Horrible Things Done To Actors To Make A Scene Work.
By Edtrader Oct. 2nd, 2022
A movie crew's job is not only to accomplish the technical aspects of movies. But also, to get the best performance out of an actor. And create the best conditions and atmosphere for the actors. After all a poor actor leads to poor movies. A movie set doesn't have to be all smiles and sunshine. But there have been some outright horrible things done towards actors.
By Edtrader Oct. 2nd, 2022
A movie crew's job is not only to accomplish the technical aspects of movies. But also, to get the best performance out of an actor. And create the best conditions and atmosphere for the actors. After all a poor actor leads to poor movies. A movie set doesn't have to be all smiles and sunshine. But there have been some outright horrible things done towards actors.
Sheen's scars.
1987's Platoon is called one of the best Vietnam movies made, Well, actor Charlie Sheen had the scars of war to prove it. Director Oliver Stone was shooting a scene that involved Charlie unloading a helicopter. Charlie got ready to do the scene when Oliver turned to him and said to lose the shirt.
Charlie mentioned he want to wear a shirt because of the rocks the chopper was chunking off the ground. Oliver again told him to lose the shirt. The argument continued and finally Oliver called Charlie a Pu*sy. Charlie was a little pis*sed and took his shirt off. Then went on to do the scene. After filming he had all of these rock burns and scraps on his back. Charlie was right!
Kim in distress.
Kim Basinger was filming 9 1/2 Weeks when it came time to do a scene where her and Mickey Rourke did this pseudo sexual mutual suicide. Where the guy and women match each other pill per pill. The director, Adrian Lyne, said her character was supposed to be down and out. But Kim was just so lovingly looking. So, as he put it, she had to be broken down.
So, he had Mickey grab Kim by the arm. He held her and said he wasn't going to let go. He squeezes then she begins to cry out loud. To top it off Micky just slapped her in the face. She began to cry even more now. The director tells his actors 'Ok let's start the scene'. All of that went down just for the scene to be cut.
Through the entire shot he purposely held Kim to a level of tension. He wouldn't give her any direction, but he instructs Mickey about things. One direction was him saying 'ok now be mean to her, ok now make her feel isolated'. And she said it had an effect in the relationship with her real husband.
1987's Platoon is called one of the best Vietnam movies made, Well, actor Charlie Sheen had the scars of war to prove it. Director Oliver Stone was shooting a scene that involved Charlie unloading a helicopter. Charlie got ready to do the scene when Oliver turned to him and said to lose the shirt.
Charlie mentioned he want to wear a shirt because of the rocks the chopper was chunking off the ground. Oliver again told him to lose the shirt. The argument continued and finally Oliver called Charlie a Pu*sy. Charlie was a little pis*sed and took his shirt off. Then went on to do the scene. After filming he had all of these rock burns and scraps on his back. Charlie was right!
Kim in distress.
Kim Basinger was filming 9 1/2 Weeks when it came time to do a scene where her and Mickey Rourke did this pseudo sexual mutual suicide. Where the guy and women match each other pill per pill. The director, Adrian Lyne, said her character was supposed to be down and out. But Kim was just so lovingly looking. So, as he put it, she had to be broken down.
So, he had Mickey grab Kim by the arm. He held her and said he wasn't going to let go. He squeezes then she begins to cry out loud. To top it off Micky just slapped her in the face. She began to cry even more now. The director tells his actors 'Ok let's start the scene'. All of that went down just for the scene to be cut.
Through the entire shot he purposely held Kim to a level of tension. He wouldn't give her any direction, but he instructs Mickey about things. One direction was him saying 'ok now be mean to her, ok now make her feel isolated'. And she said it had an effect in the relationship with her real husband.
Don't go chasing waterfalls.
Actor Idris Elba was filming 'Beast Of No Nation' when it was decided the cast would look good walking behind this 100-foot waterfall. You'd think that there would be robes and harnesses to hold the actors from falling, Nope! Instead, they were just told to be careful. 'Yea don't slip on those wet slippery rocks'.
While waiting for the next shot to be set up, he had grabbed what he thought was a strong tree. But it was a branch that just snapped. Now his balance is off, and his feet are going a different direction. Luckily a security guy was there to catch him.
Used Cars.
On the DVD commentary for 1980's Used Cars director Robert Zemeckis says that he couldn't do a film like that today. As there were some 'nut curing' moments of filming. Jeff (Gerrit Graham) has to be dazed by finding out he's driving a red car. As a red car is totally unlucky for his character. So, he walks backwards as a car comes but moves just in time to not hit him. There was no CGI or trick photography. So, the actor walked backwards, and the stunt driver did his thing. The car came within two feet of the actor. One trip or mistake and the actor is on the dead list. In the commentary producer Bob Gale says that Gerrit had no idea how close he had come to dying.
Another scene had Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell) jumping from car to car during the big 250 car march to the lot. So, to do this in a single shot Kurt Russel had sticky stuff attached to his shoes. To keep him from falling off. No wires or CGI just the former Disney star reeling on his balance. To make things worse the drivers were a bunch of teenagers that barely had licenses. And here they were driving as fast as they could over dirt and sand. They didn't wet the track any so this thick dust had it where you couldn't see more than one car in front of you.
Actor Idris Elba was filming 'Beast Of No Nation' when it was decided the cast would look good walking behind this 100-foot waterfall. You'd think that there would be robes and harnesses to hold the actors from falling, Nope! Instead, they were just told to be careful. 'Yea don't slip on those wet slippery rocks'.
While waiting for the next shot to be set up, he had grabbed what he thought was a strong tree. But it was a branch that just snapped. Now his balance is off, and his feet are going a different direction. Luckily a security guy was there to catch him.
Used Cars.
On the DVD commentary for 1980's Used Cars director Robert Zemeckis says that he couldn't do a film like that today. As there were some 'nut curing' moments of filming. Jeff (Gerrit Graham) has to be dazed by finding out he's driving a red car. As a red car is totally unlucky for his character. So, he walks backwards as a car comes but moves just in time to not hit him. There was no CGI or trick photography. So, the actor walked backwards, and the stunt driver did his thing. The car came within two feet of the actor. One trip or mistake and the actor is on the dead list. In the commentary producer Bob Gale says that Gerrit had no idea how close he had come to dying.
Another scene had Rudy Russo (Kurt Russell) jumping from car to car during the big 250 car march to the lot. So, to do this in a single shot Kurt Russel had sticky stuff attached to his shoes. To keep him from falling off. No wires or CGI just the former Disney star reeling on his balance. To make things worse the drivers were a bunch of teenagers that barely had licenses. And here they were driving as fast as they could over dirt and sand. They didn't wet the track any so this thick dust had it where you couldn't see more than one car in front of you.
Real saws and falls.
Last House On The Left had a few moments were Wes Craven and to take extreme measures to get scenes right. The DVD commentary featured director Wes Craven and actor Marc Schaffer. Wes told about the most reckless thing about the film. The people that owned the house had no idea what kind of movie was being made.
And certainly, they knew nothing about a live chainsaw being used in their house. He said the chainsaw was not rigged to be safe at all. And the other actors David and Gaylord were scared to death about the thing. There was a scene with one of the kid's fathers was to assault David Hess with a chainsaw. So, Wes instructed that the saw also have an actual saw blade chain.
Marc Schaffer told the story that Sandra Cassell was having great difficulty in getting her scenes right. That they had done the scene so many times they lost count. Wes and the entire crew were getting frustrated. So, Marc told Wes to hang on for a moment.
There was a cliff right next to where they were filming. So, Marc grabbed and dragged her to the edge of the cliff. Then held her there and said if we don't get this fu*king scene right I'm gonna drop you. Wes will film it and that will be in the movie. Marc then motioned Wes to roll film, she got the scene right then!
Last House On The Left had a few moments were Wes Craven and to take extreme measures to get scenes right. The DVD commentary featured director Wes Craven and actor Marc Schaffer. Wes told about the most reckless thing about the film. The people that owned the house had no idea what kind of movie was being made.
And certainly, they knew nothing about a live chainsaw being used in their house. He said the chainsaw was not rigged to be safe at all. And the other actors David and Gaylord were scared to death about the thing. There was a scene with one of the kid's fathers was to assault David Hess with a chainsaw. So, Wes instructed that the saw also have an actual saw blade chain.
Marc Schaffer told the story that Sandra Cassell was having great difficulty in getting her scenes right. That they had done the scene so many times they lost count. Wes and the entire crew were getting frustrated. So, Marc told Wes to hang on for a moment.
There was a cliff right next to where they were filming. So, Marc grabbed and dragged her to the edge of the cliff. Then held her there and said if we don't get this fu*king scene right I'm gonna drop you. Wes will film it and that will be in the movie. Marc then motioned Wes to roll film, she got the scene right then!
Gross filming.
Sometimes actors have to get a little gutty and bloody! Lucio Fulci is an Italian horror director that puts most American horror directors to shame. In his goriest film City Of The Living Dead there are two examples of what his actors had to do for a scene.
Daniela Doria plays a younger girl 'parked' with her boyfriend. That's until a deceased priest appears before them. And her character vomits her own guts. To pull this off the director had a sheep killed on set. As he said the guts don't look fresh after a more than a few minutes. Its guts were put in her mouth for her to vomit out. The shots were the guts fly out like a rocket a dummy head was used. But the close ups where the guts drool out it was the real actress.
Later in the film a couple of the other actors were to have a mount of maggots blown on them. Did the director choose to use wax worms like other movies use? No, it had to be real live maggots. As he wanted shots of them squirming. The director mentioned this event in issue 48 of Starburst magazine.
Sometimes actors have to get a little gutty and bloody! Lucio Fulci is an Italian horror director that puts most American horror directors to shame. In his goriest film City Of The Living Dead there are two examples of what his actors had to do for a scene.
Daniela Doria plays a younger girl 'parked' with her boyfriend. That's until a deceased priest appears before them. And her character vomits her own guts. To pull this off the director had a sheep killed on set. As he said the guts don't look fresh after a more than a few minutes. Its guts were put in her mouth for her to vomit out. The shots were the guts fly out like a rocket a dummy head was used. But the close ups where the guts drool out it was the real actress.
Later in the film a couple of the other actors were to have a mount of maggots blown on them. Did the director choose to use wax worms like other movies use? No, it had to be real live maggots. As he wanted shots of them squirming. The director mentioned this event in issue 48 of Starburst magazine.
Have you ever sucked a real pig's eye out of a dummy' head? Well, our next actor did just that. Bernd Lorenz had to suck a real pig's eye out of a dummy's eye socket. This was during a love scene between his character and a corpse. SEX MURDER ART -The Films of Jrg Buttgereit by author David Kerekes got this info from the director himself. The New York Times would point this fact out as well.
Miko Hughes.
The little boy in Pet Sematary was hired to play the son of Nancy in Wes Craven's New Nightmare. Wes Craven was interviewed on the Never Sleep Again documentary about young Miko. It came time for the young lad to go through some scary and emotional scenes. The boy's own parents came up to Wes and explained they have a way to make him cry. They don't like to do it much, but it works. So, the mother leaves and the dad comes up to Miko and says your mom is dead. You'll never see her again.
He just kept laying in all of this until the boy's eyes were ready to rain. Imagine picking a young child and you intentionally try to gain dreadful tears. Then throw in Freddy Kruger hanging around. Sounds sadistic to me! But in that documentary Wes also said Miko's reward for this was a happy meal.
The little boy in Pet Sematary was hired to play the son of Nancy in Wes Craven's New Nightmare. Wes Craven was interviewed on the Never Sleep Again documentary about young Miko. It came time for the young lad to go through some scary and emotional scenes. The boy's own parents came up to Wes and explained they have a way to make him cry. They don't like to do it much, but it works. So, the mother leaves and the dad comes up to Miko and says your mom is dead. You'll never see her again.
He just kept laying in all of this until the boy's eyes were ready to rain. Imagine picking a young child and you intentionally try to gain dreadful tears. Then throw in Freddy Kruger hanging around. Sounds sadistic to me! But in that documentary Wes also said Miko's reward for this was a happy meal.
Return Of The Living Hair.
The documentary about Return Of The Living Dead titled More Brains the actors told that the gave yard dance scene had some memorable moments. The character of Trash is dancing naked in the cemetery. Well, she got her bottom half nude, and the producer Graham Henderson stopped the filming. Saying that seeing her pubic hair is too much. So, he instructed that she be shaved for the scene. Which the production designer was in charge of. Graham comes around again citing now it's even worse. As you can see her 'P word' even better.
So now he had the make-up effects team make her do a mold. To form a piece to go over her area that is smooth and shows nothing. So, she stands there while latex mold is poured into her panties. Now it's even worse as she looks like a barbie doll. With nothing natural looking there. But that's the take that's used. Also, they had done the scene so many times for so long that they were getting burns on their hands, eyes, and noses. As they were dancing around with sulfuric flares to light the scene.
Animal actors.
One of the most protest movies by the American Humane Association is 1980's Heaven's Gate. Which was accused of starving and overusing geldings to the point they were disfigured. After several lawsuits the AHA has been placed on all movie sets under the Screen Actors Guild. In the family film Eight Below several of the dogs were mistreated as well. Leading to investigations by the AHA. It was further proven that at least one of the dogs was punched in the chest repeatedly. This was after the AHA wad concerns that the crates used to transport the animal would get their toes and claws stuck.
Let the children cry.
One form of acting is taking an emotional event and use that towards your current role. Well, an actor is supposed to make that decision. But in this case a movie crew used an emotional event cruelly. Shirley Temple is arguably the best child actor of all time. She had formed a older sister-younger sister relationship with 19-year-old Dorothy Dell. An actress that played alongside Shirley in Little Miss Marker. Shirley's next film Now And Forever was set for the actress to have a heavy crying scene. Dorothy unfortunately lost her life in an auto accident on June 8th 1934.
It was decided that they wouldn't tell Shirley the news right away. But while her mother was away Shirley overheard what had happened. Allegedly it was done on purpose. It just so happened it was time to shoot her crying scene. Shirley ran to the bed on set and cried for real. The camera also happened to find it's way over to film her.
Wither this was all planned or happenstance but shooting her in pain then using that for the world to see? That's a line that should have not been crossed. Although she did receive praise, I don't believe any kid should be put through that.
The documentary about Return Of The Living Dead titled More Brains the actors told that the gave yard dance scene had some memorable moments. The character of Trash is dancing naked in the cemetery. Well, she got her bottom half nude, and the producer Graham Henderson stopped the filming. Saying that seeing her pubic hair is too much. So, he instructed that she be shaved for the scene. Which the production designer was in charge of. Graham comes around again citing now it's even worse. As you can see her 'P word' even better.
So now he had the make-up effects team make her do a mold. To form a piece to go over her area that is smooth and shows nothing. So, she stands there while latex mold is poured into her panties. Now it's even worse as she looks like a barbie doll. With nothing natural looking there. But that's the take that's used. Also, they had done the scene so many times for so long that they were getting burns on their hands, eyes, and noses. As they were dancing around with sulfuric flares to light the scene.
Animal actors.
One of the most protest movies by the American Humane Association is 1980's Heaven's Gate. Which was accused of starving and overusing geldings to the point they were disfigured. After several lawsuits the AHA has been placed on all movie sets under the Screen Actors Guild. In the family film Eight Below several of the dogs were mistreated as well. Leading to investigations by the AHA. It was further proven that at least one of the dogs was punched in the chest repeatedly. This was after the AHA wad concerns that the crates used to transport the animal would get their toes and claws stuck.
Let the children cry.
One form of acting is taking an emotional event and use that towards your current role. Well, an actor is supposed to make that decision. But in this case a movie crew used an emotional event cruelly. Shirley Temple is arguably the best child actor of all time. She had formed a older sister-younger sister relationship with 19-year-old Dorothy Dell. An actress that played alongside Shirley in Little Miss Marker. Shirley's next film Now And Forever was set for the actress to have a heavy crying scene. Dorothy unfortunately lost her life in an auto accident on June 8th 1934.
It was decided that they wouldn't tell Shirley the news right away. But while her mother was away Shirley overheard what had happened. Allegedly it was done on purpose. It just so happened it was time to shoot her crying scene. Shirley ran to the bed on set and cried for real. The camera also happened to find it's way over to film her.
Wither this was all planned or happenstance but shooting her in pain then using that for the world to see? That's a line that should have not been crossed. Although she did receive praise, I don't believe any kid should be put through that.
Jason saves the day.
The Friday The 13th documentary Crystal Lake Memories told a couple stories where their actors went through some stuff to get these chap movies made. Ted White was profiled as he played Jason in part4. He said that he wanted to strangle Corey Feldman. But he felt sorry for one of the girls. The actress was written to be killed by a knife through the chest. But this was to be out in the water and the knife comes under the float she's in.
So, the actress is in water that turns ice cold during filming. And she has on a summer bathing suit. As with most blood effects the scene had to be shot over and over as mistakes kept happening. The crew could get in and out of the water. But also, were dressed better suited for the cold. The way it was set up she had to be left in the water.
Ted White noticed that the girl was so cold that her lips were turning blue. Ted White being a lifelong stunt man that had doubled from everybody to Elvis to John Wayne. A big tough guy (playing a killer) was kind enough to see what she was going through. So, he told director Joe Zeto that she comes out of the water to get warmed up. Or he's walking off the set right then. The actress explains that she caught Hypothermia!
Earlier in part 2 Amy Steel fights Jason's pickaxe with a machete. The scene called for the machete to hit the top of the axe and spark. The only way to do this was really metal on metal. So, Amy was giving a real machete. She comes down with it in order to hit the axe but misses. Instead, she hits Jason actor Steve Dash right on his middle finger. Which darn near cuts it off. So, he had to go to the emergency room. Still in makeup and have his finger stitched.
The Friday The 13th documentary Crystal Lake Memories told a couple stories where their actors went through some stuff to get these chap movies made. Ted White was profiled as he played Jason in part4. He said that he wanted to strangle Corey Feldman. But he felt sorry for one of the girls. The actress was written to be killed by a knife through the chest. But this was to be out in the water and the knife comes under the float she's in.
So, the actress is in water that turns ice cold during filming. And she has on a summer bathing suit. As with most blood effects the scene had to be shot over and over as mistakes kept happening. The crew could get in and out of the water. But also, were dressed better suited for the cold. The way it was set up she had to be left in the water.
Ted White noticed that the girl was so cold that her lips were turning blue. Ted White being a lifelong stunt man that had doubled from everybody to Elvis to John Wayne. A big tough guy (playing a killer) was kind enough to see what she was going through. So, he told director Joe Zeto that she comes out of the water to get warmed up. Or he's walking off the set right then. The actress explains that she caught Hypothermia!
Earlier in part 2 Amy Steel fights Jason's pickaxe with a machete. The scene called for the machete to hit the top of the axe and spark. The only way to do this was really metal on metal. So, Amy was giving a real machete. She comes down with it in order to hit the axe but misses. Instead, she hits Jason actor Steve Dash right on his middle finger. Which darn near cuts it off. So, he had to go to the emergency room. Still in makeup and have his finger stitched.