b. miller is probably on the right track here in regards to actors being used to behavior like this from directors.
I point everyone in the direction of the following book.
Rebel's on the Backlot by Sharon Waxman.
Waxman is the LA correspondent for the NY Times. This book is a somewhat cursory, reportage, but very enjoyable snapshot of the filmmakers that gained prominence in the post-Tarantino world of Hollywood in the mid-90's. The book focuses specifically on
Paul Thomas Anderson, David Fincher, Spike Jonze, David O Russel, and Steven Soderbergh.
It's a very illuminating portrait into the creative individuals responsible for the very prominant films that emerged in the later half of the 90's, specifically, culimnating in the stellar year that was
1999.
There are digressions to other individuals including:
Wes Anderson, Kimberly Clark, Darren Arronofsky, etc. However, the primary thrust of the book is the director's listed initially in the first paragraph.
If you happen upon the trade paperback copy, there is an additional appendix with some added reporting by Waxman on the production of
I Heart Huckabees. A majority of this section is repetition from the pieces published in 2004 prior to the film's release, however, for those that didn't read those pieces in the
NY Times, they provide a more piercing glimpse into the hysteria/madness that is the creative process of David O Russel expounded upon in some of the book's prior sections.
I don't want to make this seem like a damn amazon review, but the book is really worth a read, especially if you like any of the following films:
- Fight Club
- Boogie Nights
- Magnolia
- Out of Sight
- Being John Malkovich
- Three Kings
- I Heart Huckabees
- Punch-Drunk Love
- The Royal Tenenbaums
- Rushmore
- Pulp Fiction
The book provides wonderful jewels of anecdotal information on each film's respective production that more than likely was omitted by studio PR dept's in attempt to paint their writer/directors in the most praising and golden shining light possible.