What did Matt Damon say about Clint Eastwood's directing on 'Invictus'?

Matt Damon recalled Clint Eastwood being very strict on the sets of 'Invictus,' dismissing his prepared accent in a single take.

How long did Matt Damon prepare for his role in 'Invictus'?

Matt Damon practiced and trained for almost 6 months to get the South African rugby player accent right for 'Invictus'.

How did Clint Eastwood's directing differ between 'Invictus' and 'Hereafter'?

During 'Invictus,' scenes were often done in one go, while filming 'Hereafter' with a child actor involved doing over 40 takes patiently.

Home / Arts and Entertainment / Damon: Eastwood's 'Shut Down' Taught Me Acting

Damon: Eastwood's 'Shut Down' Taught Me Acting

27 Jan

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Summary

Damon recounts Eastwood's blunt direction on 'Invictus'.
Six months of accent training were dismissed in one take.
Eastwood's strict approach contrasted with later films.

Damon: Eastwood's 'Shut Down' Taught Me Acting

Matt Damon recently reflected on the stringent direction he received from Clint Eastwood during the filming of their 2009 movie, 'Invictus.' Damon, who portrayed a South African rugby player, dedicated six months to mastering the challenging accent. However, upon his first take, Eastwood immediately called for a "Cut. Print. Move on," leaving Damon surprised.

Eastwood's direct style led him to question Damon's need for additional takes, asking, "Why? You wanna waste everybody's time?" This experience, while initially jarring, highlighted Eastwood's clear vision as a director. Damon noted this strictness differed significantly from his work on subsequent films.

In contrast to 'Invictus,' Damon recalled the filming of 'Hereafter,' where he worked with a nine-year-old, inexperienced actor. For that project, the team patiently completed over 40 takes to achieve the desired result. Damon's most recent collaboration was with Ben Affleck in 'The Rip,' a film about two narcotics officers involved with a cartel.