12/27/21: An Interview with Barry Sonnenfeld | SmartLess w/ Jason Bateman, Sean Hayes, Will Arnett
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On-Set Tensions
Barry Sonnenfeld shares his experiences with on-set tensions, illustrating how he navigated disagreements with actors like Tom Sizemore. He recounts a memorable incident on the set of "Big Trouble," where he had to fire Sizemore for trying too hard to be funny, despite agreeing to follow Barry's direction 1. Barry also reflects on his past tendency to yell, particularly during the filming of "Men in Black," and how he learned to manage his anger after a pivotal moment with his wife 2.
They felt bad before you yelled at them. They knew they screwed up, but now by you yelling at them, they get to feel that you're the asshole instead of them screwing up.
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This realization led him to stop yelling altogether, though it resulted in him suffering from sciatica due to repressed anger.
Sciatica Struggles
Barry Sonnenfeld discusses his battle with sciatica, a condition exacerbated by stress and tension during film productions. He describes a breakthrough moment on "Men in Black 3" when expressing anger at a producer led to a temporary relief from his pain 3. Barry attributes his sciatica to "unconscious narcissistic rage," a concept he learned from Dr. Sarno, and emphasizes the importance of expressing emotions to alleviate physical symptoms 3.
I can walk. My sciatica had all gone away, and I could literally walk. And I had no pain because I expressed that anger.
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Despite his efforts to manage the condition, Barry acknowledges the ongoing challenges it presents, highlighting the complex interplay between emotional and physical health.
