5 directors who scared the hell out of their actors to get the perfect shot
The director of a movie is the creative lead and visionary who is responsible for bringing the screenplay to life on screen and getting the best out of the actors.
The director of any movie plays a crucial role in selecting the actors who will best embody the characters in the script, often working with a casting director.
It’s then his job to guide the actors’ performances, providing feedback and ensuring they understand their characters’ motivations and the desired emotional tone of each scene.
Actors are complex individuals with each actor channeling their creativity in a manner of ways. Some manage to fill the role at first and others need gentle cajoling to really deliver their parts.
Five movie scenes with actors pushed by directors
According to entertainment portal, Cracked.com, these are five famous movie scenes where the directors pushed their actors to get the best from their performance.
Boogie Nights
Apparently Paul Thomas Anderson scared lead actor Mark Wahlberg with firecracker noises for days which explains why the drug deal scene in Boogie Nights is so unbearably tense is the random explosions of firecrackers thrown by a boy whose presence is mercifully never explained.
The Exorcist
Apparently, The Exorcist’s actors weren’t scared enough of getting vomited on by Linda Blair for director Friedkin’s taste. To make sure they truly went from zero to panicked, he took to firing blanks from a shotgun just before calling “action.”
The Birds
For the climax of The Birds, when Tippi Hedren’s character is attacked by a massive flock of birds in an attic bedroom, Hitchcock told her he would use mechanical birds, then claimed at the last minute that the props looked too fake. Instead, he ordered the crew to hurl hundreds of live birds at her — for five days straight.
Bram Stoker’s Dracula
On the set of Bram Stoker’s Dracula, however, Francis Ford Coppola apparently didn’t think Winoina Ryder could cry with convicton, so he started hurling pointed insults at her and encouraged the other men on set to do the same.
The Shining
Apparently, The Shining holds the world record for number of takes filmed of one scene at 148. During production, Stanley Kubrick was a perfectionist and wanted Shelley Duvall exhausted and sobbing, just like he did throughout the rest of the movie so he cajoled her into her “terrorized captive” performance, working her to the bone, and forbidding other actors from “sympathizing” with her.
Get your game on! Whether you’re into NFL touchdowns, NBA buzzer-beaters, world-class soccer goals, or MLB home runs, our app has it all.Dive into live coverage, expert insights, breaking news, exclusive videos, and more – plus, stay updated on the latest in current affairs and entertainment. Download now for all-access coverage, right at your fingertips – anytime, anywhere.