Quite simply put Wes Anderson is one of the most influential filmmakers of modern times, an auteur with enough raw imagination and vision to create unique tapestries of film. The price of uncompromising power over every detail to be executed immaculately? a reputation.
A recent article from The Daily Beast tells of how the cast of the upcoming The Grand Budapest Hotel felt working with the director on his latest feature, some of whom actors who have previously worked along side Anderson.
In the interview Willem Dafoe had this to say:
– “He’s so specific in what he sees and what he wants that you better give it to him, he’s tough.”
Jeff Goldblum adds:
– “I’ve gone to other movies and the director will go, ‘Oh maybe you are wearing this,’ and I’ll go ‘That’s a good idea but how about this? What if I have a hat or a thing?’ With him you don’t do that. You go: ‘What do I get to do in this?’ And he goes: ‘Here’s the thing, here’s the thing, here’s the thing.’ And you go, ok, so, that’s what you sign-up for too. And his ideas are so good. And his taste is so good that you go: ‘Oh, yes please.’”
Long time supporter and key go-to actor Bill Murray also commented on Wes’ filmmaking habits on set of The Grand Budapest Hotel in an article for Collider.
Murray:
– There wasn’t a whole hell of a lot that we shot that was wrong, because I mean, if you read the script, it’s pretty spare, you know? It’s pretty clean. The storytelling—he spends a lot of time and he’s obviously very specific about how he wants things to look and sound. So there’s not a lot of overage. He’s got a lot of tricky camera moves, so you shoot a lot of goofy takes, where the camera isn’t absolutely perfect, so you do it again. So that’s the only time—that’s the overage. That’s the extra time, is he takes a lot of time to get it perfect.
This isn’t the first time that actors working with Wes Anderson have expressed how meticulous and precious he is about everything from the script to the set dressing, every one of which having unquestionable faith in Anderson’s direction knowing that Wes knows exactly what he wants and what the result will be. As established as it is that Wes is a ‘hardass’ when it comes to directing, actors still jump at the chance to work with the masterful director, and audiences continue to relish their time spent in his worlds – The Grand Budapest Hotel opens March 7th.
I am a big fan of Wes.I live in China now and I can never go to the cinema to enjoy his films.The first time I watched his film I loved his style.I love “Moonrise Kingdom” best.I am so looking forward to watch the Grand Budapest Hotel.
The dynamic that I’ve struggled with most is making people do what I want them to. I have mistakenly leaned toward over explaining things. While I have had an inkling of how others seemed to succeed in imposing their wills on others, it has only just now occurred to me that all it takes is to begin all interactions with the people with the phrase “Here’s the thing”. Profound Simplicity. That and the consistent use of symmetry.
That and knowing all the right people – like Brooks. That and…
Here’s the thing, over use symmetry is indicative of the irrepressible need to impose ones will on others.