Christian Bale goes off on DP

[Chris Pickle]

People's outrage at Bale's behavior shows what rarified air many are breathing. Are you seriously kidding me? This behavior happens everywhere in every profession. Anyone tried to be an apprentice in any trade... work in a factory.... sports... law? This is nothing. It's less then nothing. If a director had done it, it would have been completely normal. And the big thing is -- it means nothing. It means nothing to Bale and it means nothing to whoever is getting yelled at. It's just the daily grind it out thing. This is men telling each other to go fuck themselves then breaking bread and beer later.

Bale gets to do whatever he wants. Anyone who has earned a stake in anything big can do it. I'm not saying it's right, but it happens every second. If you've worked with nice people only, consider yourself lucky.

Also, Bale is NOT replaceable. Anyone who thinks he is, doesn't understand how movies get made. I bet there are less than half a dozen male actors who could of green-lit that picture. It's called being a slave to the box. Everyone who works with Sean Penn losses years off their life, but that's the price you pay. Period. Even if the investors and producers knew they had to take a verbal beating from Bale, everyday, they would have done it.

(BTW - I think the DP had only two options of response. STFU or tell Bale to go fuck himself. He did neither and instead tried some mealy mouth thing. That's like blood in the water.)

Does any really understand how hard it is to make movies? No really?

Chris

 

[Vince K]

Even if the investors and producers knew they had to take a verbal beating from Bale, everyday, they would have done it.
Chris

Wow, dude...are you EVER wrong about that.

In the 'real world' of filmmaking, EVERYONE is replaceable. E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E!!

 

[Chris Pickle]

Wow, dude...are you EVER wrong about that.

In the 'real world' of filmmaking, EVERYONE is replaceable. E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E!!

Of course you can find a warm body. I mean for all practical reasons. Certainly you can't replace someone like Bale through a shoot, maybe you can decide to not make your next film with him, but if he green-lights the flick...

The star that gets the budget is not replaceable! Maybe with another star that will satisfy the money folks, but for any given project of tens of millions of dollars in budget, the short list is just that. If you have agreement all around, working with a know asshole is better then continuing the search. (not saying Bale is a asshole)

Chris

 

[Joel J. Feigenbaum]

With due respect to all of you who say Bale's reaction was over-reaction, I beg to differ. We as crew get the set for 45 minutes. An hour. Hour and a half to light and lay track and get our focus marks, etc. That's our time. When the camera is rolling, NOBODY MOVES. NOBODY TALKS. AND OUR CELL PHONES BETTER NOT RING. When the camera rolls, it's the actors turn to have the set. Period.

If the DP doesn't like a light, if he can't alert the director on the QT to cut the camera, then he damn well better stand still and wait until the director cuts. Then he can do or say whatever he wants. Over my 30 years in the business, 15 of them directing full time, I've watched the decline of stage etiquette reach ever lower lows. You expect an actor to behave professionally? Then you better behave in a professional manner as well.

I'm not excusing Bale's outburst. But I understand it. Rule Number One. When the camera rolls, the set belongs to the director and the actors. Unless you are a dolly grip, DON'T F%$@NG move! Especially right behind the actress that Bale is playing the scene with.

Give Bale a break. I guarantee you, this was not the first time the DP distracted his performance. Ady by the way, Bale went on an LA radio show and apologized for 10 minutes. You don't hear that apology getting nearly as much air play as his tirade.

Joel Feigenbaum
DGA

 

[Vince K]

With due respect to all of you who say Bale's reaction was over-reaction, I beg to differ. We as crew get the set for 45 minutes. An hour. Hour and a half to light and lay track and get our focus marks, etc. That's our time. When the camera is rolling, NOBODY MOVES. NOBODY TALKS. AND OUR CELL PHONES BETTER NOT RING. When the camera rolls, it's the actors turn to have the set. Period.

If the DP doesn't like a light, if he can't alert the director on the QT to cut the camera, then he damn well better stand still and wait until the director cuts. Then he can do or say whatever he wants. Over my 30 years in the business, 15 of them directing full time, I've watched the decline of stage etiquette reach ever lower lows. You expect an actor to behave professionally? Then you better behave in a professional manner as well.

I'm not excusing Bale's outburst. But I understand it. Rule Number One. When the camera rolls, the set belongs to the director and the actors. Unless you are a dolly grip, DON'T F%$@NG move! Especially right behind the actress that Bale is playing the scene with.

Give Bale a break. I guarantee you, this was not the first time the DP distracted his performance. Ady by the way, Bale went on an LA radio show and apologized for 10 minutes. You don't hear that apology getting nearly as much air play as his tirade.

Joel Feigenbaum
DGA

I'm well aware of the apology..I posted it here a week ago.

http://reduser.net/forum/showthread.php?t=25999

 

[Matthew Chuang]

The only reason this movie had any positive interest in the first place was because of Bale's involvement. Cause it definitely wasn't because of McG, and a terminator film without arnie and cameron? the third film went downhill for the franchise.

Just came across this:

http://www.forbes.com/lists/2009/58/star-currency-09_Star-Currency_Rank.html

Look whose at 29

Wow, dude...are you EVER wrong about that.

In the 'real world' of filmmaking, EVERYONE is replaceable. E-V-E-R-Y-O-N-E!!

 

[Brandon Fraley]

anyone else see this? it amused me:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VSr1d-1R534