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.

Via The Dark Knight Blog

Posted: Jan 28, 2008 at 1:08 am / Email this »

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342 comments to “Batman Director Remembers Ledger”

More comments: [1] 2 3 4 »

tori says – reply to this

1

FIRST
alicia says – reply to this

2

first
Connie Girl says – reply to this

3

1st
BJ. says – reply to this

4

Woot Woot for Heath Ledger night! Sorta. Suck A Dick Perez.
LOVE YOU HEATH says – reply to this

5

Awww. a skater ta'boot. We love you Heath. RIP, HL!!!
as says – reply to this

6

first
B says – reply to this

7

So tragic.
pam says – reply to this

8

First….he looks scary !!
theanswer says – reply to this

9

RIP
Fat Pez EAT SHIT! says – reply to this

10

Eat shit and DIE fat pez you stupid ugly ass morbidly obese clown!
bayley says – reply to this

11

so sad
=(
1st says – reply to this

12

1st bitches
mo says – reply to this

13

will be missed RIP
serenditpy says – reply to this

14

that is absolutely lovely - left me with a tear in my eye. What a tribute.
ryan says – reply to this

15

creeepy
Amy says – reply to this

16

that was unbelievably well written and a great insight into who Heath really was.
Julia says – reply to this

17

:( I miss him
ona says – reply to this

18

Well said. RIP Heath
kaitlyn says – reply to this

19

heart-warming. that's how he should be remembered.
kellyanne says – reply to this

20

1st!

we miss you heath!!
sara says – reply to this

21

first
Jusa says – reply to this

22

Very lovely.
Antonia says – reply to this

23

whoa!! first! super touching
mgr27 says – reply to this

24

What a great lost he is to the world.
netta says – reply to this

25

That is one of the best tributes I've ever read. You will be missed Ledger, you will be missed.
savvy says – reply to this

26

"I study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly."

…beautiful

i still cant believe he's gone

R.I.P Heath
orlando says – reply to this

27

so touching
will says – reply to this

28

first!
caro says – reply to this

29

so sad
nena says – reply to this

30

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.
Geminat.com says – reply to this

31

That was sweet
Liz says – reply to this

32

Can't wait to see the film! Too bad it's his last.
missinghim says – reply to this

33

he'd be proud of what he left behind
parkerbaby says – reply to this

34

so sad.
i feel so bad for baby Matilda!
Rest In Peace, Heath.
Woohoo says – reply to this

35

What a great remembrance of Heath! I am so glad to be able to have read this! Thanks Perez
bri says – reply to this

36

touching
I totally... says – reply to this

37

I totally miss Heath! I heart him
sera bae says – reply to this

38

wow i love heath
Brittani says – reply to this

39

Perez Hilton is fucking sexy
mercedes says – reply to this

40

i love heath
Eva says – reply to this

41

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
me says – reply to this

42

Very nice article…he was a great talent
John says – reply to this

43

he better pay tribute in the movie !
ooh pickles says – reply to this

44

wow that's a fascinating look into what heath was really like.

*sends up prayers for heath's fam*
Sean says – reply to this

45

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.
fernanda says – reply to this

46

I think this is how heath should be remembered… He seemed to be such an amzing person
Bam says – reply to this

47

first?
dude says – reply to this

48

it really is a shame
punkercan says – reply to this

49

Pretty cool. first
Jennifer says – reply to this

50

Wow… that was great and very sad… RIP heath, You're in a better place now.
Cara says – reply to this

51

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 SUCKS ON SHIT! says – reply to this

52

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!
sarah says – reply to this

53

first bitchessssssss

eat me!
Joshie says – reply to this

54

love the touching tribute, Heath u will always be remember. I miss You, and u were a great person and actor. Rest In Peace!
georgia says – reply to this

55

wow, whatta guy
you don't hear about many characters like heath
we truly did lose one of the best
chelseaa says – reply to this

56

FIRST!
this is touching, r.i.p heath
erug says – reply to this

57

first
Nikki says – reply to this

58

Wow, that was really touching, elegantly written, truly sentimental and spoken from the heart.
Lydia says – reply to this

59

RIP Ledger!! Can't wait to see him in Batman.
AndyG says – reply to this

60

Unbelievable
:( says – reply to this

61

FIRST!!!

Thats so sad i miss heath
maggie says – reply to this

62

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
Duck says – reply to this

63

RIP. Truly will be missed.
maya says – reply to this

64

sweet. luv it. first
me says – reply to this

65

heath
stephy says – reply to this

66

first, andthats so sad
Lysa says – reply to this

67

first
Robyn says – reply to this

68

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.
Shabangbang says – reply to this

69

I can't wait until this movie comes out..RIP Heath and God bless his family.
lalala says – reply to this

70

first
sarah says – reply to this

71

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.
b_deezy says – reply to this

72

first!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
booyaaa says – reply to this

73

first bitchesssssss!!
Paris3970316 says – reply to this

74

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!
partygirl says – reply to this

75

heath was a hottie.
WHATWUT! says – reply to this

76

FIRST!
Heather says – reply to this

77

That just makes me sad.
Sarah says – reply to this

78

aw.
suekay says – reply to this

79

…………….. sadness
c says – reply to this

80

aw
lana says – reply to this

81

Bravo?
meh says – reply to this

82

that's beautiful
hfan says – reply to this

83

beautifully written
Sara says – reply to this

84

Thats beautiful.
melissa d says – reply to this

85

rip heath
kim says – reply to this

86

sooo sad

i love you heath
mishy says – reply to this

87

beautiful…
Kori says – reply to this

88

Wow! That was amazing.
Albert says – reply to this

89

so sad, and touching
jacqueline says – reply to this

90

wow that just really shows us how great he was at his job and how wonderful of a person he was. He made a huge impact and will be missed a lot. The best actor by far in my eyes.
b says – reply to this

91

sad.
kt says – reply to this

92

thats so cute.
and sad.
rip heath
Cheekz says – reply to this

93

I live in Chicago and i must say when they were filming this movie it was insane downtown. He will be greatly missed and this was a very touching tribute. It still feels unreal.
jan says – reply to this

94

that made me cry!
Oh my goodness says – reply to this

95

That is so touching. My heart aches for the people who knew Heath personally and loved him. I can't imagine losing somebody I love so wholeheartedly when they're so young. A death this young doesn't make sense. He wasn't sick…he shouldn't have died. I don't want to ever live in a world where death makes sense. I'm blessed because I haven't experienced such a loss. I loved Heath as an actor, but that isn't on the same caliber as actually knowing him and loving him for him.
b says – reply to this

96

www.RememberHeathLedger.com

@@@@@
Seriously says – reply to this

97

Who really gives a crap if your first. Its very sad that Heath died unexpectedly. This is one of my quotes that prove that Heath touched many and will be missed dearly. One of the great young film actors has died, SHOW SOME DAMN RESPECT FOR THE MAN!
pattycakes says – reply to this

98

a thing of beauty and he will be missed by all…
newsgrrl says – reply to this

99

That would have been a film to work on….
Janet says – reply to this

100

So well written and a great insight.