Saying no to many things in life is more sculptural to your career than saying yes.It seems that sentiment is frequently echoed by on-set relationship coordinators and particularly true in Hollywood, where the parts an actor refuses to take can be even more enlightening than the parts they accept.
Another aspect of the industry that has been in the headlines over the years is the refusal of the services of some of the largest names in the industry to participate in same reletion romantic scenes or walk out of the project which had them as part of it. Their excuses are varied in their personal discomfort, image worries, as well as religious convictions and professional plan. These choices remain controversial in an industry where on-screen relationships are now discussed more openly and planned with greater care.
The following is a closer look at the high profile instances where actors crossed the line, and the fallout of their decisions on productions as well as the behind-the-scenes discussions that lead to these instances.
1. Will Smith’s Camera Trick in Six Degrees of Separation
In 1993, Will Smith played a rare dramatic role of a charismatic conartist in a movie called: Six Degrees of Separation. The script had a kiss with Anthony Michael Hall, but Smith was hesitant on the point of shooting. He later confessed to the Entertainment Weekly that he feared the reaction of his friends in Philly and was not emotionally prepared to invest in such an aspect of the performance. Denzel Washington had warned him that this kind of scene would damage his leading man reputation. Director Fred Schepisi is improvising, faking the moment with the back of a stand-in head.
2. Luke Grimes’ Exit from True Blood
Luke Grimes appeared in the sixth season of HBO in the series True Blood as James Kent, but he did not make it to the seventh season. Buzzfeed reports indicated that he protested after scripts showed that his character would be in a love affair with Lafayette. Co-star Nelsan Ellis had claimed that Grimes did not wish to do same-gender romantic scenes. Nathan Parsons replaced this role and the storyline proceeded without him.
3. Tom Hanks’ Boundaries in Philadelphia
Even in this landmark movie Tom Hanks was Oscar-winning as a lawyer dying of AIDS in Philadelphina but he still had a boundary. Director Jonathan Demme affirmed that Hanks was not comfortable witha more explicit kiss with Antonio Banderas. The picture was rephrased into a loving embrace. Demme subsequently said that he did not want to push our audience back 20 feet with imagery that they were not ready to see.
4. Al Pacino’s Script Change in Dog Day Afternoon
In the film Dog Day Afternoon, Pakino portrayed a bank robber who was inspired by love of a partner who was undergoing gender confirmation surgery. The initial draft had a kiss with Chris Sarandon in it, but Pacino claimed that it was exploitative and redundant. Rather, the scene was re-written as a phone call, keeping the emotional relationship intact and without physical relations.
5. Kevin Hart’s Tropic Thunder Turn-Down
Kevin Hart was invited to portray the role of rapper Alpa Chino in Tropic Thunder but rejected it after reading what he described as a draft he found inappropriate. Talking to Breakfast Club, Hart explained that he was insecurities about his perceived role that made him not give full dedication to the role. The role ended up being played by Brandon T. Jackson.
6. Mark Wahlberg’s Reaction to Brokeback Mountain
In his approach of Ang Lee to Mark Wahlberg in the film Brokeback Mountain, when presented the 15 pages of the script, Wahlberg confessed to being a bit uncomfortable with the material. In 2007, he said that it was not his business, but admitted that the movie was a taste. He died, and the part was handed over to another actor, which contributed to the fact that the film gained its niche in the world of cinema.
7. Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio Both Said No
Director Gus Van Sant made multiple attempts at casting the big names to play the role of Brokeback Mountain before Heath Ledger and Jake Gyllenhaal took it. The reason he informed IndieWire was that no one wanted to do it and went on to state that Brad Pitt, Leonardo DiCaprio, Matt Damon and Ryan Phillippe were among those who said no. They all said no when it came to appearing in one of the iconic cowboys of the film, and they all had their reasons.
8. Jessica Simpson’s Father Steps In
During the filming of the film, Undiscovered Jessica Simpson was to be shot with a same-reletion kiss. Her manager and father, Joe Simpson came in and demanded that the scene be removed to save her girl-next-door image. The orientation of the character was rewritten and the moment did not come to screen.
9. Samuel L. Jackson’s Firm Stance
Samuel L. Jackson, in a 2013 interview with Playboy replied that he would not cross-dress or kiss another man on screen, even under Quentin Tarantino. This personal policy has influenced his career and has allegedly led to some alterations of projects such as the movie Cell in order to avoid some relationships with the original source.
10. Neal McDonough’s Contract Clause
The unwillingness of Neal McDonough to do kissing scenes regardless of the gender is also based on his religious convictions and love to his wife. This is a non-negotiable condition that led to the loss of a role at ABC on the series Scoundrels. It has become a norm in all his contracts and he is sure that his limits are not overstepped in the beginning.
These scenes give insights into the ways in which personal values, image issues and comfort can come into contact with storytelling in a manner that changes the direction of films and television shows. Today, in an industry shaped by the presence of on-set relationship coordinators and clearer consent guidelines, the decision to say no is discussed more openly than ever, yet the impact of such decisions has not diminished.
