In most cases when an actor/actress signs on to a film, they do three things before filming: read the script, train (if needed), and then rehearse. If you signed on to do a film that
David Ayer is directing, you're going to have to do a bit more than that! In a recent interview with
Entertainment Weekly, the
Suicide Squad director revealed that he wants to form an emotional bond with his cast members before he films with them.
Will Smith, who plays Deadshot in the film, spoke on this Ayer's unique style of directing, and revealed that it helped him and his co-stars form a strong relationship.
“They were technically rehearsals, but not really. It was much more about David spending time going through everyone’s lives, connecting our life experiences to our character’s life experiences and finding those parallels. What we didn’t realize was what he does in the process is he learns our buttons. We are really bonding but David is grabbing all of your deepest emotional issues so he can throw them back in your face on set.”
Sounds like a bit too much? If you think so, David Ayer disagrees, and says he thinks his method helps build trust and support.
"Acting is very lonely. I don’t think people realize how much these people live out of suitcases and just show up." He then added,
"If you can give them a sense of connection and family and build support around them, then you get the trust. I think trust drives performance." Ayer then elaborated on his method a bit more, and acknowledged that he knows it can be an uncomfortable process, however, it's something that'll help in the long run.
“It can’t be [comfortable.] You’ve got to open up. Actors are super cagey. ‘I’m not going to let you see any of my tools until I get to set and then I’m going to surprise you because they are so awesome.’ [My approach is more], ‘No, No. Let’s burn through the tool box now and start making some new tools.’” So in short, Ayer's method is a little uneasy, but effective.
Leaning in on the uneasy side,
Margot Robbie, talked about the discomfort she felt when Ayer first implemented his strategy.
“It was a pretty vulnerable place to go. He wants to know about your personal history and your relationships and your childhood, things like that that you don’t really want to tell a stranger." She then added,
"Then you have to share that with the rest of your squad as well. I really didn’t like that.” Even though David Ayer's method might have seemed a bit bizzare at first, it ultimately worked, and resulted in a cast that's pretty darn tight.
What do you think about David Ayer's style of directing? Would you be willing to share your personal information to complete strangers, as Margot Robbie puts in? Share your thoughts in the comment section below!