# 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:** 6
**Author:** ![The\_Batman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/22d042/32.png) [@The\_Batman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Batman)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/101 "2009-02-04T00:30:46Z")
If the DP was a little boy or a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet it would be a different story too, but he wasn’t. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:33am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/102 "2009-02-04T00:33:42Z")
> [@Sampiro](#): > > Distraction is something you just have to get the hell over. The great surprise is that Bale’s an excellent actor; this makes me wonder if he has a drug problem or is just plain psycho. Stage acting requires a different set of talents then movie acting. There’s some overlap, but it’s not fair to judge one by the other. I once worked with a great TV actor who totally choked on the ADR stage. Without the costume and the set and other actors to play off of, he just couldn’t get into character. Was he a psycho? No. He just couldn’t work effectively in the particular situation we’d put him in. Christian Bale is a great actor capable of delivering great performances. If he needs the crew to stay still in order for him to get in the right mental space to deliver a good reading, then if they should accomodate him. It’s not that outrageous a request. And if a member of the crew is repeatedly disrupting the production by interfering with the actor’s ability to get into and maintain character, then he deserves to be chewed out. ---
**Author:** ![Ice\_Cream\_Man](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/9f8e36/32.png) [@Ice\_Cream\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ice_Cream_Man)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/103 "2009-02-04T00:34:46Z")
> [@Tijuana\_Golds](#): > > If the DP was a little boy or a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet it would be a different story too, but he wasn’t. So because it’s another guy he’s blowing up at it’s ok? I get it. He’s the alpha male. Nothing wrong with the silverback showing his dominance and enforcing the pecking order. That’s perfectly acceptable and civilized behaviour. ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/104 "2009-02-04T00:35:38Z")
I think the behaviour is poor, but understandable. There are so many times I have acted rationally and perfectly correctly when a situation arose and there are times where I’ve acted stupidly and irrationally. Luckily for me, I don;t have cameras on me. So I would not judge the whole of a person for momentary rush to the head that had some inkling of justification behind it. If anyone is the dick it is the DP who acted stupidly and poorly while in the proper frame of mind. ---
**Author:** ![smiling\_bandit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/e9a140/32.png) [@smiling\_bandit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/smiling_bandit)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/105 "2009-02-04T00:42:07Z")
I say Bale was out of line. But, what I don’t understand, is what the Hell the director was doing the whole time? Just sitting with his thumb up there? Actors need some weird handling some times. But mostly, if they know you won’t tolerate any nonsense and that you’ll happily send them on their way (and they can take the penalties for contract default) if they won’t play nice, they will respect you and do the job. But if the DP is repeatedly screwing up shots, and the actor is getting that steamed, you’ve screwed up your job as a director. Things should never get that out of hand, and you should fix things up ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/106 "2009-02-04T00:45:54Z")
> [@Tijuana\_Golds](#): > > If the DP was a little boy or a wheelchair-bound Vietnam vet it would be a different story too, but he wasn’t. I hardly think a woman is comparable to a little boy. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/107 "2009-02-04T00:49:13Z")
So, the thing I take away from that thing is … people actually call McG “McG”? This world is getting crazier by the day. ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/108 "2009-02-04T00:49:26Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > SIt’s not that outrageous a request. And if a member of the crew is repeatedly disrupting the production by interfering with the actor’s ability to get into and maintain character, then he deserves to be chewed out. Nobody here is saying it is an outrageous request. If someone is, please let me know. On top of that, we don’t know that the DP screwed up more than 2 times total, so this “repeatedly” stuff is a bit much. What people are saying is that this guy didn’t do anything more unprofessional than Bale does when he flubs a line. The result is still: “Cut”. New take. The reaction, while forgivable in the long run, deserves some tsking. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 12:50am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/109 "2009-02-04T00:50:10Z")
> [@Ice\_Cream\_Man](#): > > So because it’s another guy he’s blowing up at it’s ok? I get it. He’s the alpha male. Nothing wrong with the silverback showing his dominance and enforcing the pecking order. That’s perfectly acceptable and civilized behaviour. No you don’t get it at all. Imagine that you’re working on a difficult task. You’re trying very hard to get it right. Then someone ruins all your hard work by doing something stupid. You start over from scratch. It’s harder this time because you’re trying to recapture the groove that you were in before. And then the person does the same stupid thing again, and ruins it … again. How many times would you be willing to tolerate having your work ruined by someone doing the same stupid thing over and over again before you’d start to get really pissed off? I don’t see Bale playing alpha male games. I see Bale as someone who takes his job very, very seriously and is furious that the DP doesn’t. ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:51am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/110 "2009-02-04T00:51:57Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > If anyone is the dick it is the DP who acted stupidly and poorly while in the proper frame of mind. He didn’t act irrationally, scream & yell and stomp his feet. He made a mistake at work. That does not make him a dick. ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/111 "2009-02-04T00:53:24Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > What people are saying is that this guy didn’t do anything more unprofessional than Bale does when he flubs a line. The result is still: “Cut”. New take. The reaction, while forgivable in the long run, deserves some tsking. I’m sorry but accidedntly flubbing a line versus screwing up a shot in a way that is easily avoidable are not the same thing. In my opinon the DP is the bigger jerk. ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/112 "2009-02-04T00:55:34Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > No you don’t get it at all. > > Imagine that you’re working on a difficult task. You’re trying very hard to get it right. Then someone ruins all your hard work by doing something stupid. > > You start over from scratch. It’s harder this time because you’re trying to recapture the groove that you were in before. And then the person does the same stupid thing again, and ruins it … again. > > How many times would you be willing to tolerate having your work ruined by someone doing the same stupid thing over and over again before you’d start to get really pissed off? If I’m Bale, about as many times as other people have to suffer through all of my flubbed lines. > [@](#): > > I don’t see Bale playing alpha male games. I see Bale as someone who takes his job very, very seriously and is furious that the DP doesn’t. Oh, so now the DP doesn’t take his job seriously. This is getting better by the minute. ---
**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 4, 2009, 12:57am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/113 "2009-02-04T00:57:09Z")
> [@Gangster\_Octopus](#): > > I’m sorry but accidedntly flubbing a line versus screwing up a shot in a way that is easily avoidable are not the same thing. In my opinon the DP is the bigger jerk. You mean accidently walking into someone’s line of sight vs. incorrectly delivering a very simple line?? You’re right. Not comparable at all. And how the hell is the DP a jerk? Even Bale said he was a nice guy. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 1:00am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/114 "2009-02-04T01:00:28Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > What people are saying is that this guy didn’t do anything more unprofessional than Bale does when he flubs a line. Flubbing a line isn’t unprofessional. It happens to even the best actors from time to time. It’s unavoidable, and you roll with it and move on. But repeatedly futzing around on the sidelines to the extent that you distract the actor is just careless. It’s totally avoidable, and unprofessional. You know going into the production that each scene is going to require multiple takes because of the natural chaos of dramatic performance. That’s a given. What you don’t want is someone blowing good takes by doing something stupid and careless. ---
**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 4, 2009, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/115 "2009-02-04T01:04:49Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > Flubbing a line isn’t unprofessional. It happens to even the best actors from time to time. It’s unavoidable, and you roll with it and move on. > > But repeatedly futzing around on the sidelines to the extent that you distract the actor is just careless. It’s totally avoidable, and unprofessional. Almost as unprofessional as throwing a tantrum like a 4-year-old & threatening a coworker with physical violence. > [@](#): > > You know going into the production that each scene is going to require multiple takes because of the natural chaos of dramatic performance. That’s a given. Then Bale should react differently when it happens. > [@](#): > > What you don’t want is someone blowing good takes by doing something stupid and careless. I’m sure actors never do that. I’m still baffled that the mere sight of someone off-camera could provoke such a reaction. Every take is perfectly good to the people who aren’t screwing it up. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/116 "2009-02-04T01:06:29Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > You mean accidently walking into someone’s line of sight vs. incorrectly delivering a very simple line?? You’re right. Not comparable at all. No, not comparable at all. The first requires that you just stand still. Nothing else. When the director says “Action”, stop what you’re doing and don’t move until he says “Cut”. That’s it. But delivering even a short, simple line can be extremely difficult depending on the context and emotional content. Even if you’re just yelling “Let’s get the hell out of here!” there’s a million different ways to fuck it up. ---
**Author:** ![Miller](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/miller/32/481_2.png) [@Miller](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miller)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/117 "2009-02-04T01:10:32Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > You mean accidently walking into someone’s line of sight vs. incorrectly delivering a very simple line?? You’re right. Not comparable at all. No, it’s not. It’s really, really not. Look, when the guy’s setting up his lights, it can take him a while to get them right. Maybe he makes mistakes with them, and needs to fix them. But once he says he’s done, and the actors start doing their part, he needs to sit on his goddamned hands while the actors work. If he hasn’t set the lights up right, the time to fix that is _before_ the actors start working. Not _while_ the actors are working. As a professional, he should know better than to do that. He should absolutely know not to do it if he’s already been told, on that same shoot, not to do it anymore. If he’s still fucking around with the lights at that point, yeah, he’s being a jerk, and deserves a chewing out. Maybe not to the extent that Bale went after him, but someone needed to come down on him hard for that. Although I agree with the other posters who said that the person who should have done the chewing out was the director, not the actor, and a healthy portion of blame for this whole thing lies with him for not having better control over his set. ---
**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 4, 2009, 1:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/118 "2009-02-04T01:10:47Z")
> [@Pochacco](#): > > No, not comparable at all. > > The first requires that you just stand still. Nothing else. When the director says “Action”, stop what you’re doing and don’t move until he says “Cut”. That’s it. The end result is the same, and I wonder just exactly how inanimate the director of photography is supposed to be during the scene. ---
**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 4, 2009, 1:14am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/119 "2009-02-04T01:14:02Z")
> [@Miller](#): > > He should absolutely know not to do it if he’s already been told, on that same shoot, not to do it anymore. If he’s still fucking around with the lights at that point, yeah, he’s being a jerk, and deserves a chewing out. Maybe not to the extent that Bale went after him, but someone needed to come down on him hard for that. > > Although I agree with the other posters who said that the person who should have done the chewing out was the director, not the actor, and a healthy portion of blame for this whole thing lies with him for not having better control over his set. I’ll accept the majority of your post, along with the fact that the DP is supposed to be uninvolved during the scene. What I don’t accept is the vilification of this guy by some people for being “unprofessional”, while the same people are giving Bale a free pass for his unprofessional tirade. I fail to see how one is worse than the other, especially when the end result is another take. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Hamster\_King](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8edcca/32.png) [@The\_Hamster\_King](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Hamster_King)\ **Post date:** [February 4, 2009, 1:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256/120 "2009-02-04T01:16:43Z")
> [@Labrador\_Deceiver](#): > > I’m still baffled that the mere sight of someone off-camera could provoke such a reaction. Did you read what **Little Plastic Ninja** wrote? Maybe Bale’s eyes flick off to one side to follow the movement. Maybe for an instant he thinks “What’s HE doing?”, throwing off his delivery. It doesn’t take much to blow a take. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/christian-bale-loses-his-temper/484256.md?page=7)