Hand Model Tantrum

Recently I was shooting a hand model holding and iphone and using an App.  To protect all involved, I won't mention the name of the client or the actor.  For those of you who aren't aware, hand modeling is no easy job.  The camera is in close-up, so every movement is critical.  You're often asked to bend your arm or body in weird positions for whatever reason, and although your hand sits nicely in frame, the rest of your body might be surrounded by lights and C-stands etc.  Having said that, when a production hires a hand-model, they expect them to be professional and handle these realities.

So we're shooting this app, we have our actor... let's call him Doug... sitting on an apple box, one hand holding the phone around a rigging (that keeps the phone still) wearing a black shroud (like an executioners mask) so his face doesn't reflect into camera, and trying to hit buttons with his other hand.
There was a little tension on the set in figuring out what exactly to shoot as this App had many screens and functions, etc., but this is to be expected.

Well, without getting too specific, a couple hours into shooting when Doug was asked to do something he flew into a tantrum.  He claimed he was being disrespected, spoken "at", announced he didn't need the money, said he's worked on a lot of "Big Stuff" and wasn't treated this way, and finally announced he was leaving!  Needless to say, this took me by surprise.  Apparently it wasn't what I was saying to him, I had a client nearby that was giving me feedback (not all positive) that Doug overheard, plus my client had said something directly to Doug that set him off.  It was subtle at the time, but clearly the straw that broke the camels back as they say.

At the end of the day, Doug was able to calm down, we talked it out, and we shot another hour without a problem.. however the reason I'm sharing this with you is that he did so many things wrong in how he handled the situation, I wanted to blog about this so some of you may find some value in it.
Granted, most of you are saying "I'd never do that", but perhaps you will be in a situation you are uncomfortable with.

What Doug needed to consider before he freaked out was that this was a major client represented by a big advertising agency.  The agency producer on the job works all over the place, as do I, as does my producer.  In a nut shell, we all work on "Big Things"... and even though he did finally finish the day up with us, do you think we'll ever work with him again if we can help it?  I would say the chances are slim... I've got enough to worry about without dealing with a primadonna actor.  In other words, this dude burned multiple bridges that day.

Having said that, was he wrong to speak up?  NO.  In fact I want an actor to let me know if they are uncomfortable or confused.  Nothing wrong with that, but to go into a tail spin tantrum is not the way to do it.  All Doug had to do was say "Hey guys, I need a break here" then pull me aside and explain what he was feeling.  Instead he made a scene... and pulled the ultimate card... HE THREATENED TO LEAVE!  Why would you do that right off the bat?  Not cool.  Now lucky for him he didn't leave or the damage would have been even greater, not for us, but for him.  We would have figured something out, but his agent would have gotten the riot act from the agency producer.  Because Doug did finish the day, no phone call was made.

In the end it all worked out, and I hope Doug will handle things differently in the future.  He wasn't a bad guy, but perhaps a bit to sensitive and exercised some poor judgement.

SO, if you feel you're going to bug out, take an inventory of how many bridges you may torch in the process.  Even doing a rinky dink, freebee, student film you may be making valuable future connections, you never know.  Also ask yourself, "Have I exhausted all other means to solve this problem" before you threaten something like "walking out".  By just stepping away from the camera you are sending a message... and often a conversation will get you what you need.