„He Treats His Actors Like Horses.” Tom Hanks Told What His Collaboration with Clint Eastwood Was Like
Tom Hanks talked about how Clint Eastwood behaves on the sets of the films he directs. He pointed out how acting in his movies differs.
Tom Hanks is a well-known actor who has had the opportunity to star in the films of many acclaimed directors, including Steven Spielberg and Robert Zemeckis, who have cast him several times in their productions. However, despite the fact that Hanks has a long career, an extensive filmography and has managed to appear in many famous directors’ movies, he only worked with Clint Eastwood for the first time in 2016, when they filmed Sully.
Having worked with so many directors, Hanks has an idea of their different ways of working, which he had to adapt to each time he stepped in front of the camera. During a visit to The Graham Norton Show he talked about what it was like to play with Eastwood. Hanks mentioned what Eastwood learned from his experiences as an actor and what he uses now as a director.
He treats his actors like horses, because when he did the 60s series Rawhide, the director would shout “Action!” and all the horses bolted. So when you're in Clin Eastwood movie you don't even know when the camera is rolling. You just hear over your shoulder [in a really quiet soft voice], “All right, go ahead,” and instead of shouting “Cut!” he says “That’s enough of that.” It’s intimidating as hell!
On the sets of Clint Eastwood’s movies, therefore, one does not harbor the shouting characteristic of other film sets. The director directs the production quietly and calmly, but still effectively, as Hanks' statement shows that he still easily maintains control over what happens during filming.
Hanks' words, on the other hand, are an expression of admiration, not criticism, as one might think after hearing the phrase "he treats his actors like horses." In Eastwood's case, this means that he approaches artists with calmness and a certain gentleness, not hounding anyone. Although, as Hanks himself said, with this and other behaviors he still manages to intimidate – especially with Eastwood's "typical gaze," which, according to Hanks' story, expresses more than 1,000 words and you don’t want to provoke it.
