Movies - TV
One Of Eastwood's Secrets To Directing Was Creating A Fun But Quiet Atmosphere On Set
By ANDREW HOUSMAN
Clint Eastwood is one of the few Hollywood stars whose filmmaking legacy is just as celebrated as his acting career. Having first directed in 1971, Eastwood has reportedly liked to maintain a calm, cool, and collected climate on set, despite the speedy pace of his productions, and to keep the general volume of the room low without resorting to disciplinary actions.
The director explained, “I like an atmosphere that isn’t loaded with tension. I don’t like sets where people are yelling at each other. The thing I dislike the most is people going ‘Sssh sssh sssh,’ because they end up making more noise than the people they’re trying to sssh.” Eastwood’s aim for an organic atmosphere on set avoids any grand announcements that filming has begun.
While directing at MGM, Eastwood shared, “I walked out on the soundstage and all of a sudden I hear this huge bell ringing, which meant they were going to start the scene, and I thought, ‘What is this s***?’” Film sets can often be loud, but Eastwood learned a trick to minimize distractions after seeing the secret service members communicate quietly using headsets during a White House visit.