20 Times Directors Duped Actors Into Method Acting

Wow, directors really don't trust their actors to... act.
20 Times Directors Duped Actors Into Method Acting
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Picture this: you're directing a movie with a multi-million dollar budget. The whole production now hinges on your choices. You're not gonna let your actor mess the whole thing up by acting.

You're gonna take matters into your own hands, and manipulate them into thinking they're about to die! Or that you just killed their costar! Or maybe, if you've had your coffee, that you're going to murder their dog.

Here are a few unhinged examples of a controversial directing tool called "enforced method acting," or, "lying to actors so they'll act better."

Ridley Scott

The cast didn''t fully grasp the concept of a chestburster' until this very moment. ALIEN Ridley Scott wanted to document their authentic reactions, and he certainly got 'em. Veronica Cartwright fainted when she saw it.

Captain Phillips

This moment is the first time Tom Hanks met his costars. CAPTAIN PHILLIPS The director kept the pirates away from Hanks and CO. until the scene where they burst in and took them hostage, SO they'd have the same experience as the real crew.

Wes Craven

Wes Craven threatened to murder Drew Barrymore's dog. SCREAM In order to rile her up into the blubbering ball of fear she becomes, the director recounted acts of animal cruelty to her between takes, culminating in the graphic threat.

Willy Wonka

The kids were kept in the dark. WILLY WONKA & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY CRACKED.COM It was cute when they got to see the Chocolate Room for the first time... until you realize they had no idea what was coming when they stepped onto that boat.
The Crawlers were sprung on the cast like a haunted house.. THE DESCENT CRACKED.COM They were asked to stay in place SO their first reactions could be filmed. Instead, they understandably freaked the f* out and huddled together in a corner.

Sam Raimi

Sam Raimi injured and tortured Bruce Campbell for months. THE EVIL DEAD CRACKED.COM The whole cast was in the dark when it came to Raimi's practical effects, but Campbell took the brunt. For example, Raimi routinely re-sprained his ankle.
The director told this kid they had to kill his animal costar. KES In reality, they just used the dead body of a bird who had died of natural causes'' (dubious), but the actor wasn't told the truth until after he'd filmed the tragic climactic scene.

Pretty Woman

Richard Gere will charm a laugh out of anyone. PRETTY WOMAN CRACKED COM He slammed the jewelry box shut on Julia Roberts' fingers, prompting her to recoil and laugh endearingly.

The Goonies

The kids saw the ship for the first time while filming. THE GOONIES CRACKED COM They reacted the way any kids would: by cursing. They had to get a second take to supplement the explitive-laden first reaction.

Texas Chainsaw Massacre

The actors were losing their minds, and their lunches. TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE CRACKED.COM Conditions were hot, gross, and terrifying. Everyone was on edge all the time, and the cast routinely leaned out the window to puke during the dinner scene.

Good Will Hunting

Need someone to laugh? Put 'em in a room with Robin Williams. GOOD WILL HUNTING CRACKED.COM Williams' story about his wife waking herself up with her own farts was ad libbed, and changed the whole scene. Damon's reaction is genuine, and even the camera operator shakes in some parts.

The Blair Witch Project

The cast was subject to constant psychological torture. THE BLAIR WITCH PROJECT CRACKED COM They were periodically told to pick fights with each other, while being stalked through the woods day and night by crew members.
David Fincher made Ed Norton clock Brad Pitt in the noggin. FIGHT CLUB Pitt famously wonders aloud, Why the ear?!'' which... good question! Where would you punch Brad Pitt? Sound off in the comments!
Father Karras was mislead about the amount of puke. THE EXORCIST CRACKED.COM Actor Jason Miller was legitimately pissed when he got a mouthfull of old pea soup, having been promised he would get hit in the chest.

The Birds

Hitchcock said they'd be using mechanical birds. THE BIRDS Come shoot day, the robots and the crew hucked live birds at her like a live-action Angry Birds. The actress had to go to the hospital when filming was done.

Anthony Hopkins

Jodie Foster was not ready for that hissssss, THE SILENCE OF THE LAMBS CRACKED.COM Anthony Hopkins tried it out to see if he could scare Foster. It worked!
Alan Rickman was counting to 3; they dropped him on 1. DIE HARD CRACKED.COM This is the look of a man who thinks he's being murdered by a stunt director.

The Revenge of the Sith

George Lucas secretly weighted Hayden Christensen's costume. THE REVENGE OF THE SITH CRACKED.COM Without telling the actor, Lucas added weight to the Vader suit SO that he'd walk all clunky.
This kid thought he was about to be murdered by Martin Lawrence and Will Smith. BAD BOYS ll CRACKED.COM Producers told him not to look Lawrence in the eye, because he was crazy. They didn't tell him Smith was going to whip out a gun.
A surprise flood killed three people. NOAH'S ARK CRACKED COM Michael Curtiz, human monster and director of Casablanca, killed three humans in 1928. He went on to die alone.
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