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Matt Damon Reveals Clint Eastwood's One-Take Rule on 'Invictus' Set

Matt Damon recently recounted his experience working with director Clint Eastwood on the 2009 film 'Invictus'. He revealed Eastwood's distinctive, efficient directing style, where the filmmaker discouraged multiple takes to respect the crew's time. Damon spent nearly six months perfecting a challenging South African accent for his role as rugby player Francois Pienaar. Despite the one-take approach, Damon emphasized Eastwood was not harsh and that this collaboration earned him an Academy Award nomination.

Key Points: Clint Eastwood's Directing Style: Matt Damon Recalls One-Take Rule

  • Eastwood prefers minimal takes
  • Damon spent 6 months on accent
  • Efficiency over perfection
  • Respect for crew time
  • 'Invictus' earned Damon Oscar nod
2 min read

Matt Damon recalls what Clint Eastwood told him during shoot of 'Invictus'

Matt Damon shares how Clint Eastwood discouraged multiple takes during 'Invictus' filming, revealing the director's efficient philosophy.

"Why? You wanna waste everybody's time? - Clint Eastwood"

Washington, January 15

Actor Matt Damon recently reflected on his first experience working under director Clint Eastwood, recalling how he was discouraged from requesting multiple takes during the filming of the 2009 film 'Invictus', according to The Hollywood Reporter.

Speaking on the Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend podcast, the Oscar-winning actor said he quickly learned Eastwood's distinctive directing approach on his very first day on set. Eastwood is widely known for preferring limited takes during filming.

Damon, who portrayed South African rugby player Francois Pienaar in 'Invictus', said he spent nearly six months working with a dialect coach to perfect the challenging South African accent required for the role.

"So I was playing a South African rugby player, and that's a really tough accent to do," Damon remembered, adding that he "spent six months" working with a dialect coach to perfect the accent of his character, Francois Pienaar. "The coach would come in from 9 to 5, Monday through Friday, and we would work on this accent. ... It was a lot of work and fun and great," as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

Recounting the incident, Damon said that after completing his first take, Eastwood immediately called for the shot to be printed and moved on. When the actor asked to perform another take, Eastwood responded, "Why? You wanna waste everybody's time?"

"I realised we were moving on. And that was one take," Damon said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter.

Despite the moment, Damon emphasised that Eastwood's tone was not harsh and described the veteran filmmaker as "a lovely guy." He explained that Eastwood's philosophy prioritised efficiency and respect for the crew.

"Your crew will go to the ends of the Earth for you as long as you're not taxing them on every shot," Damon said, adding that Eastwood trusted professional actors to deliver strong performances while maintaining momentum on set.

'Invictus' marked Damon's first collaboration with Eastwood and earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor. The two later reunited for the 2010 film Hereafter, according to The Hollywood Reporter.

- ANI

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Reader Comments

R
Rohit P
"Why? You wanna waste everybody's time?" 😂 That's classic Eastwood! It's a good lesson in efficiency and respecting the time of the entire crew. In any profession, being over-prepared and then decisive is key. Great story.
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Aman W
I have a slightly different take. While efficiency is good, sometimes an actor needs a second take to explore a different emotional angle. What if the first take was technically perfect but lacked soul? A bit more flexibility might help.
S
Sarah B
The part about the dialect coach working 9-5 for six months is mind-blowing! That's the kind of dedication we rarely hear about. Makes you appreciate the work behind a convincing performance. Invictus was a fantastic film.
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Vikram M
Respect for the crew is a huge point. In India, film sets can be chaotic with very long hours. A director who values his team's time and energy automatically earns their loyalty. More power to such leaders!
K
Kavya N
Love hearing these behind-the-scenes stories. It humanises these huge stars. Both come across as true professionals. Eastwood's confidence in his actor after seeing the 6 months of prep is what makes a great director-actor partnership.

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