Matt Damon has worked in several legendary films which have been helmed by acclaimed directors. Being an Oscar-winning screenwriter himself, Damon has chosen films that have often been regarded as modern-day classics such as the Jason Bourne franchise, The Talented Mr. Ripley, and Saving Private Ryan.
He worked with acclaimed director and veteran Clint Eastwood on the film Invictus, where he witnessed his efficient and unorthodox working style firsthand. The actor mentioned that Eastwood was able to make the films he wanted without going over budget or schedule by having an efficient and loyal crew who would give their lives for him.
Matt Damon Noticed How Clint Eastwood Pulled Great Loyalty From His Crew
Apart from being an icon with the Spaghetti Western Dollars trilogy, Clint Eastwood has also directed many modern-day classics. He won his first Oscar as director for the Western Unforgiven, which was one of the four Westerns to have won the Best Picture Academy Award.
Eastwood is known for his efficient working style and tendency to film only one take. According to Esquire, the filmmaker does not even say ‘Action’ or ‘Cut’ and the actors only have one take to give their best. Due to this practice, his productions rarely go over budget or go beyond their schedules.
According to Matt Damon, who worked with him on the film Invictus, the efficiency in production is also the result of his extremely loyal crew who have worked with him for years. Like cinematographer Jack Green and composer Michael Stevens, Eastwood likes to keep his crew the same and reportedly gives them autonomy on the project. Damon said,
They would jump into traffic for him.
Eastwood reportedly also stood up for his crew and has kept arguments and disagreements to a minimum. Many attributed the loyalty and dedication he receives from the cast and crew to his vast years of experience.
Matt Damon Had To Beg Clint Eastwood For One Thing In His Film
Matt Damon played the role of South African rugby player Francois Pienaar in the sports drama Invictus. Directed by Clint Eastwood, the film chronicled the first World Cup played by the South African Springboks team after the end of the apartheid. Morgan Freeman played the role of former President Nelson Mandela.
While Damon was attracted to work on the film due to the opportunity to get to work with Clint Eastwood, he reportedly had to beg him to let him do another take. He was, however, not able to convince Eastwood to break his Golden Rule. Damon said,
You have to beg him for a second take. I did once, and he said, ‘Why, so you can waste everybody’s time?’
Eastwood justified his practice by saying that he wanted to see the actors reacting to the situation as if they were encountering it for the first time and hence, always chose the first take.