Ann Gillis bad mouths Stanley Kubrick

[yaqisworld]

One last question, you came out of retirement after 20 years and did a bit part in "2001: A Space Odyssey." How did that come about and what was it like to work for Kubrick?"

There was a casting call for American actress in London. I was living there with my husband at the time, so I said why not.


You played one of the astronauts parents during the interstellar phone call scene, correct?

Yes. Well, Kubrick was a real jerk. It shows you what can happen when a director is given a blank check. He hired two sets of "parents." I was the back up actress. The part wasn't scripted, so he told the two actors to go write their part over lunch and come back. They did. The actress playing the part read the lines she wrote. Kubrick fired her and said "I like the 'other one' better.

The 'other one' being you?

The 'other one' being me. That's how I was referred to. Well, we took the lines and started rehearsing and then filming. It was difficult because we were sitting side by side and saying lines to which no one was responding. Also, my conversation and the other actor's conversation were not related. We were saying all these disjointed lines and Kubrick keeps changing them. Then the other actor joins in by saying he had an idea for some dialogue. Kubrick lets him run with it. I was thinking, "Keep your ideas to yourself." We did 21 takes. Kubrick prints them all. In the old days a director never printed every take. Kubrick prints all 21 takes for this one little scene which lasts just a few seconds. He was set to keep going and I said, "You've got enough, I quit." I left. 21 takes, ridiculous.


http://einsiders.com/features/interviews/anngillis.php

 

[venray]

Obviously she had no appreciation for the work of a perfectionist.....

Oh well...


Ray

 

[amk714]

It sounds like she was frustrated with the whole process, and playing a bit part she didn't feel the need to put her best effort forward. If she had been one of the lead characters, I bet she would've agreed to do as many takes as needed.

 

[BigNorm]

i have to say, what a bitch. kubrick is a movie master. i never watched space oddesy, but i loved full metal jacket.

 

[MrMacphisto]

I'd heard that Kubrick could be a real prick as a person. The first time I'd heard about it was when Jack Nicholson had mentioned something about how maddening the filming of "the Shining" was. Kubrick is undoubtedly one of the best directors ever, but like a lot of extremely good directors, they still miss occasionally. I always thought "A Clockwork Orange" was way overrated. That movie was probably pretty good for its time, but if you watch it now, it just looks extremely outdated. "2001" fared far better with time, and "Dr. Strangelove" almost seems more relevant now than it was back in 1964.

Kubrick was definitely a perfectionist, but I'd imagine he was probably a prick to work with as well. Oftentimes, the most talented people are the most eccentric and annoying.