Dave Bautista Has a Message for People Who Complain About Filmmaking

I was lucky enough to direct an independent pilot this summer in Connecticut. It was a full week of me getting to work my dream job. Going to and from the set every day, working with actors and members of the crew. It was an incredible experience, and a rare one, so I started the week with a simple message: Be nice. I told everyone involved that we were making people’s dreams come true, were lucky to do so, and should enjoy it.

Film shoots are tough! I know that. They know that. But, to quote the great Rose Royce, “it’s better than digging a ditch.” The biggest problems we faced that week revolved around making sure we had enough time to capture people playing make-believe. We discussed lighting, line delivery, and chair placement. One day, we had a slight scheduling issue with a union crew we hired, and on day three, we had a bunch of extras and shot a oner for most of the day, but that’s all fun stress!

We got the thing done, were happier for it, and went back to our lives. The show we made was about bartending at a Broadway theater, and the night after we wrapped, that’s what I was doing. It was one of the hardest shifts of my life. I had my dream in my grasp, and had to go right back to the thing that barely props up that dream. All this to say: If I had heard a single person complain while on that set, I wouldn’t have been so nice.

I ain’t the only one who feels that way, either. Even people who get to live their dreams every day have little patience for complaints. In a recent interview with Collider, it was mentioned to Dave Bautista that having a jerk on a film set can ruin the experience. He quickly agreed. “Absolutely awful,” the actor noted. “I’m just at the age and at the point of my life where life’s just too goddamn short. I want to work with people I just love and respect, because I love this business. I love filmmaking, and if people don’t want to be there, I don’t want to be there with them. You know? I’m happy to be there.” Hell yeah, Dave!

“It’s a love thing for me, and I’m passionate about it,” Bautista explained. “I want to be there, and I want to make the most of it, so I don’t want to hear people b****ing, complaining, moaning and groaning about doing something that we’re all fortunate enough to be doing and making.” Exactly! Working consistently in film and television is difficult enough as it is. Doing so on as grand a scale as Bautista and his ilk is even harder. Enjoy the freaking ride.

The unfortunate part is that people who are a**holes will continue to work. Some people will tell you how hard it is because they had to wait on set the whole day and only got to do their scene once. If they do, tell them that another viable option would be slinging overpriced drinks to rude tourists who treat you more like a kiosk than a human being, and tell them I’d be happy to switch.