Based on the influence that Harvey Weinstein had in Hollywood, the disgraced producer was often known for interfering with most blockbuster films coming out of America. Nonetheless, several directors and actors like Tom Cruise had figured out a way to keep Weinstein out of their projects.
Further, after venturing into Hollywood, the Korean director Bong Joon-ho confessed to having a face-off with Harvey Weinstein. Recalling his “doomed encounter” with the producer, Joon-ho confessed to implementing tricks like Tom Cruise to keep Weinstein away from interfering with his 2013 dystopian action film, Snowpiercer.
Bong Joon-ho Tricked Harvey Weinstein To Save Snowpiercer
Being one of the greatest influences in Hollywood, Harvey Weinstein is known for his unnecessary interference in acclaimed projects. However, the Korean director Bong Joon-ho successfully tackled the disgraced producer from having his grubby fingers in the 2013 dystopian action film, Snowpiercer.
Recalling his experience of dealing with Weinstein, Joon-ho confessed, “It was a doomed encounter,”. Revealing an incident from the set of the $86M Chris Evans movie, the Korean director stated, “I’ve never done an edit I didn’t want to do. Weinstein’s nickname is ‘Harvey Scissorhands’, and he took such pride in his edit of the film”.
Thus, discussing the scene that Harvey Weinstein was hellbent on editing, Bong Joon-ho confessed to being adamant about keeping it. “Harvey hated it, he said, ‘Why fish? We need action!’…I had a headache in that moment: ‘What do I do?’” the director recalled. He further confessed to taking help of a trick to keep Weinstein away from snipping anything from the movie.
“I said, ‘Harvey, this shot means something to me.’ It’s something personal. My father was a fisherman. I’m dedicating this shot to my father. It was a f*cking lie. My father was not a fisherman.” Bong Joon-ho revealed the trick.
Although during the final screening, Harvey Weinstein further demanded to wield his scissors and edit some more, Joon-ho luckily saved his 2013 Snowpiercer from further snip-snaps.
Tom Cruise Saved Todd Field’s Movie From Harvey Weinstein
It wasn’t just Bong Joon-ho who went out of their way to keep Harvey Weinstein at bay. Apart from the Korean director, even Hollywood’s homegrown Tom Cruise once implemented subtle tricks to save Todd Field’s first movie In the Bedroom (2001), from the 71-year-old producer.
Speaking with The New Yorker, Todd Field confessed feeling anxious after his movie was acquired by Miramax, following its screening at the 2001 Sundance Film Festival. Field was devastated as Miramax meant definite interference from Harvey Weinstein. However, the director was luckily saved by Tom Cruise.
“I called up Tom Cruise and said, ‘Something terrible has happened.’ He basically said, ‘This is how you’re going to play it. It’s going to take you six months, and you’ll beat him, but you have to do exactly what I’m going to tell you to do, step by step.’” Todd Field recalled.
Sharing the plan offered by Cruise, the director stated how the actor advised him to “let Weinstein cut it to ribbons, wait for it to test poorly, then pull out the raves from Sundance and suggest that he release it the exact way it was when he’d bought it.” Evidently, Tom Cruise’s idea worked wonders and In the Bedroom surpassed its budget with flying numbers, and even received five Oscar nods.
Source: The New Yorker, Vulture
