Batman Director Remembers Ledger
Filed under: Australiastic > Heath Ledger
Christopher Nolan, who directed Heath as the Joker in this summer's Dark Knight film, has written a touching tribute to the departed actor.
CLICK HERE to check it out!
One night, as I’m standing on LaSalle Street in Chicago, trying to line up a shot for “The Dark Knight,” a production assistant skateboards into my line of sight. Silently, I curse the moment that Heath first skated onto our set in full character makeup. I’d fretted about the reaction of Batman fans to a skateboarding Joker, but the actual result was a proliferation of skateboards among the younger crew members. If you’d asked those kids why they had chosen to bring their boards to work, they would have answered honestly that they didn’t know. That’s real charisma—as invisible and natural as gravity. That’s what Heath had.
Heath was bursting with creativity. It was in his every gesture. He once told me that he liked to wait between jobs until he was creatively hungry. Until he needed it again. He brought that attitude to our set every day. There aren’t many actors who can make you feel ashamed of how often you complain about doing the best job in the world. Heath was one of them.
One time he and another actor were shooting a complex scene. We had two days to shoot it, and at the end of the first day, they’d really found something and Heath was worried that he might not have it if we stopped. He wanted to carry on and finish. It’s tough to ask the crew to work late when we all know there’s plenty of time to finish the next day. But everyone seemed to understand that Heath had something special and that we had to capture it before it disappeared. Months later, I learned that as Heath left the set that night, he quietly thanked each crew member for working late. Quietly. Not trying to make a point, just grateful for the chance to create that they’d given him.
Those nights on the streets of Chicago were filled with stunts. These can be boring times for an actor, but Heath was fascinated, eagerly accepting our invitation to ride in the camera car as we chased vehicles through movie traffic—not just for the thrill ride, but to be a part of it. Of everything. He’d brought his laptop along in the car, and we had a high-speed screening of two of his works-in-progress: short films he’d made that were exciting and haunting. Their exuberance made me feel jaded and leaden. I’ve never felt as old as I did watching Heath explore his talents. That night I made him an offer—knowing he wouldn’t take me up on it—that he should feel free to come by the set when he had a night off so he could see what we were up to.
When you get into the edit suite after shooting a movie, you feel a responsibility to an actor who has trusted you, and Heath gave us everything. As we started my cut, I would wonder about each take we chose, each trim we made. I would visualize the screening where we’d have to show him the finished film—sitting three or four rows behind him, watching the movements of his head for clues to what he was thinking about what we’d done with all that he’d given us. Now that screening will never be real. I see him every day in my edit suite. I study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly.
Back on LaSalle Street, I turn to my assistant director and I tell him to clear the skateboarding kid out of my line of sight when I realize—it’s Heath, woolly hat pulled low over his eyes, here on his night off to take me up on my offer. I can’t help but smile.
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Woot Woot for Heath Ledger night! Sorta. Suck A Dick Perez.
Awww. a skater ta'boot. We love you Heath. RIP, HL!!!
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So tragic.
First….he looks scary !!
RIP
Eat shit and DIE fat pez you stupid ugly ass morbidly obese clown!
so sad
=(
1st bitches
will be missed RIP
that is absolutely lovely - left me with a tear in my eye. What a tribute.
creeepy
that was unbelievably well written and a great insight into who Heath really was.
:( I miss him
Well said. RIP Heath
heart-warming. that's how he should be remembered.
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we miss you heath!!
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Very lovely.
whoa!! first! super touching
What a great lost he is to the world.
That is one of the best tributes I've ever read. You will be missed Ledger, you will be missed.
"I study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly."
…beautiful
i still cant believe he's gone
R.I.P Heath
so touching
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so sad
truly talented young man and a charmer at that, sometimes artists think they need that extra boost from drugs to fuel their creative genius, but sad.
That was sweet
Can't wait to see the film! Too bad it's his last.
he'd be proud of what he left behind
so sad.
i feel so bad for baby Matilda!
Rest In Peace, Heath.
What a great remembrance of Heath! I am so glad to be able to have read this! Thanks Perez
touching
I totally miss Heath! I heart him
wow i love heath
Perez Hilton is fucking sexy
i love heath
Touching..
I got a little teary eyed. Im glad that he's not "just another actor" and that his creativity was taken seriously and appriciated
Very nice article…he was a great talent
he better pay tribute in the movie !
wow that's a fascinating look into what heath was really like.
*sends up prayers for heath's fam*
Christopher Nolan is a class act. It goes to show you what kind of artist and man Heath Ledger was. We can only pray these rumors of heroin and cocaine abuse is untrue. Heath's portrayal of the Joker will go down as one of the greatest in movie history.
I think this is how heath should be remembered… He seemed to be such an amzing person
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it really is a shame
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Wow… that was great and very sad… RIP heath, You're in a better place now.
It is so touching to see that someone remembers him for who he was, for the legacy that he leaves behind — not just for the scandals and dirt that everyone seems to be so desperately looking for. Though I obviously do not know much about his real life, he seems like one of the good ones, honest and hard working.
FAT PEZ isn't it a shame that your morbidly obese ugly ass looks WORSE than this every day WITHOUT even trying to? Go kill yourself FAT PEZ!
first bitchessssssss
eat me!
love the touching tribute, Heath u will always be remember. I miss You, and u were a great person and actor. Rest In Peace!
wow, whatta guy
you don't hear about many characters like heath
we truly did lose one of the best
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this is touching, r.i.p heath
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Wow, that was really touching, elegantly written, truly sentimental and spoken from the heart.
RIP Ledger!! Can't wait to see him in Batman.
Unbelievable
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Thats so sad i miss heath
thats so sad… i really really wish he hadn't died… i wasn't a big fan or anything but it's alway sad when someone so loved dies… it's a great tragedy
RIP. Truly will be missed.
sweet. luv it. first
heath
first, andthats so sad
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I love Heath Ledger. He was so likeable in everything I ever saw him in. I can't believe how saddened I am by his passing. I pray his soul is at peace, and my thoughts go out to his family, especially Matilda.
I can't wait until this movie comes out..RIP Heath and God bless his family.
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first! How sad…but what a wonderful testiment how one person can make such a difference. It is clear he was truly loved by those who knew him, and even by those who didnt.
first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
first bitchesssssss!!
This is so perplexing the death of a great actor who had innumerable skills. His death is a great loss to the industry and wherever Heath is right now, I'm sure it is a much happier place where the lights are always on and everyhting is done on a single take! So Heath cheers to you and farewell, and just remeber 3, 2, 1, ACTION!
heath was a hottie.
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That just makes me sad.
aw.
…………….. sadness
aw
Bravo?
that's beautiful
beautifully written
Thats beautiful.
rip heath