Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood was a pretty iconic movie for a number of reasons. Besides having a stellar cast, the Quentin Tarantino-Leonardo DiCaprio duo coming together once more was one of the main reasons. Fans are well aware that whenever this duo gets together for a project, it is a treat for sure, and this particular venture did not disappoint either.
Interestingly, it has been revealed that the iconic trailer meltdown scene featuring DiCaprio’s character, Rick Dalton, was completely improvised. During an episode of the YMH Studios podcast, 2 Bears, 1 Cave, director Quentin Tarantino delved into the details of how he and the actor approached the scene, unveiling some fascinating behind-the-scenes insights. Despite embarking on a risky creative journey, the final outcome captured on camera turned out to be nothing short of pure cinematic magic.
Leonardo Dicaprio Was Nervous Before Filming This off-Script Moment
Leonardo DiCaprio undeniably stands out as one of the greatest actors of his generation. His consistent excellence in the field has captivated audiences worldwide, including Quentin Tarantino. The director’s appreciation for the actor only grew stronger after this particular incident.
Tarantino sought an unfiltered and genuine performance from DiCaprio, one that transcended mere dialogue and compelled the audience to experience nothing but profound pity for his character when witnessing the scene. To achieve this, the director made an unconventional request, he asked the actor to arrive on set unprepared. This unexpected directive understandably left the accomplished Titanic actor feeling apprehensive and anxious about the creative process.
Despite the actor’s self-doubt, Quentin Tarantino held unwavering confidence in his abilities. He revealed on 2 Bears 1 Cave podcast,
“What happened there was, I knew I wanted to have that scene but I didn’t want to write it out. I didn’t want it to have to be dialogue he remembered. So I got Leo and I was saying, ‘So look, here’s what I want to do: I want you to come in having f—ed up on set not knowing your lines and I want you to come in the trailer and have a whole mad anger at yourself, detest fest, a complete temper tantrum against yourself. Just a gigantic pity party where you just lose your s–t, but against yourself, nobody else. And I want it to have the randomness of an improv, it just comes out of you.’”
Subsequently, what unfolded left the director utterly astounded. DiCaprio’s performance, characterized by pure acting prowess and sheer talent, affirmed Tarantino’s belief in the actor’s exceptional craftsmanship even more. It was a remarkable display of skill that once again solidified DiCaprio’s reputation as a phenomenal actor.
Quentin Tarantino Will Forever Be In Awe of Leonardo Dicaprio for Doing This
While Leonardo DiCaprio initially grappled with nervousness, Quentin Tarantino played a pivotal role in helping the actor find his comfort zone and generate on-screen magic. With no script or predefined lines to rely on, DiCaprio was understandably anxious about the direction of the scene. In response, the director generously supplied him with a number of humble topics to draw inspiration from, easing the actor’s concerns.
Leonardo DiCaprio and Quentin Tarantino
The director further revealed,
“Now, what I did do though, is I gave him different subjects he could rant about. ‘Here’s a subject, here’s a subject, here’s something you could say.’ And he goes, ‘Great.’ He was a little nervous. It was actually very cute that he was nervous that day because it’s on him and he knows that. So we’re shooting this scene and I’m right by the camera and we just do a few different takes and it was great. And then, from time to time, if I thought he ran out of something I could throw something his way.”
The ensuing collaboration between the two was nothing short of legendary. The camaraderie they shared, characterized by their seamless back-and-forth and deep connection, is indeed a rarity in the industry. It’s this unique bond that consistently enables them to craft exceptional pieces of work whenever they join forces, and their track record speaks volumes about their creative synergy.
Once Upon A Time… In Hollywood is available on STARZ to stream.
Source: YMH Studios YouTube channel: 2 Bears 1 Cave podcast
