Batman goes Postal on Film Set

dudalb · 3rd February 2009, 12:56 PM

Christian Bale blows up with the Director of Photograph steps into his line of vision on the set of "Terminator:Salvation".

Warning: The language is definently R rated.

http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_audio/0202...istianbale.mp3

Wow. It has been a long time since we had a celeb meltdown as good as this.
Between this, the incident with his mother in London just before "The Dark Knight" premiere, and other incidents, I would say that Bale has Anger issues.
Yeah, the DP should not have gotten into his line of vision, but still...
And this just adds to my dislike of McG, the director of this film. The guy on the tape comes off like milkwater. He cannot control his own set, something any director has to do.
One of the entertaining celeb incidents lately.

dudalb · 3rd February 2009, 01:21 PM

And it did not take long for someone to have some photoshop fun with this...

HarryKeogh · 3rd February 2009, 01:34 PM

If I made millions of dollars acting, was great-looking and Batman I'd be too busy skipping and smiling to ever stop to yell at someone.

332nd · 3rd February 2009, 02:01 PM

Granted, I would have been pissed too, but nothing like that.

alfaniner · 3rd February 2009, 02:15 PM

Probably the 'roid rage kicking in.

I'm curious to know how the next take went.

calebprime · 3rd February 2009, 03:23 PM

To me, it didn't seem that over the top, but I don't know all the circumstances and I couldn't hear the other side of the exchange well enough.

dudalb · 3rd February 2009, 04:27 PM

Originally Posted by calebprime

To me, it didn't seem that over the top, but I don't know all the circumstances and I couldn't hear the other side of the exchange well enough.

I would love to know what is your idea of going over the top. Try that in your workplace and see what happens.

EventHorizon · 3rd February 2009, 04:36 PM

He should have asked the guy if he likes Huey Lewis and the News.

Ian Osborne · 3rd February 2009, 04:53 PM

I wonder how rich and famous you need to be before you can act like a complete tit like that and get away with it.

Lonewulf · 3rd February 2009, 05:06 PM

Originally Posted by calebprime

To me, it didn't seem that over the top, but I don't know all the circumstances and I couldn't hear the other side of the exchange well enough.

Uh, it's pretty over the top, to me... it's bullying, yelling, and very insulting. Not to mention the language used.

And he certainly goes at length at it.

Also, "I'm going to go kick your ass!" and "I'm going to go trash your lights!" That's... uh... not over the top?

To be fair, I can understand the stress he's going through, but almost everyone goes through stress during their job.

dudalb · 3rd February 2009, 05:18 PM

If it would have been a brief ourburst of a few sentences, no big deal. But go to into a five minute rant..that indicates some problems with anger.
But I guess he thinks he can do what he wants because he is the Goddamn Batman...

Biscuit · 3rd February 2009, 05:19 PM

Originally Posted by eventhorizon

he should have asked the guy if he likes huey lewis and the news.

rotflmao!!!

dudalb · 3rd February 2009, 05:24 PM

If James Cameron was directing this film with Christian Bale, only one would be alive by now,since Cameron has the reputation of having a temper on set like The Incredible Hulk....

dudalb · 3rd February 2009, 05:29 PM

Originally Posted by EventHorizon

He should have asked the guy if he likes Huey Lewis and the News.

Actually, I am reminded of Casey Casem's infamous " F---- Dead Dog" meltdown.

KingMerv00 · 3rd February 2009, 05:38 PM

Originally Posted by EventHorizon

He should have asked the guy if he likes Huey Lewis and the News.

"Is that a ~~raincoat~~ batsuit?"

Aerik · 3rd February 2009, 06:08 PM

Melissa McEwan has a colorful interpretation of bale's rant here: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.c...ale-remix.html

hgc · 3rd February 2009, 06:30 PM

Question: Does the point where Bale says to him "you're a nice guy" make it even more personally humiliating for the target of his tamtrum?

This was a serious overraction, no matter what happened. There is no denying that someone in that exchange is a major league prick. Good actor, though.

hgc · 3rd February 2009, 06:35 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

Actually, I am reminded of Casey Casem's infamous " F---- Dead Dog" meltdown.

That's the best. Let's listen.

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

And while we're at it, how about the famous Orson Welles frozen peas meltdown. You really get what a twisted genius he was. "You don't know what I'm up against. It's full of .. of .. of things that are only correct because they're grammatical. But it's tough on the ear ... unpleasant to read; unrewarding"

YouTube Video This video is not hosted by the ISF. The ISF can not be held responsible for the suitability or legality of this material. By clicking the link below you agree to view content from an external website.

I AGREE

Corsair 115 · 3rd February 2009, 07:03 PM

Originally Posted by dudalb

Christian Bale blows up with the Director of Photograph steps into his line of vision on the set of "Terminator:Salvation".

Uh, it's not a smart move to tick off the camera department. They can make the actor's day a rough one. Say the actor gives a great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, hair in the gate. We need another take." So the actor pours out another great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, that one was soft. We need to go again." Repeat as needed. And then there's the fact that they can make any actor look terrible on film by lighting them the wrong way.

Don't tick off the camera department, folks.

Originally Posted by dudalb

If James Cameron was directing this film with Christian Bale, only one would be alive by now,since Cameron has the reputation of having a temper on set like The Incredible Hulk....

The stories about Cameron on set are legendary, no doubt. Though in a recent interview here on the CBC show The Hour, Cameron more or less admits to being something of an s.o.b. on set, but says he has a better attitude now and saw the errors in his old ways.

hgc · 3rd February 2009, 07:17 PM

Originally Posted by Corsair 115

Uh, it's not a smart move to tick off the camera department. They can make the actor's day a rough one. Say the actor gives a great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, hair in the gate. We need another take." So the actor pours out another great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, that one was soft. We need to go again." Repeat as needed. And then there's the fact that they can make any actor look terrible on film by lighting them the wrong way.

Don't tick off the camera department, folks.

Sounds like subtle sabotage. I don't think any camera department will be trying that with Christian Bale. Apparently, he fights back. And in the famous words of the Glenn Ford character in The Violent Men, "Don't force me to fight, because you won't like my way of fightin'"

plumjam · 3rd February 2009, 07:19 PM

I remember reading a magazine interview with Bale in which IIRC he more or less said he really disliked acting and only did it to make the very good living that it gives him.
It was surprising, and kind of refreshing, because nearly all of them twonk on about it being an art they're so devoted to, and endeavour to present it as something profound blah blah..etc.
Hope that's accurate. Wouldn't want to create a Bale Straw Man

Corsair 115 · 3rd February 2009, 07:28 PM

Originally Posted by hgc

Sounds like subtle sabotage. I don't think any camera department will be trying that with Christian Bale.

Don't treat the camera department like dirt, because if you do, you're liable to find shooting will start going more slowly and there'll be all kinds of technical issues. A good camera operator and a good D.O.P. can save hours of production time on a film set—this is especially true when the director is inexperienced or otherwise subpar. Treat the camera guys badly, and they're not going to have much reason to offer those time- and money-saving ideas and techniques.

shecky · 3rd February 2009, 11:17 PM

I like Buddy Rich's rants better.

gumboot · 4th February 2009, 12:00 AM

It's worth hearing the whole story on these sorts of things. One of the Assistant Directors (and also executive producer, but his role as an AD is more relevant here) has said that Bale was normally completely professional on the shoot and simply lost it for a few moments at the end of a very long hard day, and after that was perfectly fine again.

Some of you are also misrepresenting the situation somewhat. The Director of Photography walked onto the set and into the shot during a take to make an adjustment to a light. From what Bale said, this was not the first time this had happened, and there was an issue with this DP constantly moving about during a take.

If a low-level crew member did something like that there's a good chance they'd be fired on the spot. It's an absolute no-no. You NEVER walk into shot during a take.

Bear in mind this happened during filming of one of the most drama-intensive scenes of the entire film. While some actors have this surreal ability to snap in and out of character, most actors have to go through a process of descending into their character, and for some it can be quite hard to do, and hard to maintain. We've all heard legendary stories of actors who were so "in the moment" that they did things in character that were not intended. Martin Sheen smashing the mirror in Apocalypse Now, and Juliette Lewis breaking Tom Sizemore's nose in Natural Born Killers.

I can imagine an actor being irate at a crew member for screwing up a dramatic scene - it takes hours to set up a shot and get everything exactly right, and even though you can do multiple takes, once you get that one performance/shot that nails it, you will never, ever get that same perfect shot again.

If that particular crew member has screwed up shots previously, and if that crew member is a HOD who should know better, and if the actor is tired and stressed by a hard day's work and perhaps the recent untimely death of a fellow actor, yeah, I can imagine the actor losing it and biting the guy's head off.

This sort of thing is actually pretty common. As as 2nd AD I once had to interrupt a very angry argument between a Producer and Director to tell the Director to get on set so we could start shooting. At final technical rehearsals for a stage production of Les Miserables me and the entire rest of the cast hastily made our way out of the auditorium when the director and stage manager started an outright screaming match with each other.

In those sorts of highly strung close-proximity situations, people lose it. True professionals are the ones that get over it quickly, move on, and keep working. We have no evidence that Bale held any sort of grudge against the DP - he even says in the rant he's a good guy.

Let's not judge too soon.

(By the way, the OP doesn't make it clear, but this incident happened months ago - the news is that audio of the incident has just emerged)

Cain · 4th February 2009, 12:05 AM

A few thoughts. It's bad, but I don't think it's as bad as everyone suggests. People talk worse in construction, the military, and some offices. People are interested in Bale's meltdown because he's rich, famous, talented and good looking. That's why he's interesting -- I suppose -- and why fans think his behavior is somehow justified, which is crazy. The best comment I heard is to imagine if a woman had gone off on such a rant. She'd be universally condemned as a ****-bitch from hell. Anyway, I bet that guy didn't walk into his sight-line again.

gumboot · 4th February 2009, 12:10 AM

Originally Posted by Corsair 115

Uh, it's not a smart move to tick off the camera department. They can make the actor's day a rough one. Say the actor gives a great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, hair in the gate. We need another take." So the actor pours out another great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, that one was soft. We need to go again." Repeat as needed. And then there's the fact that they can make any actor look terrible on film by lighting them the wrong way.

I very much doubt a Focus Puller with start doing that sort of crap to back up a DP. DPs generally come through the lighting department, not Camera, and Shane Hurlbut is no exception.

Aside from that, in my experience Focus Pullers are the most precise, technical capable, and professional people on a film set. It comes with the job.

Now the lighting department, yeah I could see them doing crap like that.

Originally Posted by Corsair 115

The stories about Cameron on set are legendary, no doubt. Though in a recent interview here on the CBC show The Hour, Cameron more or less admits to being something of an s.o.b. on set, but says he has a better attitude now and saw the errors in his old ways.

How recent? My friend worked with him on Avatar last year and said the guy's a total ass-wipe.

gumboot · 4th February 2009, 12:14 AM

Originally Posted by Cain

The best comment I heard is to imagine if a woman had gone off on such a rant. She'd be universally condemned as a ****-bitch from hell.

Actresses do that sort of thing far more often than actors, in my experience. And they're far more likely to hold a grudge. Samantha Morton decided she didn't like Vincent Ward on River Queen and nearly destroyed the film as a result.

If something like that happened during an intense scene of a film, I would expect either an actor, or the director, or maybe the 1st AD to go off like that. Perhaps not for that long, but I'd expect plenty of swearing and threats that they get fired.

Yes, that's how bad walking onto the set during a take is.

four elevener · 4th February 2009, 12:50 AM

Can you imagine a film starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, with Naomi Campbell in a supporting role and directed by James Cameron?

Corsair 115 · 4th February 2009, 01:00 AM

Originally Posted by gumboot

I very much doubt a Focus Puller with start doing that sort of crap to back up a DP. DPs generally come through the lighting department, not Camera, and Shane Hurlbut is no exception.

Depends on who hired who and if they've all worked together before, and the size of the crew involved and the scale of the shoot.

Originally Posted by gumboot

How recent? My friend worked with him on Avatar last year and said the guy's a total ass-wipe.

It was rerun here a few weeks back. Not sure when it was taped, probably back in the summer I think. Cameron was in Toronto as he had received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame.

TX50 · 4th February 2009, 02:12 AM

No idea who "Christian Baler" is but in that he certainly sounds like a self-
important bell-end. Like most of these so-called "celebrities" he needs to go
and get a real job.

Tbone · 4th February 2009, 02:17 AM

When I heard this clip, the first thing I thought was how much he stuck with the American accent during the rant (although some UK did slip in there). If I was flying off the handle, I probably wouldn't put too much thought into talking like the guy I'm acting. But then again, when Bale was promoting Batman, he didn't speak in a Welsh accent during the entire time and had the nameplate on his trailer read "Bruce Wayne."

gumboot · 4th February 2009, 02:48 AM

Originally Posted by Tbone

When I heard this clip, the first thing I thought was how much he stuck with the American accent during the rant (although some UK did slip in there). If I was flying off the handle, I probably wouldn't put too much thought into talking like the guy I'm acting. But then again, when Bale was promoting Batman, he didn't speak in a Welsh accent during the entire time and had the nameplate on his trailer read "Bruce Wayne."

He's apparently a pretty full-on method actor who really gets into his role.

calebprime · 4th February 2009, 03:34 AM

Originally Posted by dudalb

I would love to know what is your idea of going over the top. Try that in your workplace and see what happens.

Well, I agree. Behavior is contextual.

Don't make the mistake of thinking that all life is like an office job. Thank fsm, it's not.

and, someone mentioned Buddy Rich--the good drummer, famous for his rants.

I'm a musician--my workplace was a soundproofed room, and I screamed and swore much worse than that when I worked--and that's when things were going well.

@ Lonewulf

mitigating circumstances:

1) He's an intense actor, hired for that trait.
2) There was a provocation
3) He complains about the provocation, he doesn't globalize that much
4) He wants to get back to work

(5) ? again, it matters a good deal what was being said back to him--the worst thing you can do with someone who is upset like this is not to take him seriously

Chris H · 4th February 2009, 04:39 AM

Probably a good thing Bale didn't notice this...

Chris

Lonewulf · 4th February 2009, 05:13 AM

Originally Posted by calebprime

@ Lonewulf

mitigating circumstances:

1) He's an intense actor, hired for that trait.
2) There was a provocation
3) He complains about the provocation, he doesn't globalize that much
4) He wants to get back to work

(5) ? again, it matters a good deal what was being said back to him--the worst thing you can do with someone who is upset like this is not to take him seriously

Er, "he wants to get back to work"?

You didn't listen to the clip, I see. Since he did anything but get back to work, as the other guy tried to placate him and get back to work, just as mentioned. Bale would "calm down" for a second, then come back, getting worse and worse, eventually threatening to do physical harm to him.

So strike 4. As for 3, I'm pretty sure the provocation wasn't worth "kicking his ass". In fact, takes get ruined all the time. What the hell do you think blooper reels are for?

The "mitigating circumstances" just seems like an excuse to apologize for the rich/famous. The response didn't match the provocation, I can't get away with insulting and physically threatening a coworker just because I'm "intense" (even if I landed an acting gig), unless I somehow got incredibly famous/rich, and 4 is just outright wrong.

mummymonkey · 4th February 2009, 05:27 AM

Christian "Out On" Bail sounds like a bully. There's no excuse for that behaviour. Been making films since he was a boy and probably used to getting his own way.

BenBurch · 4th February 2009, 07:06 AM

I don't see the issue.

Have you ever acted?

This would have ruined ANY scene.

calebprime · 4th February 2009, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by Lonewulf

Er, "he wants to get back to work"?

You didn't listen to the clip, I see. Since he did anything but get back to work, as the other guy tried to placate him and get back to work, just as mentioned. Bale would "calm down" for a second, then come back, getting worse and worse, eventually threatening to do physical harm to him.

So strike 4. As for 3, I'm pretty sure the provocation wasn't worth "kicking his ass". In fact, takes get ruined all the time. What the hell do you think blooper reels are for?

The "mitigating circumstances" just seems like an excuse to apologize for the rich/famous. The response didn't match the provocation, I can't get away with insulting and physically threatening a coworker just because I'm "intense" (even if I landed an acting gig), unless I somehow got incredibly famous/rich, and 4 is just outright wrong.

I did in fact listen to the clip, and he says several times, let's do another take. I read his behavior as being psyched, stressed, and impatient.

McEnroe was far more obnoxious than this.

Gumboot has already spoken to the way things are done on set. The norm for behavior is not the same as the norm for an office. This doesn't excuse whatever his behavior was, but it also speaks to one of the main issues here: People who are used to polite conversation and a high degree of inhibition are going to be a little shocked or perhaps envious. Someone dropped his smiley face!

Whether he was actually threatening (in the physical sense) is not there for us to see--that's a matter of who was standing where, conveying what body language.

Anger occurs in time. You get angry, you're that way for a minute or two.

Perhaps he's an asshat--I have no idea from this clip.

I'm not going to go back and listen again--unless there's some serious issue about who said what that would change things. Once was enough. If we want to get into close reading, I think we should transcribe it. Turn up the gain enough, we can hear both sides of the conversation, although not what led up to it. But I'm not going to do this, unless I'm really desperate for something to do.

My scorn is reserved for the 6 O'clock News types who were chortling over this, enjoying it, and pulling out cliches like "Someone is going to need to attend his anger management classes!"

These are the people I fear, not the "bullies" or "temperamental" types.

Lonewulf · 4th February 2009, 07:15 AM

Originally Posted by BenBurch

I don't see the issue.

Have you ever acted?

This would have ruined ANY scene.

Yeah, ruined the scene. So horrible. They'd have to do it over again. That's never happened before; egads.

People have done less over issues of road rage, or after an accident.

BenBurch · 4th February 2009, 07:34 AM

Originally Posted by Lonewulf

Yeah, ruined the scene. So horrible. They'd have to do it over again. That's never happened before; egads.

People have done less over issues of road rage, or after an accident.

Its not like he pulled out a gun. He screamed at the guy who was interrupting a shoot. A shoot costs about $3,000 per hour on a sound stage if I recall correctly. So you screw up a scene (and this was the SECOND time the same person did it) and it costs money.

3rd February 2009, 12:56 PM	#1
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38,836	Batman goes Postal on Film Set Christian Bale blows up with the Director of Photograph steps into his line of vision on the set of "Terminator:Salvation". Warning: The language is definently R rated. http://www.aolcdn.com/tmz_audio/0202...istianbale.mp3 Wow. It has been a long time since we had a celeb meltdown as good as this. Between this, the incident with his mother in London just before "The Dark Knight" premiere, and other incidents, I would say that Bale has Anger issues. Yeah, the DP should not have gotten into his line of vision, but still... And this just adds to my dislike of McG, the director of this film. The guy on the tape comes off like milkwater. He cannot control his own set, something any director has to do. One of the entertaining celeb incidents lately.

3rd February 2009, 01:34 PM	#3
HarryKeogh Guest Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 11,319	If I made millions of dollars acting, was great-looking and Batman I'd be too busy skipping and smiling to ever stop to yell at someone.
HarryKeogh Guest Join Date: Jan 2003 Posts: 11,319

3rd February 2009, 02:01 PM	#4
332nd Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 11,205	Granted, I would have been pissed too, but nothing like that.
	__________________ The poster formerly known as Redtail

3rd February 2009, 02:15 PM	#5
alfaniner Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 17,883	Probably the 'roid rage kicking in. I'm curious to know how the next take went.
	__________________ Science is self-correcting. Woo is self-contradicting.

3rd February 2009, 03:23 PM	#6
calebprime moleman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 11,899	To me, it didn't seem that over the top, but I don't know all the circumstances and I couldn't hear the other side of the exchange well enough.
calebprime moleman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 11,899

3rd February 2009, 01:21 PM	#2
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38,836	And it did not take long for someone to have some photoshop fun with this...

3rd February 2009, 04:27 PM	#7
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38,836	Originally Posted by calebprime To me, it didn't seem that over the top, but I don't know all the circumstances and I couldn't hear the other side of the exchange well enough. I would love to know what is your idea of going over the top. Try that in your workplace and see what happens.

3rd February 2009, 04:36 PM	#8
EventHorizon Atheist Tergiversator Join Date: Jun 2007 Posts: 3,076	He should have asked the guy if he likes Huey Lewis and the News.

3rd February 2009, 04:53 PM	#9
Ian Osborne JREF Kid Tagger Join Date: Aug 2001 Posts: 7,630	I wonder how rich and famous you need to be before you can act like a complete tit like that and get away with it.
	__________________ "Faith without doubt leads to moral arrogance, the eternal pratfall of the religiously convinced" - Joe Klein, Time magazine "The fact that some geniuses were laughed at does not imply that all who are laughed at are geniuses. They laughed at Columbus, they laughed at Fulton, they laughed at the Wright brothers. But they also laughed at Bozo the Clown." - Carl Sagan

3rd February 2009, 05:06 PM	#10
Lonewulf Humanistic Cyborg Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 10,375	Originally Posted by calebprime To me, it didn't seem that over the top, but I don't know all the circumstances and I couldn't hear the other side of the exchange well enough. Uh, it's pretty over the top, to me... it's bullying, yelling, and very insulting. Not to mention the language used. And he certainly goes at length at it. Also, "I'm going to go kick your ass!" and "I'm going to go trash your lights!" That's... uh... not over the top? To be fair, I can understand the stress he's going through, but almost everyone goes through stress during their job.
	__________________ Writing.com Account

3rd February 2009, 05:18 PM	#11
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38,836	If it would have been a brief ourburst of a few sentences, no big deal. But go to into a five minute rant..that indicates some problems with anger. But I guess he thinks he can do what he wants because he is the Goddamn Batman...

3rd February 2009, 05:19 PM	#12
Biscuit Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,926	Originally Posted by eventhorizon he should have asked the guy if he likes huey lewis and the news. rotflmao!!!
Biscuit Philosopher Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 6,926	__________________ “... there is no shame in not knowing. The problem arises when irrational thought and attendant behavior fill the vacuum left by ignorance.” ― Neil deGrasse Tyson

3rd February 2009, 05:24 PM	#13
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38,836	If James Cameron was directing this film with Christian Bale, only one would be alive by now,since Cameron has the reputation of having a temper on set like The Incredible Hulk....

3rd February 2009, 05:29 PM	#14
dudalb Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 38,836	Originally Posted by EventHorizon He should have asked the guy if he likes Huey Lewis and the News. Actually, I am reminded of Casey Casem's infamous " F---- Dead Dog" meltdown.

3rd February 2009, 05:38 PM	#15
KingMerv00 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Philadelphia Posts: 14,458	Originally Posted by EventHorizon He should have asked the guy if he likes Huey Lewis and the News. "Is that a ~~raincoat~~ batsuit?"

3rd February 2009, 06:08 PM	#16
Aerik Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 302	Melissa McEwan has a colorful interpretation of bale's rant here: http://shakespearessister.blogspot.c...ale-remix.html
Aerik Critical Thinker Join Date: Nov 2006 Posts: 302

3rd February 2009, 06:30 PM	#17
hgc Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 15,892	Question: Does the point where Bale says to him "you're a nice guy" make it even more personally humiliating for the target of his tamtrum? This was a serious overraction, no matter what happened. There is no denying that someone in that exchange is a major league prick. Good actor, though.

3rd February 2009, 07:03 PM	#19
Corsair 115 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 14,519	Originally Posted by dudalb Christian Bale blows up with the Director of Photograph steps into his line of vision on the set of "Terminator:Salvation". Uh, it's not a smart move to tick off the camera department. They can make the actor's day a rough one. Say the actor gives a great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, hair in the gate. We need another take." So the actor pours out another great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, that one was soft. We need to go again." Repeat as needed. And then there's the fact that they can make any actor look terrible on film by lighting them the wrong way. Don't tick off the camera department, folks. Originally Posted by dudalb If James Cameron was directing this film with Christian Bale, only one would be alive by now,since Cameron has the reputation of having a temper on set like The Incredible Hulk.... The stories about Cameron on set are legendary, no doubt. Though in a recent interview here on the CBC show The Hour, Cameron more or less admits to being something of an s.o.b. on set, but says he has a better attitude now and saw the errors in his old ways.
	__________________ "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our abilities and skills, because that challenge is one we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win." Last edited by Corsair 115; 3rd February 2009 at 07:12 PM.

3rd February 2009, 07:17 PM	#20
hgc Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Jun 2002 Posts: 15,892	Originally Posted by Corsair 115 Uh, it's not a smart move to tick off the camera department. They can make the actor's day a rough one. Say the actor gives a great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, hair in the gate. We need another take." So the actor pours out another great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, that one was soft. We need to go again." Repeat as needed. And then there's the fact that they can make any actor look terrible on film by lighting them the wrong way. Don't tick off the camera department, folks. Sounds like subtle sabotage. I don't think any camera department will be trying that with Christian Bale. Apparently, he fights back. And in the famous words of the Glenn Ford character in The Violent Men, "Don't force me to fight, because you won't like my way of fightin'"

3rd February 2009, 07:19 PM	#21
plumjam Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,819	I remember reading a magazine interview with Bale in which IIRC he more or less said he really disliked acting and only did it to make the very good living that it gives him. It was surprising, and kind of refreshing, because nearly all of them twonk on about it being an art they're so devoted to, and endeavour to present it as something profound blah blah..etc. Hope that's accurate. Wouldn't want to create a Bale Straw Man
plumjam Banned Join Date: Aug 2007 Posts: 7,819

3rd February 2009, 07:28 PM	#22
Corsair 115 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 14,519	Originally Posted by hgc Sounds like subtle sabotage. I don't think any camera department will be trying that with Christian Bale. Don't treat the camera department like dirt, because if you do, you're liable to find shooting will start going more slowly and there'll be all kinds of technical issues. A good camera operator and a good D.O.P. can save hours of production time on a film set—this is especially true when the director is inexperienced or otherwise subpar. Treat the camera guys badly, and they're not going to have much reason to offer those time- and money-saving ideas and techniques.
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3rd February 2009, 11:17 PM	#23
shecky Master Poster Join Date: May 2002 Posts: 2,192	I like Buddy Rich's rants better.
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4th February 2009, 12:00 AM	#24
gumboot lorcutus.tolere Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 25,327	It's worth hearing the whole story on these sorts of things. One of the Assistant Directors (and also executive producer, but his role as an AD is more relevant here) has said that Bale was normally completely professional on the shoot and simply lost it for a few moments at the end of a very long hard day, and after that was perfectly fine again. Some of you are also misrepresenting the situation somewhat. The Director of Photography walked onto the set and into the shot during a take to make an adjustment to a light. From what Bale said, this was not the first time this had happened, and there was an issue with this DP constantly moving about during a take. If a low-level crew member did something like that there's a good chance they'd be fired on the spot. It's an absolute no-no. You NEVER walk into shot during a take. Bear in mind this happened during filming of one of the most drama-intensive scenes of the entire film. While some actors have this surreal ability to snap in and out of character, most actors have to go through a process of descending into their character, and for some it can be quite hard to do, and hard to maintain. We've all heard legendary stories of actors who were so "in the moment" that they did things in character that were not intended. Martin Sheen smashing the mirror in Apocalypse Now, and Juliette Lewis breaking Tom Sizemore's nose in Natural Born Killers. I can imagine an actor being irate at a crew member for screwing up a dramatic scene - it takes hours to set up a shot and get everything exactly right, and even though you can do multiple takes, once you get that one performance/shot that nails it, you will never, ever get that same perfect shot again. If that particular crew member has screwed up shots previously, and if that crew member is a HOD who should know better, and if the actor is tired and stressed by a hard day's work and perhaps the recent untimely death of a fellow actor, yeah, I can imagine the actor losing it and biting the guy's head off. This sort of thing is actually pretty common. As as 2nd AD I once had to interrupt a very angry argument between a Producer and Director to tell the Director to get on set so we could start shooting. At final technical rehearsals for a stage production of Les Miserables me and the entire rest of the cast hastily made our way out of the auditorium when the director and stage manager started an outright screaming match with each other. In those sorts of highly strung close-proximity situations, people lose it. True professionals are the ones that get over it quickly, move on, and keep working. We have no evidence that Bale held any sort of grudge against the DP - he even says in the rant he's a good guy. Let's not judge too soon. (By the way, the OP doesn't make it clear, but this incident happened months ago - the news is that audio of the incident has just emerged)
	__________________ O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi. A fan of fantasy? Check out Project Dreamforge.

4th February 2009, 12:05 AM	#25
Cain Straussian Join Date: May 2002 Location: Los Angeles Posts: 11,739	A few thoughts. It's bad, but I don't think it's as bad as everyone suggests. People talk worse in construction, the military, and some offices. People are interested in Bale's meltdown because he's rich, famous, talented and good looking. That's why he's interesting -- I suppose -- and why fans think his behavior is somehow justified, which is crazy. The best comment I heard is to imagine if a woman had gone off on such a rant. She'd be universally condemned as a ****-bitch from hell. Anyway, I bet that guy didn't walk into his sight-line again.
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4th February 2009, 12:10 AM	#26
gumboot lorcutus.tolere Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 25,327	Originally Posted by Corsair 115 Uh, it's not a smart move to tick off the camera department. They can make the actor's day a rough one. Say the actor gives a great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, hair in the gate. We need another take." So the actor pours out another great take... the camera guys go, "Ooops, sorry, that one was soft. We need to go again." Repeat as needed. And then there's the fact that they can make any actor look terrible on film by lighting them the wrong way. I very much doubt a Focus Puller with start doing that sort of crap to back up a DP. DPs generally come through the lighting department, not Camera, and Shane Hurlbut is no exception. Aside from that, in my experience Focus Pullers are the most precise, technical capable, and professional people on a film set. It comes with the job. Now the lighting department, yeah I could see them doing crap like that. Originally Posted by Corsair 115 The stories about Cameron on set are legendary, no doubt. Though in a recent interview here on the CBC show The Hour, Cameron more or less admits to being something of an s.o.b. on set, but says he has a better attitude now and saw the errors in his old ways. How recent? My friend worked with him on Avatar last year and said the guy's a total ass-wipe.
	__________________ O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi. A fan of fantasy? Check out Project Dreamforge.

4th February 2009, 12:14 AM	#27
gumboot lorcutus.tolere Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 25,327	Originally Posted by Cain The best comment I heard is to imagine if a woman had gone off on such a rant. She'd be universally condemned as a ***-bitch from hell. Actresses do that sort of thing far more often than actors, in my experience. And they're far more likely to hold a grudge. Samantha Morton decided she didn't like Vincent Ward on River Queen* and nearly destroyed the film as a result. If something like that happened during an intense scene of a film, I would expect either an actor, or the director, or maybe the 1st AD to go off like that. Perhaps not for that long, but I'd expect plenty of swearing and threats that they get fired. Yes, that's how bad walking onto the set during a take is.
	__________________ O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi. A fan of fantasy? Check out Project Dreamforge.

4th February 2009, 12:50 AM	#28
four elevener Master Poster Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 2,919	Can you imagine a film starring Christian Bale and Russell Crowe, with Naomi Campbell in a supporting role and directed by James Cameron?

4th February 2009, 01:00 AM	#29
Corsair 115 Penultimate Amazing Join Date: Apr 2007 Posts: 14,519	Originally Posted by gumboot I very much doubt a Focus Puller with start doing that sort of crap to back up a DP. DPs generally come through the lighting department, not Camera, and Shane Hurlbut is no exception. Depends on who hired who and if they've all worked together before, and the size of the crew involved and the scale of the shoot. Originally Posted by gumboot How recent? My friend worked with him on Avatar last year and said the guy's a total ass-wipe. It was rerun here a few weeks back. Not sure when it was taped, probably back in the summer I think. Cameron was in Toronto as he had received a star on the Canadian Walk of Fame.
	__________________ "We choose to go to the moon in this decade and do the other things not because they are easy, but because they are hard. Because that goal will serve to organize and measure the best of our abilities and skills, because that challenge is one we are willing to accept, one we are unwilling to postpone, and one which we intend to win."

4th February 2009, 02:12 AM	#30
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,832	No idea who "Christian Baler" is but in that he certainly sounds like a self- important bell-end. Like most of these so-called "celebrities" he needs to go and get a real job.
TX50 Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2005 Posts: 1,832

4th February 2009, 02:17 AM	#31
Tbone Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,448	When I heard this clip, the first thing I thought was how much he stuck with the American accent during the rant (although some UK did slip in there). If I was flying off the handle, I probably wouldn't put too much thought into talking like the guy I'm acting. But then again, when Bale was promoting Batman, he didn't speak in a Welsh accent during the entire time and had the nameplate on his trailer read "Bruce Wayne."
Tbone Graduate Poster Join Date: Oct 2006 Posts: 1,448

4th February 2009, 02:48 AM	#32
gumboot lorcutus.tolere Join Date: Jun 2006 Posts: 25,327	Originally Posted by Tbone When I heard this clip, the first thing I thought was how much he stuck with the American accent during the rant (although some UK did slip in there). If I was flying off the handle, I probably wouldn't put too much thought into talking like the guy I'm acting. But then again, when Bale was promoting Batman, he didn't speak in a Welsh accent during the entire time and had the nameplate on his trailer read "Bruce Wayne." He's apparently a pretty full-on method actor who really gets into his role.
	__________________ O xein', angellein Lakedaimoniois hoti têde keimetha tois keinon rhémasi peithomenoi. A fan of fantasy? Check out Project Dreamforge.

4th February 2009, 03:34 AM	#33
calebprime moleman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 11,899	Originally Posted by dudalb I would love to know what is your idea of going over the top. Try that in your workplace and see what happens. Well, I agree. Behavior is contextual. Don't make the mistake of thinking that all life is like an office job. Thank fsm, it's not. and, someone mentioned Buddy Rich--the good drummer, famous for his rants. I'm a musician--my workplace was a soundproofed room, and I screamed and swore much worse than that when I worked--and that's when things were going well. @ Lonewulf mitigating circumstances: 1) He's an intense actor, hired for that trait. 2) There was a provocation 3) He complains about the provocation, he doesn't globalize that much 4) He wants to get back to work (5) ? again, it matters a good deal what was being said back to him--the worst thing you can do with someone who is upset like this is not to take him seriously
calebprime moleman Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts: 11,899

4th February 2009, 05:13 AM	#35
Lonewulf Humanistic Cyborg Join Date: Nov 2005 Posts: 10,375	Originally Posted by calebprime @ Lonewulf mitigating circumstances: 1) He's an intense actor, hired for that trait. 2) There was a provocation 3) He complains about the provocation, he doesn't globalize that much 4) He wants to get back to work (5) ? again, it matters a good deal what was being said back to him--the worst thing you can do with someone who is upset like this is not to take him seriously Er, "he wants to get back to work"? You didn't listen to the clip, I see. Since he did anything but get back to work, as the other guy tried to placate him and get back to work, just as mentioned. Bale would "calm down" for a second, then come back, getting worse and worse, eventually threatening to do physical harm to him. So strike 4. As for 3, I'm pretty sure the provocation wasn't worth "kicking his ass". In fact, takes get ruined all the time. What the hell do you think blooper reels are for? The "mitigating circumstances" just seems like an excuse to apologize for the rich/famous. The response didn't match the provocation, I can't get away with insulting and physically threatening a coworker just because I'm "intense" (even if I landed an acting gig), unless I somehow got incredibly famous/rich, and 4 is just outright wrong.
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4th February 2009, 05:27 AM	#36
mummymonkey Did you spill my pint? Join Date: Dec 2002 Location: Scotland Posts: 2,052	Christian "Out On" Bail sounds like a bully. There's no excuse for that behaviour. Been making films since he was a boy and probably used to getting his own way.
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4th February 2009, 07:06 AM	#37
BenBurch Gatekeeper of The Left Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: The Universe 35.2 ms ahead of this one. Posts: 37,534	I don't see the issue. Have you ever acted? This would have ruined ANY scene.
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