# Christian Bale loses his temper **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [February 3, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256 "2009-02-03T15:03:14Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 14
**Author:** ![unwashed\_brain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/a9adbd/32.png) [@unwashed\_brain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/unwashed_brain)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/261 "2009-02-05T20:01:48Z")
The audio alone does not offer enough context for anyone who wasn’t there to pass judgment. “Enough context” may never be definable in this case, and our attempts to inject our best guesses at it should be considered for our entertainment purposes only. Some of you people seem to be taking this too seriously. ---
**Author:** ![TJVM](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/b38774/32.png) [@TJVM](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TJVM)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/262 "2009-02-05T20:49:51Z")
> [@smiling\_bandit](#): > > But, what I don’t understand, is what the Hell the director was doing the whole time? Just sitting with his thumb up there? I had the same reaction. At one point Bale asks McG (who’s apparently there) if he has anything to say – giving him a clear opportunity to get involved – and McG just begs off, saying he didn’t see what happened. That seems pathetic. He’s supposed to be in charge of the movie, his lead actor is flipping out, and he just stands there? I have to agree with [this article](http://www.guardian.co.uk/film/filmblog/2009/feb/04/christian-bale-terminator-tape?commentpage=2) that it looks like McG is not really in control of the movie. ---
**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/263 "2009-02-05T21:00:26Z")
I just think we need to all put this behind us, heal, and stop McG from casting Will Smith as Captain Nemo. “By physical force if necessary.” Give Smith “PURSUIT OF MORE HAPPYNESS” or “WILD WILDER WEST” or something if need be and put [Sendhil Ramamurthy](http://www.heroes-france.fr/images/stories/acteurs/saison1/Sendhil%20Ramamurthy/Sendhil-Ramamurthy%20(4).jpg) or [Djimon Hounsou](http://www.gameguru.in/images/kratos-djimon-hounsou.jpg) in the Nemo prequel project. ---
**Author:** ![Equipoise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/equipoise/32/151_2.png) [@Equipoise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Equipoise)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/264 "2009-02-05T21:14:57Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > BTW, here is some more [detail from Ron Howard](http://www.gather.com/viewArticle.jsp?articleId=281474977585328&grpId=3659174697244816&nav=Groupspace) whose daughter was working on the movie: > > > [@](#): > > > > Ron Howard says he has listened to the Christian Bale rant and understands what Bale was going through. Ron Howard says it was a very intense scene and the director of photography was disturbing the set, which is a big-time no-no in Hollywood. Ron Howard says Christian Bale is a very emotional actor and _ **felt awful about the rant and apologized to everyone on the set the next day. The DP of the film was never fired. Bryce Howard and Christian Bale went on to film the rest of the movie without any drama.** _ > > I don’t know if apologized in private to the DP, but it seems like it was pretty much dealt with then and there. Thanks for that link. I’m sure that or any other context won’t be enough for some people. Like Russell Crowe, he will always and forever be an irredeemable dick in their eyes, as if they never did something dumbass but were lucky enough to not have it broadcast all over the world with random strangers passing judgment on their entire beings. No, the sun doesn’t shine out his ass. I just think he’s a great actor and generally a pretty good guy. He’s also a human being who let the stress get to him and did a couple of dumbass things. I hope he’s learned to control his anger and won’t give the world any more fodder for idle chatter and judgment. He apologized. End of story. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/265 "2009-02-05T22:56:48Z")
> [@Liberal](#): > > Jodi, can you say what it was about his tirade that you found to be dickish, exactly? He blasted the person whose job it was to keep the shot pristine, and composed as planned — not just because he looked away while some nincompoop walked onto the set, but because HE HIMSELF walked onto the set. No he didn’t. You have no idea what the guy did. ---
**Author:** ![Discordia](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b9e5f3/32.png) [@Discordia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Discordia)\ **Post date:** [February 5, 2009, 11:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/266 "2009-02-05T23:10:11Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > No he didn’t. You have no idea what the guy did. The DP was looking at his lights. He’s well known for it. When Bale asks him on the recording, he says he was looking at his lights. So uh, we kinda do know what he did. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 12:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/267 "2009-02-06T00:04:55Z")
> [@Discordia](#): > > The DP was looking at his lights. He’s well known for it. When Bale asks him on the recording, he says he was looking at his lights. So uh, we kinda do know what he did. You have no idea what the guy did, and 4th-hand accounts on gossip sites are not evidence of anything. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 5:12am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/268 "2009-02-06T05:12:54Z")
Okay, DP here. Although I avoid it myself, I have witnessed other DPs making adjustments as the camera begins to roll. Okay, I’ve probably done it a few times but only if it’s not going to disturb the cast. I really try to do last looks before action. I also direct so being consious of the cast is very important to me. Hurlburt is just used to being able to tweak 'til the last possible second. And as mentioned he has been around and does his job very well. Oh yeah, He’s ASC. That makes him a god of cinematography. That’s a very big deal. Professional is not a good enough word to describe this group. Acting wise, Bale is not on par with Hurlburt DP wise. Bale went way overboard. Rather nutso, I’d say. And that recording implies to me that camera wasn’t rolling and it was only a rehearsal. If it had been a take, sound would have already been rolling when the shot was botched. But the clip starts in mid tirade, implying that the sound person thought he’d go ahead and catch some of it for posterity ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 5:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/269 "2009-02-06T05:46:34Z")
It could be a portion of a clip. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 5:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/270 "2009-02-06T05:52:05Z")
Yes, that’s possible but I wonder why we don’t hear the point at which Hurlburt first enters the scene. ---
**Author:** ![Liberal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/848f3c/32.png) [@Liberal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Liberal)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 6:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/271 "2009-02-06T06:02:00Z")
I don’t know why we would presume that that point would be heard. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 6:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/272 "2009-02-06T06:24:31Z")
Because here’s how a shot works: The 1stAD (assistant director) calls for quiet on the set. “Roll sound” is called and the sound person calls “Speed” when sound is rolling. The camera is called to roll. The 2ndAC (assistant camera) holds the slate with clapper open, the DP calls “Mark it!” and the 2ndAC calls out the scene and take numbers and claps the clapper. Director calls “Action”. And he calls “Cut” when the scene is complete or if something goes wrong. In this case if it was an actual take with camera rolling when Hurlburt walked in, sound would have still been rolling and we’d hear how it all started before the director had time to yell “Cut!”. That’s how we’d presume that that point would be heard. And I think it would be interesting to hear it happen and listen to the escalation of Bale’s rage. ---
**Author:** ![jimpatro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/b9e5f3/32.png) [@jimpatro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/jimpatro)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 6:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/273 "2009-02-06T06:25:36Z")
Actually, my previous post explained it. ---
**Author:** ![Tracy\_Lord](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/ec9cab/32.png) [@Tracy\_Lord](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tracy_Lord)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 8:37am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/274 "2009-02-06T08:37:02Z")
I assumed it was recorded for legal reasons, like, “what happens when our DP quits and claims there was a hostile work environment”? ---
**Author:** ![Acsenray](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/acsenray/32/4519_2.png) [@Acsenray](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Acsenray)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 1:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/275 "2009-02-06T13:58:34Z")
According to what I read, it was saved and sent to the insurance company because of Bale’s threat to quit if the incident happened again and Hurlbut was not fired. But that was pretty late in the recording. ---
**Author:** ![Labrador\_Deceiver](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Labrador\_Deceiver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Labrador_Deceiver)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 2:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/276 "2009-02-06T14:46:05Z")
> [@jimpatro](#): > > Okay, DP here. Although I avoid it myself, I have witnessed other DPs making adjustments as the camera begins to roll. Okay, I’ve probably done it a few times but only if it’s not going to disturb the cast. I really try to do last looks before action. I also direct so being consious of the cast is very important to me. > > Hurlburt is just used to being able to tweak 'til the last possible second. And as mentioned he has been around and does his job very well. Oh yeah, He’s ASC. That makes him a god of cinematography. That’s a very big deal. Professional is not a good enough word to describe this group. Acting wise, Bale is not on par with Hurlburt DP wise. > > Bale went way overboard. Rather nutso, I’d say. > And that recording implies to me that camera wasn’t rolling and it was only a rehearsal. > If it had been a take, sound would have already been rolling when the shot was botched. But the clip starts in mid tirade, implying that the sound person thought he’d go ahead and catch some of it for posterity The hell you say. You mean, this guy isn’t “well known” for being unprofessional on set like everyone’s been saying? According to you, this guy isn’t actually an ass, and people who have been calling him such don’t know what the heck they’re talking about? I’m shocked. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/277 "2009-02-06T15:03:22Z")
Yelling, name calling and swearing are the first signs of losing control. Bale should have said in a low calm voice “Don’t walk into the scene again.” I don’t know how movies work, but at an on-stage rehersal he would have been told to shut up or leave. If it happened again, the understudy would have been called in. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 3:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/278 "2009-02-06T15:03:38Z")
Since Bale apparently apologized the next day I now see this as a nonissue. It is not proper behavior for any work place no matter what the profession. However allowances can be made due to the fact that this was a stressful time for him personally and the fact that he is very intense in his work. I can see this coming to a head at a bad moment. He took the time and realized this is not how he wants to be seen at work and apologized. A lot of big names wouldn’t do that. Hurlburt wasn’t fired. Bale didn’t walk off. And the movie was finished. The End. ---
**Author:** ![Bosstone](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/22d042/32.png) [@Bosstone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bosstone)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 4:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/279 "2009-02-06T16:16:02Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > Yelling, name calling and swearing are the first signs of losing control. Bale should have said in a low calm voice “Don’t walk into the scene again.” > > I don’t know how movies work, but at an on-stage rehersal he would have been told to shut up or leave. If it happened again, the understudy would have been called in. How do you know he didn’t the first time it happened? ---
**Author:** ![Gangster\_Octopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/a8b319/32.png) [@Gangster\_Octopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gangster_Octopus)\ **Post date:** [February 6, 2009, 4:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/280 "2009-02-06T16:43:56Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > Since Bale apparently apologized the next day I now see this as a nonissue. It is not proper behavior for any work place no matter what the profession. However allowances can be made due to the fact that this was a stressful time for him personally and the fact that he is very intense in his work. I can see this coming to a head at a bad moment. He took the time and realized this is not how he wants to be seen at work and apologized. A lot of big names wouldn’t do that. Hurlburt wasn’t fired. Bale didn’t walk off. And the movie was finished. The End. The end? B-b-b-ut we haven’t stopped talking past each other. It’s only been 6 pages! We can certainly do this for another six if we are motivated I am sure. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256.md?page=13) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256.md?page=15)