The actor Bruce Dern, aged 89, recalled a tense moment behind the scenes of Era Uma Vez in… Hollywood during his participation in Festival of Cannes. Dern was releasing his documentary Dernsie when he shared details about a scene that displeased director Quentin Tarantino.
The anecdote involves Brad Pitt, who played stunt double Cliff Booth. Tarantino was harsh in his rebuke. Dern describes what happened during recording in 2019.
The improvisation that caused tension
Dern improvised a line during a scene where Pitt woke up the actor in bed. What should have been a simple moment turned into a driving lesson. “When Brad Pitt wakes me up, I’m in bed and I get up groggily and say, ‘I’m not really sure what’s going on,'” Dern recalled of the moment.
Brad Pitt hacked the camera without authorization. Tarantino reacted immediately. The director called Pitt and made a point of determining who was in charge on the set.
“Ele said, ‘Well, I turned off the camera.’ He said: ‘Never in your life turn off a camera again or you will be dead in this business. Esse is my domain. Não stop the behavior.'” Dern echoed Tarantino’s stern words, making it clear that the director does not tolerate interference during takes.
The memorable speech that came out of improvisation
Após reprimanded, the team continued filming. Dern took the opportunity to improvise a new line that became part of the film. The actor’s creativity transformed the tense moment into something memorable for the final screen.
“I don’t know who you are, but you touched me today. Você came to visit me, now I need to go back to sleep,” Dern said in the scene. The actor explained that the word “touched” was the central joke in the speech. Pitt responded by correcting, “Well, that wasn’t in the script.”
The origin of this improvisation is deeper than it seems. Dern and Pitt cultivated a friendship on set. Quando both invited the actor to be in the film, Dern felt genuinely affected. “They did this, and it touched me. That’s where this thing comes from,” he explained.
Carreira full of collaborations with Tarantino
Era Uma Vez on… Hollywood marked the third time Bruce Dern worked with Quentin Tarantino. Previous partnerships have consolidated a respectful professional relationship between the actor and the filmmaker:
- Django Livre (2012)
- Os Oito Odiados (2015)
- Era Uma Vez in… Hollywood (2019)
Brad Pitt received the Oscar from Melhor Ator Coadjuvante for his performance in the film. The recognition legitimized the work of both the actor and the director, making that improvisation an important part of Tarantino’s cinematography.
Documentário on Cannes plays Bruce Dern
No Festival of Cannes, Dern presented Dernsie, a documentary directed by Mike Mendez. The title references the characteristic improvisations that the actor adds to his performances over more than 65 years in the industry.
Dern reflected on the emotional impact of the documentary’s premiere. “It means there are people here who care, and my friends aren’t the only ones who care,” the actor said during an interview with PEOPLE magazine.
The documentary documents Bruce Dern’s extensive career, spanning countless films, renowned directors and iconic actors. The work celebrates his contribution to cinema and the legacy he built over the decades.
