The importance of working with others is a lesson that most people learn from a very early age. As children, people are often taught that they need to learn how to share and get along with everyone they encounter. However, as people get older, they tend to realize that sometimes working with people is nearly impossible. Whether it be difference in personality or working styles, some people just don’t work well together. Unfortunately, avoiding people who you don’t get along with isn’t always possible – and sometimes working with those people proves to be quite a trying experience. While celebrities may seem to have it all, even they don’t always have the luxury of avoiding people they don’t always work well with. Here are 10 Hollywood directors actors can’t stand working for.
Tim Story
Tim Story has been very successful over the last several years. However, his rise to the top hasn’t been without its bumps, and he’s definitely bruised a few egos along the way. While working on the film, Fantastic Four, Story apparently made some hurtful comments towards Jessica Alba, stating that he was going to CGI her tears because her real ones weren’t pretty enough. Alba claims her encounter with story left a bad taste in her mouth about Hollywood.
(Photo by Stuart C. Wilson/Getty Images)
David Fincher
Director, David Finch, has a reputation for being pretty difficult to work with. Apparently, he’s a perfectionist who insists on making his actors do several takes. During the 2007 film, Zodiac, Finch was known to do upwards of 70 takes. Of course, this probably results in the best end result, but having to do the same scene over and over again can’t be fun for actors.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for DGA)
James Cameron
Over the course of his career, James Cameron has worked on some pretty successful films. But as you can imagine, someone so driven can also be difficult. Cameron is known for being really strict on set and apparently has a policy for nailing cell phones to the wall if they ring during filming. Kate Winslet, who worked with Cameron on the film, Titanic, noted that he has a “temper like you wouldn’t believe.” Cameron’s ex-wife has even stated that he’s “terrible on every level.” According to sources, Cameron even threatened to fire anyone on the set of True Lies who wanted to take a bathroom break.
(Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Michael Bay
Michael Bay is one of the most well-known directors in Hollywood. But while viewers know him best for making incredible films, actors seem to know him best for something else. Over the years, several stars, including Megan Fox and Bruce Willis, have spoken out about how difficult Michael Bay is to work with. Apparently, his only interest is in making good movies, and he doesn’t care if anyone’s feelings get hurt in the process.
(Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images for Paramount Pictures)
Lars von Trier
Lars von Trier has made some pretty impressive films, but the actors who have worked with him don’t seem to be very fond of him. While filming Dancing in the Dark, von Trier had an explosive argument with film’s star, Bjork. As a result, Bjork refused to show up on set for three days, promoting von Trier to say that he wished he’d been “meaner” to her. If that doesn’t scream difficult to work with, what does?
(Photo by Andreas Rentz/Getty Images)
Michael Cimino
Almost since the beginning of his career, Michael Cimino has been rustling people’s feathers. During his second film, The Deer Hunter, Cimino doubled the budget so that he could spend money on ever idea that popped into his head. Cimono displayed his over the top behavior again while working on Heaven’s Gate, which bankrupted United Artists when Cimino went $13 million over the budget. The film ended up being a failure, and as a result, Cimono’s career has suffered.
(Photo by Amanda Edwards/Getty Images)
Francis Ford Coppola
Francis Ford Coppola is one of the most well-known directors in the business. However, his reputation definitely precedes him. While working on the 1979 film, Apocalypse Now, Coppola proved just how crazy he could be. Not only did he go about $15 million over the film’s budget, but his bizarre alcohol induced behavior resulted in Martin Sheen having a heart attack. Sending people to the hospital probably isn’t the best way to make people want to work with you.
(Photo by Jason Bahr/Getty Images for Francis Ford Coppola Winery)
Oliver Stone
Oliver Stone is known for being very critical of the actors he works with. Richard Dreyfus referred to Stone as a “fascist” and Jamie Foxx admitted that Stone was rude to him while working on the set of Any Given Sunday. After filming the 2012 film, Savage, actress Blake Lively even got the rest of the cast t-shirts that said “I Survived Oliver Stone.”
(Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Tony Kaye
Tony Kaye is more than a little strange. Not only is he tough to work with, but he can be downright cruel. After directing the film American History X, Kaye spoke negatively of star Edward Norton. So negatively in fact, that Kaye spent his own money to trash Norton in magazines. Kaye was so over the film that he asked for his name to be removed and instead replaced with Humpty Dumpty as the film’s director. When his request was denied – he sued.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival)
Roman Polanski
Roman Polanski is one of the most famous directors of his generation. But despite directing some of Hollywood’s most classic films, Polanski is known for being really difficult. He is known for not allowing his actors to use the bathroom while on set, and he’s even been known to swear at actors out of frustration. While filming the 1974 movie, Chinatown, Polanski and star, Faye Dunaway, had such a volatile relationship that she reportedly threw a up full of urine on him
(Photo by Vittorio Zunino Celotto/Getty Images)
Lead (Photo by Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
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