Directing Performances to Draw Out Truth Under Extreme Conditions
Friedkin is known for pushing actors' performances to their limits. His sets were charged with tension, and he often used methods that personally pressured actors. In a famous episode during The Exorcist, he suddenly fired a pistol loaded with blanks behind actors to capture authentic-looking shock. In a scene near the end, he slapped the actor playing a priest immediately before the take, filming the stunned expression as the performance. Ellen Burstyn suffered a tailbone injury when pulled down by a wire during filming, resulting in real pain being captured on screen. Such direction, pushing performers to physical and psychological limits, provoked mixed responses, but Friedkin inherited the approach of earlier directors willing to use any means to get the shot.
A Charismatic Leader Combining Madness and Passion
In his relationships with actors, Friedkin was charismatic, combining madness and passion. While giving detailed performance plans, he highly valued genuine expressions and reactions in unpredictable situations and was intent on filming them. He publicly stated that he would not accommodate the contemporary demand for sensitivity, maintaining an uncompromising craftsman's stance. On The French Connection, he required Gene Hackman and Roy Scheider to closely observe the real narcotics detectives on whom their characters were based, even accompanying arrests of street drug dealers. These experiences brought real-world tension and physicality to performances that appeared almost documentary-like. His direction was a grueling trial for actors, but also had the effect of dramatically improving their performances.
An Exhaustive Pursuit of Realism Through Genuine Experience
Particularly notable in Friedkin's style was his insistence that actors undergo genuine experiences. On The Exorcist, he introduced reality by casting actual clergy and believers. Two actors playing priests who perform exorcism in the film were real Catholic priests, who also served as technical advisers and frequently celebrated actual Mass on set. Before filming, principal crew members and priests reportedly attended Mass and sometimes purified the set with holy water and prayer. These professionals inevitably drew the actors into a solemn atmosphere, giving ritual scenes realism beyond acting. Friedkin did not hesitate to cast non-actors when needed, devoting himself to capturing authenticity. This approach enabled performers to offer work grounded in actual experience rather than acting alone.
Outstanding Performances from Controversial Sets
Actors directed by Friedkin consequently often delivered career-best performances. Gene Hackman won the Academy Award for Best Actor for The French Connection, while Linda Blair gained worldwide recognition for her intense portrayal of young Regan in The Exorcist. Actors sometimes criticized the harsh experiences, but it is also widely acknowledged that their dedication contributed to the finished films. Called an eccentric genius or a mad filmmaker and surrounded by cult-like anecdotes, Friedkin consistently approached actors with sincere cinematic passion. Although sometimes bewildered or resistant, they ultimately reached depths of performance they had not expected. His direction was more than violent instruction: it was a calculated method for drawing out actors' full potential.
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