If "she" did the exact same thing to him, he'd probably have her fired. And if Murray didn't fire the "she" on the spot, the director would fire her later, so he wouldn't have to listen to Murray whine about how disrespect and moan about how nobody appreciates the agony of great talent and the horrific personal cost of giving great performances blah blah blah. That's how movie sets have traditionally worked - the top dogs get to be complete assholes to everyone else and fire anyone who complains, and everyone who isn't a top dog has to put up with shitty, abusive, working conditions.
There's no need for things to be that way, artists don't need license to be a complete shit to produce their art, and it's not like the worst offenders are great artists anyway. Michael Bay is notorious for constantly firing crew members over nothing (they're told to go home, change clothes, and come back, he'll never know that they aren't a replacement), and he's Michael Bay, not a great artist! There's no rational reason that the likes of Bay and Murray should be allowed to treat their co-workers like shit, some people will say it's part of the artistic process but that's bullshit, self-discipline has to be part of the artistic process, and the right to abuse people is nothing but a perk. One that needs to do the way of the three-martini lunch.
reply
share
snepts (11123)
3 years ago
I once heard a story that Willem Dafoe (I believe) was an extra - a nobody back then - on the set of Heaven's Gate, and during a break he laughed about something and the director fired him. I think he was in a crowd scene and someone said something funny and since they weren't filming, he just laughed then got singled out and fired.
I think this was Michael Cimino and he was under a lot of pressure, but it's just sorta funny how easily someone can get fired for the smallest provocation.
I hope I'm not spreading an untruth, I haven't verified this tale in a long time.
reply
share
Otter (24464)
3 years ago
Meg Ryan used to fire any female extras who were too blonde from her scenes, she wanted to be the blondest person on camera! And then there's all the crew people, extras, and production assistants who'd been fired for looking directly at one of these big names who give orders that nobody but the director is ever to look at them, speak directly to them, or make eye contact.
So if this is a sign that Hollywood is curbing rampant egos and abusive onset behavior then this is great news, but I think it's more likely that it's the sign of a power struggle between Murray and someone else, probably a director or producer.
reply
share
Lord Rake (4456)
3 years ago
Ma'am you should check the date. This is Bill Murray in 2022, not 1989, even then he couldn't get people fired.
And treating like shit is different than joking around. Women want so desperately to be treated like equals around men, but when men treat them like they would treat their male friends women fall apart and cry. Dress up as a male some time and then find a group of guys to hang around with, I'm sure you will be offended but you will notice the jokes between men go back and forth and no one takes it to heart. It's a dynamic that evolved because men throughout history did hard work together, and did not have the luxury of getting offended and running away.
reply
share
Otter (24464)
3 years ago
You think Bill Murray can't get people fired????? You know NOTHING about Hollywood, and haven't even read this thread. Which, FYI, contains a couple of examples of how easily people get fired on these movie sets.
And also FYI, "equality" includes the expectation of having a say in relationships with other people, because equals allow each other a say. If one person who happens to be female has a professional or personal relationship with other person, they have full confidence that the other person will tell them when they have crossed a line, and they damn well expect to be listened to whewn they tell their equal that *they* have crossed a line. A female who would let a man define the terms of a relationship, including what defines humor and what is offensive, is in fact being subservient, not holding herself as an equal.
But why are we talking about equality, we were talking about Hollywood! Relationships between people working on movie sets are hierarchical, not equal, and the people at the top of the hierarchy feel free to fire anyone on the lower rungs. As is outlined on this very thread.
reply
share
Lord Rake (4456)
3 years ago
You are telling me Murray can get anybody fired for anything while production has been shut down because a woman was offended by a joke he made. Do you see where your logic falls apart? Murray should just get her fired and production can start back up.
Your relationship defining stuff is just nonsense. People don't change who they are to placate to the delicate, especially when the delicate are telling everyone they are equals. If you want to be a fire fighter you are going to be dealing with fire and smoke, that's the job, you cannot define it into something you want it to be. Same with harping on and on about how women are just as funny as men and just as capable but then expecting men to change their behavior to accommodate your feelings "which are always looking to be offended".
reply
share
Otter (24464)
3 years ago
See below re who gets fired for what.
And no, people don't change who they are to please the "delicate", but every functional adult on Earth is capable of temporarily changing their *behavior*, if the situation demands it. Even the crusest jerk can ammendment their behavior temporarily if their grandma comes over, and even the biggest jerk at your job can learn to shut their trap when the boss says the company is cracking down on "hostile work environment" assholery. Even Murray himself could keep his mouth shut and his hands to himself, if a job he wanted required it, and there's no reason he coukdnt have done that for every job he's ever had.
reply
share
FilmBuff (7237)
3 years ago
If what you say is true, then why didn't Murray get Palmer fired? How did it come to pass that the entire production was put on hold, and he's being publicly chastised?
reply
share
Otter (24464)
3 years ago
Presumably it happened that way, because for once in the history of Hollywood, the Powers That Be stood up for the injured party, and not the bigger name.
Which makes me think there had been some sort of power struggle between Murray and the Powers going on before the "joke", because nobody in Hollywood *ever* does anything just because it's right.
reply
share
Ripkens25 (2017)
3 years ago
The studio reacted the way it did....because these days, at even the slightest hint of controversy, they are paranoid people will boycott their film. So, they overreact...
reply
share
Otter (24464)
3 years ago
Perhaps. Or perhaps they were just fed up with Murray.
Frankly, we'll never know the real story, any story that gets out with have been cleaned up and approved by everyone's publicists and lawyers.
reply
share