Posted on 02/03/2009 6:37:02 AM PST by Puppage
Last summer, a report surfaced that days before he was arrested on allegations of assault in London while promoting “The Dark Knight,” Christian Bale had lashed out verbally against a crew member on the set of “Terminator Salvation.” And today, a new tape from the reported July 2008 incident has emerged, allegedly featuring the actor screaming, shouting and using profanity at the “Terminator Salvation” Director of Photography, Shane Hurlbut.
In the tape, posted on TMZ, a man said to be Bale was allegedly recorded as he ranted at Hurlbut, after the DP walked on to the set, and within Bale’s view, as the actor was filming with his “Terminator Salvation” co-star, Bryce Dallas Howard.
“I want you off the f***ing set, you pr***,” Christian reportedly says at the start of the audio recording, which TMZ reported was sent to the insurance company by the film’s executives in case the actor didn’t finish filming the movie.
“I’m sorry,” Hurlbut reportedly replies.
“No, don’t just be sorry. Think for one f***king second,” Bale reportedly shouts. “What the f*** are you doing? Are you a professional or not?”
Allegedly recorded at Kirtland Air Force Base in New Mexico, the man said to be Bale appears to grow angrier in the audio recording as Hurlbut replies to him in a calm tone, “Yes, I am.”
“No, no. Am I gonna f***ing rip your lights down in the middle of the scene? Then why the f***are you walking right through, ‘Duh-duh-duh-duh-duh,’ in the background,” the man said to be Bale, sing-songs. “What the f*** is it with you? What the f*** don’t you understand?”
As the audio continues on, a host of unknown parties chime in, in what appears to be an attempt to cool the man down.
“Take a minute,” an unknown male on the set says.
“You got any f***ing idea about… Hey, it’s f***ing distracting having somebody walking up behind Bryce [Dallas Howard] in the middle of the f***ing scene,” Bale reportedly continues. “Give me a f***ing answer. What don’t you get about it?”
As Bale reportedly appears to grow angrier, he turns his attention to “Terminator: Salvation” director, McG, who is known by his cast and crew as simply, G.
“Look G,” Bale reportedly says, “You got f***ing something to say to this pr***?”
“I didn’t see it happen,” a voice believed to be that of McG responds coolly.
“Well, somebody should be f***ing watching him and keeping an eye on him,” Bale reportedly states.
Bale reportedly goes on to claim that the interruption is the second of its kind and is tough on him as an actor.
“I’m trying to do a f***ing scene here and I’m going, why the f*** is Shane walking in there. What’s he doing there? Do you understand my mind is not in the scene if you’re doing that,” Bale reportedly says.
“I absolutely apologize. I did not mean anything by it,” Hurlbut reportedly states.
Bale reportedly then warns Hurlbut to stay out of sight, before ordering the scene to begin again. An unknown party, however, suggests they instead, “Take a minute.”
Later, when the man said to be Hurlbut attempts to explain why he wandered into Bale’s area of view on set, the actor appears to grow even angrier, as a commotion is heard.
“I’m gonna f***ing kick your f***ing ass,” Bale reportedly says as a commotion starts up and a host of unknown parties sound as if they are attempting to calm the actor down by calling him by his first name.
“I’m gonna, do you want me to go and trash your lights?” Bale reportedly continues with a raised voice. “Do you want me to go and trash them? Then why are you trashing my scene?”
“I’m not trying to trash your,” Hurlbut reportedly begins to respond before being interrupted.
“You are trashing my scene. You do it one more f***ing time and I ain’t walking on the set if you’re still hired. I’m serious. I’m f***ing serious,” Bale reportedly states. “You’re a nice guy, you’re a nice guy, but that won’t f***ing cut it when you’re bulls******ng and f***ing around like this on set.”
“Seriously, you and me man, we’re f***ing done professionally,” Bale reportedly adds as the tape ends.
He’s an adequate actor, but his talent is not so great that his co-workers should have to put up with that kind of abusive, unprofessional, and completely inappropriate behavior. He has a rage management problem and needs to address that.
He’s already been arrested for domestic abuse and now we see why. He’s unable to control his temper even at work, where his professional reputation is at stake, and it sounds like an innocent mistake set him off in a huge way.
A person in control of his emotions might have expressed some anger or frustration at having their scene interrupted, but Bale went on an abusive tirade, aimed to humiliate and degrade the object of his rant. If he’s out of control like that in public, I can just imagine what he’s like in private. Unless he gets some help for his rage, it won’t be long before someone in his circle gets physically injured.
I don’t have enough information to make a determination. I don’t know what was said before the tape, what happened the day before, what the circumstances were at all.
Why should I mind if he chews out a DP? What is it that makes you mind so much?
I worked with Scott Bacula and Dean Stockwell on the Qauntum Leap pilot, and even with ‘screw ups’...they didn’t have a hissy like this.
Both were gentlemen and professionals..
I don't. It's just a story of another Hollywood asswipe being...well, an asswipe.
I would never allow anyone to talk to me that way. Bale would’ve gotten his insane azz kicked that day !
What a shame.
I wonder who goes off at this prick when he flubs a line, Oh thats right he’s a star!!! Perfect jerk off!!!
I’ve crossed so many off my list that I guess I’m pickier about who I cross off these days. Otherwise, there’d be nobody left.
I don’t want to excuse his actions and his words are clearly over the top, but just picture this:
You’ve been on the set since 9am YESTERDAY morning and it’s pushing 2am. You’ve been working on this one scene for the past 6 hours and for various reasons, including screwups of your own, it hasn’t happened right. If you get it right, you can go home and get some sleep. SO, you’re on the 83rd try and FINALLY, you’re getting it, and some jackass does something so completely stupid to screw it up that you just flip out on him.
Either that or Christian Bale’s just an asshat. Either is possible. In fact, the latter is probable in either case. :)
I worked on the shoot of 'Consenting Adults' here in Atlanta as a boom operator, and a key grip knocked the ever living crap out of Kevin Spacey when the guy got in his face and started screaming like this at him. It was awesome. The guy got fired but filed a charge with his union and was paid in full.
You lucky bastard....(chuckle)
Dear Mr. Bale:
1. yer not Olivier
2. this isn’t “Hamlet”
3. You’re getting paid how much?
STFU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Who is Christian Bale ?
That said I hate it when folks cannot use more than one or two cuss words. If you are going to cuss at least have a reasonably deep vocabulary upon which to draw.
Its always worth recalling these incidents when the Hollywood elites decide they should lecture all of us about anything important.
If you don’t take advice from a screaming eight year old child, why would you take advice from this crowd?
I agree with you, he’s going to hurt somebody and blow the whole deal if he doesn’t do something about his anger which is obviously a serious problem for him. H e must not be a very happy man with a fuse that short.
Actors are far better people than we mere mortals are.
Don't believe me? I've seen this "Pledge" recently by Demi Moore and her grown son that proves it. They care so much about us.
I'm simply in awe of them.
Bale sounds like a real professional...
Bale voted for Obama.
(chuckle)
Never crossed my mind he didn’t. figured it was a ‘given’.
Of course not. Scott’s from St. Louis. He’s got the right take on life. Same with Kevin Kline, Vincent Price and the list goes on. I’m thinking a lot of talent AND a lot of class emanates from St. Louis, Missouri. We can make you laugh and make you cry. We can scare the daylights out of you and never forget who we are. We can answer the notorious question, “So where’d you go to high school?” with the same grace we accept an Oscar and neither situation throws us a curve. Good place to be from.
Just remember the old English saw about the Welsh, “They eat their children.” I'm part Welsh so I can say that. ;-) They're a hard-headed lot to be sure — very passionate about life. So terribly sorry he's neglected the expansion of his vocabulary. Quite embarrassing, but then, there IS Catherine Zeta Jones. She quite makes up for it, I'm sure.
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