Behind the Scenes

[Blergh]

I thoroughly searched but could not find this subcategory in this subforum so here is a good place to detail any stuff that went on with performers, producers, directors, photographers,etc. that audiences may have never suspected:

 

I'll start with one from Wizard of Oz (1939):

 Much has been written about the Wicked Witch of the West causing a field of poppies to grow to put our heroic protagonists into a narcotic slumber but no one could have imagined that Glinda the Good Witch may have caused them (or the performers) more harm via having a sudden 'snowfall' blanket the blooms and end their effects on the protagonists. Since actual snow would have been tricky to pick up on camera and likely have instantly melted under harsh,hot studio lights, they used a substitution but it wasn't soap flakes or bleached corn flakes but. . .. RAW ASBESTOS flakes (!!). True, the carcinogen properties of that material were little known at the time but one might shudder to think about how all four of them were completely covered by them and likely breathed in a good amount of them during the production. Oh, and asbestos was also used for the Scarecrow's jacket and the Wicked Witch's broom when she was attempting to set him on fire! 

[Blergh]

With the passing of that marvelous scholar and film historian, Diana Serra Cary at age 101 on February 24,2020,  I think it's worth considering not just how amazingly talented and expressive she had been as 'Baby Peggy' Montgomery when she was barely a toddler but also how amazing it was that she was able to literally survive all the risks the filmmakers put her through! 

She nearly drowned in a real sea storm in Captain January (1924) among other mishaps but perhaps the worst and most avoidable stunt they put her through was when her character was supposed to escape a burning room in  The Darling of New York (1923). No, they didn't use any projected footage of fires, animation or painting the set to appear to be on fire, they actually SET THE ROOM ON FIRE with kerosene and expected her to go out the door with the camera rolling!! Normally, this tiny child did exactly as her strict on-set father Jack Montgomery would say for fear of punishment but she could feel that the door itself was ablaze on the other side and instantly knew that she'd suffer FAR more if she attempted to go through it than whatever her father might inflict upon her so she climbed onto the very last fire-free path on a kitchen sink and went out the window barely avoiding the flames! Audiences would marvel at how well this four-year-old  supposedly 'pretended' to be scared but, in actuality, as Mrs. Cary would recall, she was SINCERELY petrified. Perhaps it's just as well for historic purposes that the only known fragment of this film to survive has the footage of what happened. Alas, she made over 100 films from the age of 18 months to six years (when her career virtually ended- thanks to Mr. Montgomery losing his temper one too many times to the wrong person) but almost all of them have been lost or were deliberately destroyed. At least Captain January HAS survived in full-length form. 

[Ms Blue Jay]

I just read this about "Unfaithful" 2002 on Wikipedia.  I mean was this really necessary?!

Click on my screenshot to enlarge to read.

Edited February 29, 2020 by Ms Blue Jay

[Blergh]

4 hours ago, Ms Blue Jay said:

I just read this about "Unfaithful" 2002 on Wikipedia.  I mean was this really necessary?!

Click on my screenshot to enlarge to read.

I agree that was downright nasty to do that to the performers.  Alas, this is by no means the only time this sort of thing happened. According to Leslie Caron in her autobio, the director insisted on having tires burned just out of camera range on the set-  to give just the right kind of 'vintage, smoky' ambiance to the period piece set in World War I  Courage Mountain (1990).That might also explain why she seemed more testy than the script required while playing the school headmistress. 

Hadn't either of these directors ever considered just putting the right colored gel filters for camera lenses?! UGH!

[Ms Blue Jay]

2 minutes ago, Blergh said:

Hadn't either of these directors ever considered just putting the right colored gel filters for camera lenses?! UGH!

That's exactly what I said to myself.  Unfaithful was made in 2002, not 1932.  Jesus!!!!!!  Use some damn special effects!

[Trini]

The AMPAS are doing 'watch parties' on twitter and tonight is Scott Pilgrim vs the World.  https://twitter.com/i/lists/1263141888644616192

The director, cast, and others involved with making the film are posting lots of BTS info. I'm not sure which other movies they're doing/have done.

[VCRTracking]

The time Meryl Streep almost died filming THE RIVER WILD(1994).

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-10-06-9410050418-story.html

A lesson Curtis Hanson learned that day and every director should know:

When Meryl Streep tells you she can't do something? BELIEVE her.

[Trini]

'Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: An oral history of Edgar Wright's super-powered cult classic '

[Spartan Girl]

One my favorite behind the scenes stories was about The Blues Brothers. They were shooting one night and John Belushi had wandered off -- which happened a lot. Dan Aykroyd went out to look for him at a suburb nearby, and he tracked him down at one house: John had basically had just knocked on the door and asked -- very amicably -- the people who lived there if he could come in and crash there for a while.

Edited June 26, 2020 by Spartan Girl

[Ms Blue Jay]

On 5/21/2020 at 3:52 PM, VCRTracking said:

The time Meryl Streep almost died filming THE RIVER WILD(1994).

https://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/os-xpm-1994-10-06-9410050418-story.html

A lesson Curtis Hanson learned that day and every director should know:

When Meryl Streep tells you she can't do something? BELIEVE her.

I vaguely do remember this story.   Such a shame when actors are treated this way to please Directors' egos.  I really, really do like that movie though.  One of my favourite Meryl performances and that's saying something!

It's like the now famous story of Uma Thurman getting into a car crash on Kill Bill.

https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2018/02/uma-thurman-crash-footage-kill-bill-instagram

Edited June 26, 2020 by Ms Blue Jay

[Spartan Girl]

Trading Places: Don Ameche was such an old school gentleman that on the day they shot the scene where he dropped the f-bomb, he felt obligated to apologize to the entire cast and crew in advance for using profanity.

[VCRTracking]

 

 

[Spartan Girl]

I've got a few more behind the scenes stories about John Belushi. While shooting the "love scene" for Continental Divide with Blair Brown, he was so nervous because it was the first one he'd ever done that he kept stalling the shoot by telling jokes and keeping Blair and all the filmmakers laughing until they finally insisted on starting.

Years before he had a small part in this movie Old Boyfriends with Talia Shire. For one scene, she was supposed to leave him stranded in the road without his pants (don't ask) and John was so insecure about being filmed even half naked that he supposedly begged the director not to make him do it. But he sucked it up and did it anyway.

[VCRTracking]

 

 

[Bastet]

There's a "Babies and Booms" Instagram.

 

[krankydoodle]

The AV Club has a fun interview with Julia Stiles about her various projects:

Quote

AVC: Are there other movies or other TV projects where, looking back, you learned really memorable lessons?

JS: The first thing that comes to mind is Silver Linings Playbook. I don’t really want to get into David O. Russell as a director, but I learned a lot about acting, for better or worse, in terms of how he treats people on set. I’m not condoning that, but I learned a lot from him because he constantly talks throughout your take. He’s talking at you while you’re acting or trying to act. It’s very jarring, but it got me out of my own head. I had no time to censor myself or be really self-conscious because he’s barking at you and you have to obey or listen. As jarring as it is, it got me to not think so much as an actress, I guess. It got me out of my own head.

That would've sent me up the wall so it's interesting that she found it helpful.

[VCRTracking]

I'm on Tom's side on this one. Vigilance is so important now.

 

[anna0852]

Yeah I'm not usually a Tom Cruise fan but he got this right. 

[supposebly]

I agree on the point he makes. I don't agree on the prolonged yelling. That's a lot of yelling. I imagine the rest of the day and the shoot might have been very uncomfortable. 

I wonder what they did that caused that much yelling. It does feel like overkill and he seems quite stressed.

[Spartan Girl]

Honestly the anti masker/stupid people that aren’t being careful are so frustrating that at this point I’m fine with them being screamed at. The time for asking nicely is over.

[topanga]

22 hours ago, VCRTracking said:

I'm on Tom's side on this one. Vigilance is so important now.

Same here. I totally agree with him.

At the same time, I'd hate to be one of his kids who does something wrong and has to hear a Tom Cruise lecture. 

"Okay, Dad, I get it. I'm sorry."  "I'm sorry again."   "*sigh*"

[DollEyes]

Another who's Team Tom this time. What part of "global pandemic" do those morons not understand? They knew the rules, they broke the rules, they were put on blast and rightfully so. There are porn sets that are allegedly safer than that one. If Cruise had fired them, I wouldn't have blamed him.

  If those idiots still have their jobs and don't have Covid-19, they should consider themselves lucky-very lucky. If they're not gonna take at least one of those things seriously, there are literally millions of uninfected and unemployed people who do/will.

[Ohiopirate02]

12 hours ago, topanga said:

Same here. I totally agree with him.

At the same time, I'd hate to be one of his kids who does something wrong and has to hear a Tom Cruise lecture. 

"Okay, Dad, I get it. I'm sorry."  "I'm sorry again."   "*sigh*"

Good thing Suri hasn't seen Tom in like 8 years now, and the kids he adopted with Nicole are adults.  

[GHScorpiosRule]

9 hours ago, DollEyes said:

Another who's Team Tom this time. What part of "global pandemic" do those morons not understand? They knew the rules, they broke the rules, they were put on blast and rightfully so. There are porn sets that are allegedly safer than that one. If Cruise had fired them, I wouldn't have blamed him.

  If those idiots still have their jobs and don't have Covid-19, they should consider themselves lucky-very lucky. If they're not gonna take at least one of those things seriously, there are literally millions of uninfected and unemployed people who do/will.

Add me to the list. And it wasn't just one person. It sounded like he went off on at least 4 people; maybe 5, who weren't following the rules.

[Guest]

On 12/16/2020 at 8:20 AM, supposebly said:

I agree on the point he makes. I don't agree on the prolonged yelling. That's a lot of yelling. I imagine the rest of the day and the shoot might have been very uncomfortable. 

I wonder what they did that caused that much yelling. It does feel like overkill and he seems quite stressed.

On the surface I agree with him but the details make me think he crossed a line. The source that released the recording said that two crew members were wearing masks but were standing less than 6 ft apart while watching a monitor. It certainly deserved a reminder and possibly a reprimand but not to be yelled at like that. 

There has since been another report that he went off again after the leak and multiple crew members have quit. Apparently the production shut down early for Christmas break. Tom has also photographed on set wearing a mask with valves and his new girlfriend/co-star wears her mask below her nose. All in all it looks less like vigilance and more like abuse of subordinates. 

On 12/17/2020 at 5:56 AM, GHScorpiosRule said:

Add me to the list. And it wasn't just one person. It sounded like he went off on at least 4 people; maybe 5, who weren't following the rules.

The report said it was two people. 

Edited December 19, 2020 by Guest

[Bastet]

17 minutes ago, Dani said:

The source that released the recording said that two crew members were wearing masks but were standing less than 6 ft apart while watching a monitor.

And aren't there pictures of Cruise and others standing around just as closely while wearing masks?

[Guest]

9 hours ago, Bastet said:

And aren't there pictures of Cruise and others standing around just as closely while wearing masks?

Yes. 
 

[VCRTracking]

I looked up the song on YouTube. It's seven minutes long!

 

Edited January 27, 2021 by VCRTracking

[Blergh]

Ironically sad but pragmatic quote  re 1930's reality from the first African-American Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel," I'd rather make $700 a week playing a maid than $7 a day being a maid!"

[AimingforYoko]

6 hours ago, Blergh said:

Ironically sad but pragmatic quote  re 1930's reality from the first African-American Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel," I'd rather make $700 a week playing a maid than $7 a day being a maid!"

Can we get an "Amen!" from the congregation? I never begrudged the actors back in the day from doing what what they thought was best. Blame the studios, blame the producers, blame America. Don't blame them.

[Ms Blue Jay]

11 hours ago, Blergh said:

Ironically sad but pragmatic quote  re 1930's reality from the first African-American Academy Award winner Hattie McDaniel," I'd rather make $700 a week playing a maid than $7 a day being a maid!"

 

[Razzberry]

In Dyan Cannon's book she talks about how strongly opposed Cary Grant was to casting Audrey Hepburn in Charade because of the age difference.  When she pointed out that she herself was actually younger than Hepburn, he insisted "That's different." 😄

[Ms Blue Jay]

3 hours ago, Razzberry said:

In Dyan Cannon's book she talks about how strongly opposed Cary Grant was to casting Audrey Hepburn in Charade because of the age difference.  When she pointed out that she herself was actually younger than Hepburn, he insisted "That's different." 😄

Yes,  I read that Cary Grant was embarrassed about the age difference and never did a movie with Audrey again.  I watched "Charade" for the first time this year so I went to look for information on this.

Quote

Cary Grant, who turned 59 during filming, was sensitive about the 25-year age difference between Audrey Hepburn (33 at the time of filming) and himself, and was uncomfortable with their romantic interplay. To satisfy his concerns, the filmmakers agreed to add dialogue that has Grant's character comment on his age, and Regina — Hepburn's character — is portrayed as the pursuer.[6]

 Eastman, John (1989). Retakes: Behind the Scenes of 500 Classic Movies. Ballantine Books. pp. 57–58. ISBN 0-345-35399-4.  (Wikipedia)

Edited March 7, 2021 by Ms Blue Jay

[krankydoodle]

Charlie’s Angels Crew Member Shares What Really Happened in Lucy Liu, Bill Murray Conflict

It sounds like things didn't get physical, which was the prevailing rumor. I'm surprised no one tried to correct at least that part of the story earlier.

[supposebly]

25 minutes ago, krankydoodle said:

Charlie’s Angels Crew Member Shares What Really Happened in Lucy Liu, Bill Murray Conflict

It sounds like things didn't get physical, which was the prevailing rumor. I'm surprised no one tried to correct at least that part of the story earlier.

I'm not surprised. Everyone seems to love Bill Murray. I always thought he's one of the many assholes who gets away with terrible behaviour. And the image of Lucy Liu becoming phisical with him never sat right with me. She's like what, half his height and size? Why would people ever believe that?

[krankydoodle]

The tidbits from the new book about the making of Mad Max: Fury Road are interesting. I remember hearing about Charlize Theron and Tom Hardy clashing on set not long after the movie was released (7 years ago now!), but it seemed to be put down to different working styles. From the excerpts in the AV Club article, though, it sounds like Hardy was being incredibly unprofessional to put it mildly.

[Blergh]

OK, it's no secret that from the time they first met when the Austrian-born Hollywood director Josef Von Sternberg and  the legendary entertainer German-born Marlene Dietrich for The Blue Angel (1930)  had a rather torrid affair while making movies together (despite her being in an open marriage and both having numerous flings throughout). Mr. Von Sternberg HAD learned to love certain aspects and hobbies of US American culture he'd embraced while living in the US and tried to share this with Miss Dietrich (with spotty success). Anyway, towards the end of their affair (and working relationship), to that end, he escorted her and her young daughter Maria Sieber (later Mrs. Riva) to a USC/ UCLA football game! While the future Mrs. Riva  would later recount how she herself had loved watching the game with her adopted Los Angeles hometown crowd celebrating, it was not a success for Miss Dietrich. Mr. Von Sternberg did his best to attempt to explain the rules and strategies of US football to his companion, only to have Miss Dietrich dismiss the whole concept with "Why don't they give each player his own ball, then we can ALL go home?"🤣

[Shannon L.]

[Raja]

This is a deep pull. When the second, 2009  FAME movie came out Debbie Allen as the only actor to be in both movies and the TV series comes on and we all wondered why she played a different character and why wasn't the  dance teacher Ms. Grant that she was known in the TV series as promoted to he school principal.

According to some podcasters about the TV series pilot in the first movie when she comments about Gene Anthony Ray, Leroy's audition she was not playing a teacher  but rather an upper classman at the school who was a rival to Coco Hernandez, the FAME song's singer, but all that was left on the cutting room floor.  Maybe they saw she couldn't still pass for a high school student. 

So for the TV series Ms. Grant was an original character and not one brought over from the movie like the musician Bruno and dancer Leroy.  Which means according to a Star Trek writer friend of mine that when they settled a previous TV writers strike those TV writers would have been paid for using Ms. Grant in the second movie. Thus the principal was a new character played the legacy actor.