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Actors can be a challenge to manage, and many directors have found themselves struggling to get the performances they want. It’s no surprise, then, that some directors take unconventional routes to evoke specific reactions, pressure actors into certain choices, keep a plot twist secret, or simply get the shot they envision. These 10 directors used clever and sometimes sneaky tactics to get their actors to perform as needed.
10. Sidney Lumet: Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead (2007)
Sidney Lumet is responsible for some of the most influential films of the 20th century, including Twelve Angry Men (1957). Although he directed only two films in the 21st century, both upheld his stellar reputation. His last film, Before the Devil Knows You’re Dead, saw Lumet bring together two very different talents—Philip Seymour Hoffman and Ethan Hawke—playing brothers entangled in crime, debt, and fraud.
Hoffman and Hawke have always been capable of delivering award-worthy performances, yet Lumet still found ways to subtly push their boundaries, motivating them to elevate their roles, ultimately leaving an unforgettable mark with his final film.
Each morning, Lumet had Ethan Hawke come to the set to review the dailies and would compliment Philip Seymour Hoffman, even drawing comparisons to Marlon Brando (whom Lumet directed in 1960’s The Fugitive Kind). It wasn’t until after the shoot had wrapped that Hawke realized Lumet had been doing the same with Hoffman, setting the two actors against each other throughout filming to inspire a sense of urgency in their performances, as if their careers depended on it.
9. Irvin Kershner: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Long before future franchise films' plot details were kept under strict confidentiality and actors were made to sign non-disclosure agreements, Hollywood had its own methods of keeping major secrets. A prime example of this is the revelation that Darth Vader is Luke Skywalker’s father in The Empire Strikes Back.
Director Irvin Kershner and producer George Lucas made the decision not to inform British actor David Prowse, who physically portrayed Darth Vader, about this significant plot twist. As a result, when the scenes were filmed, Prowse recited alternative dialogue, and James Earl Jones later recorded the iconic line “I am your father.” The only actor who knew the twist in advance was Mark Hamill, who was informed by Kershner to ensure the correct reaction during filming.
Though Prowse was displeased with the lack of transparency, the plan worked, and one of the most famous cinematic twists was kept a secret until it hit theaters, leaving audiences in shock.
8. Stanley Kubrick's iconic film, Dr. Strangelove (1964), is a prime example of his bold directorial style.
Stanley Kubrick's reputation for clashing with his actors is well-documented, and nowhere is this more evident than in his work on the darkly comedic political satire Dr. Strangelove. Despite his tough methods, the film’s success shows that Kubrick's vision ultimately triumphed.
George C. Scott, who portrayed General Buck Turgidson, was initially resistant to Kubrick's direction for an exaggerated performance. The actor had hoped to bring the serious, authoritative tone he used on stage in The Merchant of Venice, but Kubrick insisted on something more extreme.
During production, James Earl Jones, who made his film debut as Lieutenant Lothar Zogg, revealed that a standoff between Scott and Kubrick occurred. Kubrick made a compromise by filming comedic “warm-up takes” under the pretense that they would never be used, but in true Kubrick fashion, they were included in the final cut. Scott vowed never to work with him again.
7. Debbie Isitt’s Confetti (2006) is a unique film that explores the chaos and humor behind the wedding industry.
In the post-#MeToo era of filmmaking, new guidelines have been implemented to ensure the safety and comfort of cast and crew when dealing with potentially sexual or vulnerable situations. This includes the emergence of Intimacy Coordinators, a professional role designed to safeguard everyone involved. While some argue that these changes go too far, there are certainly past films that could have benefited from better protections.
Debbie Isitt’s British comedy film, Confetti, centers around an ensemble cast of comedic actors who play three couples vying to win a bridal magazine's contest for the most unique wedding. The film explores the hilarious chaos of their competition.
One of the couples in the film, played by Robert Webb and Academy Award-winning actress Olivia Colman, are nudists. Initially hesitant about performing many scenes in the nude, the actors were reassured by Isitt, who promised they'd mostly be covered or pixelated. However, upon the movie's release, they were shocked to discover that their full nudity was visible for all to see.
6. Ridley Scott's groundbreaking film Alien (1979) forever changed the space genre, offering a chilling and intense sci-fi horror experience that has become the cornerstone of a cinematic franchise.
Following the success of Star Wars, Ridley Scott's Alien brought an entirely new dimension to space cinema, blending the sci-fi genre with visceral horror, and cementing its place as a cultural and cinematic landmark.
A defining feature of Ridley Scott’s film is its gritty realism, which sharply contrasts with the polished, grandiose sci-fi spectacles of its time (including Star Wars). With a stellar cast including John Hurt, Ian Holm, and Harry Dean Stanton, Scott was able to draw out powerful, nuanced performances. However, he didn’t hesitate to use a few sneaky techniques to evoke genuine ‘raw, animal fear’ in some of the film’s most terrifying scenes.
For the iconic Chestburster scene, the actors were only given minimal information—just that something would emerge from Kane’s (Hurt) chest. The crew rigged him up in isolation, and when the time came to shoot, Scott orchestrated a shocking moment by blowing up a hidden cavity filled with the creature and butchered organs, releasing an overwhelming torrent of stage blood. The cast was completely taken by surprise, with Veronica Cartwright even passing out from the shock.
5. Ridley Scott: Prometheus (2012)
Thirty years later, Ridley Scott was still using the same techniques to keep his audience on edge. With Prometheus, the prequel to Alien, Scott made sure to introduce new elements to both keep the story fresh and deliver unsettling surprises. As with previous films in the franchise, this one also features a disastrous mission to the far reaches of space.
More reminiscent of the Facehugger from the original film than the Chestburster, Prometheus brought forth the terrifying Hammerpede—a grotesque, worm-like creature with a disturbing, vaginal face. Hell-bent on maiming anyone it encounters, the creature already posed a frightening threat, but Scott ratcheted up the fear with a shocking scene where the ship’s medic (played by Kate Dickie) and the crew discover one of these creatures inside a body.
Once again, Scott sought to capture the most genuine reactions from his cast. He instructed the crew to keep the details of the scene’s mechanics a secret, including the surprise appearance of the Hammerpede shooting out of the body’s mouth. As the camera rolled, when Kate Dickie leaned in to inspect the body, the creature lunged at her, and her genuine screams and shock were recorded on film.
4. Jim Sharman's The Rocky Horror Picture Show (1975) is a prime example of camp cinema, adapted from an outrageous stage musical and injected with as much eccentricity and sexual energy as its talented ensemble cast could muster. Sharman guided the production with a playful approach, leading an inexperienced cast to deliver performances that perfectly matched the film’s zany tone.
The film's production was marked by Sharman's practical jokes, which helped break the ice and encourage the cast to fully embrace the offbeat spirit of the movie. These antics also helped coax more natural, authentic performances from the actors.
In one unforgettable scene, Dr. Frank N Furter’s (Tim Curry) former lover, Eddie (Meat Loaf), turns up dead and disfigured in a casket beneath the dining table. To create the most genuine reaction, Sherman told only Tim Curry about the body’s presence. When Curry removed the tablecloth, the rest of the cast had a completely authentic reaction, gasping, screaming, and stumbling away from the table in shock.
The combination of shocking moments, wild humor, and outrageous performances in The Rocky Horror Picture Show made it an enduring cult classic, which still resonates with fans to this day.
3. Bryan Singer’s iconic thriller The Usual Suspects (1995) remains one of the most memorable crime films of the ’90s, boasting slick direction, sharp dialogue, a stellar cast, and an unforgettable plot twist.
Bryan Singer’s breakthrough film, The Usual Suspects, is a quintessential 90s crime thriller, celebrated for its stylish narrative, quick-witted writing, and a talented ensemble cast. Above all, it’s known for one of the decade’s most stunning plot twists.
Kevin Spacey plays Verbal Kint, the seemingly timid criminal who recounts the tale of the notorious Keyser Söze to the police, following a multi-million dollar heist gone awry in San Pedro Harbor. The twist, however, is that Kint is not the innocent bystander he appears to be, but the very villain he’s been pretending to expose.
Singer carefully guarded the film’s twist—revealing that Kint is actually Keyser Söze—from everyone involved. He didn’t want any hints slipping into the actors' performances, so he convinced each of them (including Spacey, Stephen Baldwin, Gabriel Byrne, Benicio del Toro, and Kevin Pollak) that they themselves were playing Söze.
2. Sydney Pollack’s sweeping drama Out of Africa (1985) captures the romantic and tumultuous life of a Danish woman in colonial Kenya, blending breathtaking scenery with powerful storytelling.
Director Sydney Pollack was renowned for drawing out exceptional performances from his actors, particularly in his collaborations with Robert Redford. One such film, the romantic drama Out of Africa, showcases Redford as Denys Hatton, a big-game hunter, who crosses paths with the aristocratic Baroness Karen Blixen (Meryl Streep). However, Pollack found himself facing an unexpected challenge working with both Streep and the film’s four-legged co-stars.
In a crucial scene, Meryl Streep faces off against a lion armed only with a bullwhip. Despite her efforts, the lion, tethered to a post, remained unresponsive, calm, and completely unfazed by the chaos of the film set.
Pollack, desperate to capture a more dramatic interaction, was at his wit’s end. With the shoot already running long, he instructed his crew to untie the lion, keeping it a secret from Streep. In the next take, as Streep wielded her bullwhip, the lion, now free, lunged at her, snarling in a genuine display of aggression. Streep screamed, and the director finally got the shot he was hoping for.
1. Paul Verhoeven's controversial thriller Basic Instinct (1992) is infamous not only for its bold storytelling but also for the extreme lengths Verhoeven took with lead actress Sharon Stone during production.
While the situations in Confetti involving the manipulation of actors into nude scenes were regrettable, the treatment of Sharon Stone on the set of Basic Instinct by director Paul Verhoeven took things to an entirely different level of controversy and discomfort.
The notorious scene where Catherine Tramell, portrayed by Sharon Stone, is interrogated and deliberately crosses and uncrosses her legs, revealing that she isn’t wearing any underwear, became a defining moment in the film. While it captured the attention of countless teenage boys, for the actress, it was far from a positive experience.
On the day of filming, director Paul Verhoeven requested that Stone remove her underwear, citing the reflection of white fabric in the light that would interfere with the shot. He assured her that nothing would be visible on camera. However, that promise was quickly broken, and Stone decided not to contest the request. When the film hit theaters, the scene became iconic, but it later played a destructive role in Stone’s personal life, especially during her divorce, where it was used against her, resulting in her losing custody of her son a decade later.
