Tenenbaum was written specifically to be played by Gene Hackman. That was a bold decision, considering Hackman really, really didn't want to be in the movie.
When Anderson started courting Hackman for the role, he sent the actor some preliminary artwork to help convey the tone of the film, which Hackman never returned, possibly because he tossed it straight into the trash. A portion of his shit-boiling rage was stirred by the fact that he resents being offered roles that were written with him in mind, which he told Anderson in a face-to-face meeting before Anderson had even started writing The Royal Tenenbaums. The other reason was money -- The Royal Tenenbaums didn't have much of a budget, and Hackman's character is in nearly every scene, which means he'd essentially have to work every single day of filming for a much smaller salary than he was used to.
Hackman eventually let his agent talk him into accepting the role, but not before making a solemn vow to be the biggest son of a bitch he could during filming. Making sure everyone working on The Royal Tenenbaums knew he'd literally rather be beaten to death with coat hangers than be in their fucking movie was just below "turn in a good performance" on his list of priorities. According to the cast and crew, Hackman became increasingly intolerable as filming went on, venomously snapping at people for the slightest transgression and generally making Anderson's life miserable. He treated Anderson like his no-good, hipster nephew, telling him to "pull up his trousers" and straight up calling him a c**t in front of the crew.
Things got so bad on set that the rest of the cast, including veteran actress Anjelica Huston, were scared to be anywhere near Hackman. In an effort to try to ease the tension, Anderson eventually asked Bill Murray to come in on his (Murray's) days off, because Murray, in addition to being Anderson's friend, was apparently the one person who just wasn't intimidated by Hackman. Murray gladly showed his solidarity by supervising the filming of several scenes, including one where he stood on a ridge overlooking the shoot in a cowboy hat, because nobody messes with Bill Murray in a goddamned cowboy hat. The experience was so negative that when asked what it was like to work with Hackman, Murray begins his response by calling Hackman a cocksucker.
07-15-15, 10:17 AM
#73
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
Gene Hackman is usually a pleasant person but :
http://www.cracked.com/article_21772...st-movies.html
The Royal Tenenbaums was the film that cemented symmetry-obsessed director Wes Anderson's career after first getting the attention of independent film critics and liberal arts students with Rushmore. Anderson had a very clear vision for it from the get-go: from the moment that vintage typewriter type bar clapped against paper, the grumpy patriarch character of Royal Tenenbaum was written specifically to be played by Gene Hackman. That was a bold decision, considering Hackman really, really didn't want to be in the movie.
When Anderson started courting Hackman for the role, he sent the actor some preliminary artwork to help convey the tone of the film, which Hackman never returned, possibly because he tossed it straight into the trash. A portion of his shit-boiling rage was stirred by the fact that he resents being offered roles that were written with him in mind, which he told Anderson in a face-to-face meeting before Anderson had even started writing The Royal Tenenbaums. The other reason was money -- The Royal Tenenbaums didn't have much of a budget, and Hackman's character is in nearly every scene, which means he'd essentially have to work every single day of filming for a much smaller salary than he was used to.
Hackman eventually let his agent talk him into accepting the role, but not before making a solemn vow to be the biggest son of a bitch he could during filming. Making sure everyone working on The Royal Tenenbaums knew he'd literally rather be beaten to death with coat hangers than be in their fucking movie was just below "turn in a good performance" on his list of priorities. According to the cast and crew, Hackman became increasingly intolerable as filming went on, venomously snapping at people for the slightest transgression and generally making Anderson's life miserable. He treated Anderson like his no-good, hipster nephew, telling him to "pull up his trousers" and straight up calling him a c**t in front of the crew.
Things got so bad on set that the rest of the cast, including veteran actress Anjelica Huston, were scared to be anywhere near Hackman. In an effort to try to ease the tension, Anderson eventually asked Bill Murray to come in on his (Murray's) days off, because Murray, in addition to being Anderson's friend, was apparently the one person who just wasn't intimidated by Hackman. Murray gladly showed his solidarity by supervising the filming of several scenes, including one where he stood on a ridge overlooking the shoot in a cowboy hat, because nobody messes with Bill Murray in a goddamned cowboy hat. The experience was so negative that when asked what it was like to work with Hackman, Murray begins his response by calling Hackman a cocksucker.
http://www.cracked.com/article_21772...st-movies.html
The Royal Tenenbaums was the film that cemented symmetry-obsessed director Wes Anderson's career after first getting the attention of independent film critics and liberal arts students with Rushmore. Anderson had a very clear vision for it from the get-go: from the moment that vintage typewriter type bar clapped against paper, the grumpy patriarch character of Royal Tenenbaum was written specifically to be played by Gene Hackman. That was a bold decision, considering Hackman really, really didn't want to be in the movie.
When Anderson started courting Hackman for the role, he sent the actor some preliminary artwork to help convey the tone of the film, which Hackman never returned, possibly because he tossed it straight into the trash. A portion of his shit-boiling rage was stirred by the fact that he resents being offered roles that were written with him in mind, which he told Anderson in a face-to-face meeting before Anderson had even started writing The Royal Tenenbaums. The other reason was money -- The Royal Tenenbaums didn't have much of a budget, and Hackman's character is in nearly every scene, which means he'd essentially have to work every single day of filming for a much smaller salary than he was used to.
Hackman eventually let his agent talk him into accepting the role, but not before making a solemn vow to be the biggest son of a bitch he could during filming. Making sure everyone working on The Royal Tenenbaums knew he'd literally rather be beaten to death with coat hangers than be in their fucking movie was just below "turn in a good performance" on his list of priorities. According to the cast and crew, Hackman became increasingly intolerable as filming went on, venomously snapping at people for the slightest transgression and generally making Anderson's life miserable. He treated Anderson like his no-good, hipster nephew, telling him to "pull up his trousers" and straight up calling him a c**t in front of the crew.
Things got so bad on set that the rest of the cast, including veteran actress Anjelica Huston, were scared to be anywhere near Hackman. In an effort to try to ease the tension, Anderson eventually asked Bill Murray to come in on his (Murray's) days off, because Murray, in addition to being Anderson's friend, was apparently the one person who just wasn't intimidated by Hackman. Murray gladly showed his solidarity by supervising the filming of several scenes, including one where he stood on a ridge overlooking the shoot in a cowboy hat, because nobody messes with Bill Murray in a goddamned cowboy hat. The experience was so negative that when asked what it was like to work with Hackman, Murray begins his response by calling Hackman a cocksucker.
Anderson should be forced to work with every difficult actor listed in this thread.
And so should Kevin Smith.
Last edited by Ash Ketchum; 07-15-15 at 02:45 PM.
07-15-15, 01:38 PM
#74
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
If true, then Hackman sounds like a dolt. At his age, he has so little respect for the value of his time he'll waste it doing a movie he doesn't want to do? What an empty life he must lead.
07-15-15, 03:02 PM
#75
DVD Talk Hero
Re: Most difficult actors to work with?
It does make me like Bill Murray even more, though.