The production process of shooting a movie or TV show is full of different dynamics. After all, actors and production staff are in close quarters, working long hours, for weeks or months at a time. It makes sense that there will be some drama.
Christian Bale recently revealed that he had to shun Chris Rock while they were shooting Amsterdam. It wasn't because of drama, though.
Described as a 'period mystery film,' Amsterdam has a star-studded ensemble cast including Robert De Niro, Remi Malek, Taylor Swift, Timothy Olyphant, Mike Myers, Zoe Saldaña, Anna Taylor-Joy, Margot Robbie and, of course, Christian Bale and Chris Rock.
We don't know too much about the plot right now, but Christian Bale shares top billing with Margot Robbie. Bale plays a character named Burt Berendsen. Chris Rock is billed slightly lower. From the stills we've seen, it's tough to tell if Bale and Rock appear on-screen together.
In an interview with Indiewire, Bale said that he avoided Rock while they were shooting the movie because Rock made things tough. But it isn't because there was beef — quite the opposite, in fact.
Bale says that he had trouble staying in character because Rock would make him crack up.
"Chris is so bloody funny and I found that I couldn't act, because I was just becoming Christian laughing at Chris Rock," he said.
"So I had to go to [Chris], I went, 'Mate, I love talking to you, and we have mutual friends, but I can't do it anymore," said Bale. "Because [director David O. Russell] didn't ask me to make this film so he could just watch me giggle."
Bale is a critically acclaimed actor, and is known for being a method actor. "I often meet these incredible people, but I isolate myself. Because if I get to know people too much, I find I just don't believe what I'm doing in that scene."
It must have been jarring for those on set to see a noted method actor getting overcome with a case of the giggles every time he talked to Chris Rock, but then again, this is probably pretty typical for people who meet Chris Rock.
It's been quite a year for Chris Rock, but Christian Bale's story just reinforces the image of Rock as a likable, hilarious comedian — one who has the power to make method actors lose their grip on a scene, apparently.
It'll be fascinating to see what David O. Russell is able to do with his all-star cast. Let us know what you think of this story, and share your favorite Christian Bale or Chris Rock movies, in the comments section!
