Help, Shia Labeouf got me thinking!

I

IslandFilmmaker

Member
I recently stumbled across this article:

http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/...lsen-_n_1833244.html?utm_hp_ref=entertainment

In a nutshell, Labeouf hinted he'd be willing to perform real sex on camera to bring the screenplay to life, but it's how he worded it that got me thinking. I quote the article:

"LaBeouf, whose role in the film has not yet been revealed, made headlines when he said he is willing to do whatever is takes -- including unsimulated on-screen sex.

“I don't know what's going to be asked of me,” LaBeouf told "Extra TV" during an interview. “But I'm willing to do whatever is asked of me to get closer to the truth that's on the page.”

LaBeouf's willingness to have sex on-screen does not necessarily account for confidence, though. He says he is "terrified" of what is to come.

"[Von Trier] is very dangerous," he told MTV News' Josh Horowitz. "He's the most dangerous dude that I've ever showed up for. I'm terrified. I'm so terrified, which is why I have to go. We'll see what happens."

Saaaaaay WHAT now? How could you not know what will be asked of you?

Is this how all professional sets work? Haha. A Director just shows an actor the script and they show up on set and immediately film? I know most have table reads prior, but that's it? No lengthly rehearsal times? Just show up, cameras roll and what the Director says goes?

Was he exaggerating or is this really how Hollywood works?
 
Lars Von Trier is not hollywood. Not by a long shot. Shia Labouf is working with him because he wants to be terrified and push his boundaries creatively and personally.
 
I've read a little about the upcoming films and from the sounds of it the film will border in documentary, where it will be scripted and staged to an extent, but will "see what happens"
 
Just depends on the director. European directors especially, like Von Trier, favor the more improvisational style of filmmaking.

An example: In The Last Tango in Paris, the infamous butter anal sex scene was made up on the spot. Essentially Bertolucci and Brando thought of the idea, and pressured the actress into doing it. She later stated she felt violated (she used the term 'raped').

For me, if you're going to do a sex scene I would highly suggest setting clear boundaries up front so that everyone is on the same page. The Last Tango scandal ended up being somewhat of a disaster for Brando and Bertolucci.
 
Ahhh haha, thanks all for the insight. It's not even about the sex scene, I just always wondered about the process, prior to production. Have over some 10 years of experience in live theatre, an actor would usually get a script 3 months in advance and then weekly rehearsals - say two to three times a week and then then month before there are rehearsals every day.

Transitioning into film, and with most mid/A listers requiring $250 - $1,000 per day or more, I fancy such a rehearsal schedule would be feasibly impossible. Which got me thinking, if you cannot rehearse as much, is it industry standard to just do one table read or two and let everyone read on their own and then wing it on set and hope actors are comfortable with their roles and can deliver?

Can you just surprise an actor on set with a script change? I hope not as that can turn into a horror (off set) really quickly I'd imagine!
 
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