During the filming of Marty Supreme, Timothée Chalamet experienced a tense interaction with a background actor that stood out on set. The incident occurred in a motel scene where Chalamet’s character, Marty Mauser, was involved in a heated moment, leading the actor to try to provoke genuine anger from a non-actor for an authentic performance.
Struggling to Elicit Real Anger from a Background Actor
Timothée Chalamet recounted the challenge of working with non-professional actors during a January 14 Q&A event alongside Robert Downey Jr. at the DGA Theater in New York City. He explained that many background actors in the motel sequence brought excitement to the set, but getting them to emote convincingly was difficult and often required multiple takes. He described a particular scene where he was trying to provoke a background actor into anger but found the effort frustrating.
“I won’t say who, but in that motel sequence, there are a lot of non-actors that I find it really thrilling to work with,”
Timothée Chalamet said.
“but sometimes it would take multiple takes to really get something out of them.”
Despite his persistence, the actor wasn’t responding as hoped. Chalamet eventually approached the director, Josh Safdie, to express his concern about the performance.
“I’m really getting in the guy’s face and I’m really trying to get him angry with me,”
Chalamet explained, though he admitted,
“not getting angry with me, he’s not getting angry with me.”
A Surprising Revelation from the Background Actor
After multiple takes, the background actor finally responded with intensity — but not in the way Chalamet expected. The actor revealed a personal backstory, which intensified the scene beyond the scripted confrontation.
“I did another take, and then the guy said, ‘I was just in jail for 30 years. You really don’t want to f–k with me. You don’t want to see me angry,”
Timothée recalled, adding with surprise,
“I said to Josh, Holy s–t, who do you have me opposite, man?”
This raw moment lent a new edge to the film’s tension and demonstrated the unpredictable challenges when working with non-actors in emotionally charged scenes.
The Scene Behind Timothée Chalamet’s Effort
Chalamet’s character, Marty Mauser, finds himself in a precarious situation during the motel scene, which required the on-set confrontation. The story unfolds after Marty falls through the floor of his hotel room while taking a bath, despite warnings from the front desk not to do so. This mishap causes him to land on a dog and its gangster owner’s arm, sparking the frustration and anger required for the scene.
Robert Pattinson’s Hidden Role in the Film
Beyond this intense encounter, the film’s director, Josh Safdie, shared that Robert Pattinson makes a secret appearance in Marty Supreme. Pattinson, who previously collaborated with Safdie on the film Good Time, provides the voice of a commentator and umpire in the British Open semifinals scene.
“No one knows this, but that voice—the commentator, the umpire—is Pattinson,”
Josh revealed in a January 13 interview at the British Film Institute.
“It’s like a little easter egg. Nobody knows about that.”
Safdie joked about casting Pattinson, noting,
“He came and watched some stuff and I was like, ‘I don’t know any British people,’ so he’s the umpire.”
Why the Incident Highlights Challenges Filmmakers Face
This anecdote about Timothée Chalamet and the background actor illustrates the unpredictable dynamics on film sets, especially when working with non-professionals in emotionally demanding scenes. The actor’s real-life intensity brought authenticity but also tested the patience and skills of the cast and crew. It underscores the delicate balance directors and actors must maintain to deliver compelling performances while respecting the personal boundaries of everyone involved.
With Marty Supreme featuring high-profile names like Chalamet, Robert Downey Jr., and secret contributions from Robert Pattinson, audiences can anticipate a film rich in layered performances and behind-the-scenes stories. For Chalamet, the experience serves as a reminder of the intense emotional labor acting can demand, especially when seeking truthful moments in unpredictable environments.
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