I was watching through some old Steven Seagal movies.
It’s funny how everyone has an opinion of him. And none of
them all that positive. As it’s pretty easy to shit on someone who is so
arrogant and self aware. But having worked with him through one movie, I have
to say…it’s only that he’s famous is that he gains that type of reputation.
I recall on our set, he was usually flanked by a big
entourage. Most likely bodyguards. And he was quiet, and didn’t show up until
everything was set. Now, if I told you this and said it was…Marlon Brando,
you’d give him a pass. Because…it’s someone you consider a “real” actor. While
it’s true Seagal is considered more of a personality than an actor, he REALLY
didn’t exhibit a different behavior than Bruce Willis or Tom Cruise does. They
just show up to work. Not chit chat. I would say if you studied the habits of
just normal actors on set, you’d see the same thing. They’re just not famous so
it’s not a story.
Yet, a lumbering giant like Seagal seems to have a more microscope
to bad behavior than any other actor of his genre. I would say, it’s very
unfair. Had Jeff Speakman (yeah, you don’t remember do you, primed to be new
action martial arts star) broken through, he would’ve been saddled with the
same ridicule and most likely stories would be conjured up about you on set.
This is how rumors start. If you are an actor, it takes one
person who has a beef with you to spread some misinformation that you are a
difficult person to deal with. Or you have weird rituals or whatever. This will
haunt you throughout your career (Richard Gere and gerbils was most likely the
work of a disgruntled assistant). THAT’s why stars need to be guarded. Because
their reputation is box office (probably moreso in my generation than now). For
Seagal to demand I light and shoot him a specific way, doesn’t mean he’s
demanding. The better narrative is if I told you he blustered at me to do
everything he demanded. But that wouldn’t be the truth. In fact, after this
meeting, the crew were very curious as to what he had to tell me. To which I
listed his demands. The lowest grip on the rung mentioned to another grip how
he felt it weird a star would have the same standards as an aging actress.
These are how these things get started. Sometimes…we are actually active
participants in getting a star to act odd. Just to see what that person would
do. THEN, we base it on THAT incident. We’re more fucked than they are.
The same thing with Andy Dick. My roommate a decade back was
his assistant. Everyone has an Andy Dick story in this town. He really does it
to himself. But most of it was really untrue. Having spent some time hanging
with his posse, he’s really boring. He does things on whims to stave off his
own boredom. And he’s surprisingly generous. He’s got weird foibles that I
would guarantee aren’t any stranger than a typical American. But since it’s
him…the stories circulate. I sometimes love doing that because it’s much more
engaging then…oh he’s shopping for a birthday present for his son. Good guy.
Yeah, that’s boring shit people tune out of. Unfortunately, a lot of times
spicing up your encounters make people perk up.
So, if you ever get around a star, do your best to not fluff
up a story to suit your entertainment value. I hope I haven’t. Oh wait, I have.
Just the name Steven Seagal itself probably drew an audience of looky-loos.
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