It’s a part of being human that we all have off days sometimes. Okay, I never have an off day, but maybe part of a day; or is that the problem that the person involved doesn’t even see it or the effect it has on others?
We’ve all heard stories about the nightmare day at the office when the boss came in with a raging temper and no-one dared speak all day for fear of getting their head chewed off.
If you’ve read the press in the last few days, then Christian Bale, of Dark Knight Batman fame (we wrote about the movie here: http://filmandmoviemaking.com/the-dark-knight-2008/ ) apparently had a few moments of letting off steam while on set. Unfortunately for him, it was recorded. For those who want to go straight to the links to hear it, then here you go:
http://www.tmz.com/2009/02/02/bale-went-ballistic/
Okay, it was more than letting off steam; it was the entire children’s guide to words you shouldn’t use nicely and how often not to repeat them in one sentence. In fact, why even use a comma, because the longer the sentence the more cursing available. Oh, don’t forget to shout it all out with strong use of pure venom.
The good old BBC went as far as putting some of the recording out on their radio network without editing the swearing. It looks like someone (perhaps the editor?) may be losing their job there. I hope they don’t because I don’t suppose they left the swearing in on purpose, or did they?
Just when the actor hopes it’s all over, a spoof on the rant has appeared on YouTube. You can go see it at: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B2qo2bVlORc&feature=dir
Rest assured the dogs are enjoying it and are wagging their tales enjoying the fun or hoping to go see Marley & Me.
The wonderful writer Zoe Margolis has written about the incident on her anonymous blog, Girl with a One Track Mind: http://girlwithaonetrackmind.blogspot.com/2009/02/bale.html
She knows the actor concerned and says it must have been an off day for him to explode in such a fashion. However, I have to disagree on one thing; they guy’s Welsh accent is still clear throughout the swearing and ranting; he doesn’t appear to have developed a US accent while shouting!
Personally, I’m looking forward to the Terminator Salvation movie which features Christian Bale where he plays John Connor. I hope he’s had the chance to reflect on his actions and even though the film’s director of photography, Shane Hurlbut, may or may not have made a mistake, then as long as there’s been apologies all round and all have hugs to prove it, then all ends well.
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February 7th, 2009 at 8:04 am
Christian Bale has apologized, he said:
“I was out of order beyond belief. I make no excuses for it.”
“The thing that disturbs me so much is that I’ve heard a lot of people saying that I seem to think that I’m better than anybody else.
“Nothing could be further from the truth. I am a very lucky and that is why I put so much into what I do, and why I care so much about it and why sometimes my enthusiasm just goes awry.”
Of the DofP “I’ve not only talked with him, we have resolved this completely.
“That very day we kept working for a number of hours. And we worked together for at least a month after that. There is no problem whatsoever.
“I’ve seen a rough cut of the movie and he has done a wonderful job. It looks fantastic,” added the star.
February 7th, 2009 at 8:12 am
Someone has been so kind as to send the original wording:
BALE: … kick your f*****’ a*s! I want you off the f*****’ set, you p****!
HURLBUT: I’m sorry.
BALE: No, don’t just be sorry! Think for one f*****’ second! What the f*** are you doing? Are you professional or not?
HURLBUT: Yes, I am.
BALE: Do I f*****’ walk around and rip down – no, shut the f*** up, Bruce! Do I walk – no! Nnno! Don’t shut me up!
ASSISTANT DIRECTOR BRUCE FRANKLIN: I’m not shutting you up.
BALE: Am I gonna walk around and rip your f*****’ lights down? In the middle of a scene? Then why the f*** are you walkin’ right through? ‘Oh, dah-dah, dah-dah,’ like this in the background. What the f*** is it with you? What don’t you f*****’ understand? You got any f*****’ idea about, hey, it’s f*****’ distracting having somebody walkin’ up behind Bryce in the middle of the f*****’ scene? Gimme a f*****’ answer! What don’t you get about it?
HURLBUT: I was looking at the light.
BALE: Ohhhhh, goooood for you! And how was it? I hope it was f*****’ good, because it’s useless now, isn’t it?
HURLBUT: OK.
Target: Shane Hurlbut, director of photography, on Terminator: Salvation film
BALE: F***’s sake, man, you’re amateur. McG, you have f*****’ somethin’ to say to this *****?
DIRECTOR JOSEPH ‘McG’ McGINTY NICHOL: I didn’t see it happen.
BALE: Well, somebody should be f*****’ watchin’ him and keepin’ an eye on him.
McG: Fair enough.
BALE: It’s the second time that he doesn’t give a f*** about what is goin’ on in front of the camera. All right? I’m tryin’ to f*****’ do a scene here and I’m goin’: ‘Why the f*** is Shane walkin’ in there? What is he doin’ there?’ Do you understand, my mind is not in the scene if you’re doin’ that.
HURLBUT: I absolutely apologise. I’m sorry, I did not mean anything by it.
BALE: Stay off the f*****’ set, man. For f***’s sake. Right, let’s go again. No, let’s not take a f*****’ minute, let’s go again! And let’s not have you f*****’ walkin’ in! Can I have Tom put this on, please?
McG: Tom, wardrobe, please. Can I have Tom, wardrobe?
BALE: You’re unbelievable, man. You’re un-f*****’-believable. Number of times you’re strollin’ around in the background. I’ve never had a DP behave like this. Ahhhhh, you don’t f*****’ understand what it’s like workin’ with actors, that’s what that is.
HURLBUT: No, that’s not.
BALE: That’s what that is, man, I’m tellin’ you! I’m not askin’, I’m tellin’ you. You wouldn’t have done that otherwise.
HURLBUT: No, what it is, is looking at the light, and making sure that you were. . .
BALE: [sound of something being knocked over] I’m gonna f*****’ kick your f*****’ a*s if you don’t shut up for a second, alright?
VARIOUS VOICES: Christian, Christian, Christian, Christian, it’s cool, it’s cool.
BALE: I’m gonna go, you want me to f*****’ trash your lights? Do you want me to f*****’ trash ‘em? Then why are you trashin’ my scene?
HURLBUT: I’m not tryin’ to trash.
BALE: You are trashin’ my scene! You do it one more f*****’ time, and I ain’t walkin’ on this set if you’re still hired. I’m f*****’ serious. You’re a nice guy! You’re a nice guy! But that don’t f*****’ cut it when you’re ***********’ and ******’ around like this on set!
McG: I got it, I know, I get it.
BALE: Yeah, you might get it, he doesn’t f*****’ get it! You might. He! Does! Not! Get it!
McG: I know. Good adjustments, OK? For real. Honestly. I get it. Just walk for five seconds, just for five seconds.
BALE: No, I don’t need any f*****’ walkin’! He needs to stop walkin’!
McG: I get that!
BALE: I ain’t the one walkin’! Let’s get Tom and put this back on, let’s go again. Seriously, man, you and me, we’re f*****’ done professionally. F*****’ a*s.