It's been just about a week since the world was hit with news of Heath Ledger's untimely death. While folks still try to come to terms with how and why he died, those who last worked with him are starting to share their thoughts. Though he wasn't the last man to direct Ledger (that was Terry Gilliam), Christopher Nolan is the director of the last feature film Ledger will ever appear in ... The Dark Knight. As he notes in an article for Newsweek, Nolan is still in the editing room, piecing together the last bits of his film with the face of a young star who died too young staring back at him each and every single day.
Nolan says, "Heath was bursting with creativity. It was in his every gesture. He once told me that he liked to wait between jobs until he was creatively hungry. Until he needed it again. He brought that attitude to our set every day. There aren't many actors who can make you feel ashamed of how often you complain about doing the best job in the world. Heath was one of them."
Nolan also shared that Heath had been working on two short films at the time of his death; that, while shooting The Dark Knight, he would bring his laptop to the set and show Nolan what he was working on. Nolan continues: "When you get into the edit suite after shooting a movie, you feel a responsibility to an actor who has trusted you, and Heath gave us everything. As we started my cut, I would wonder about each take we chose, each trim we made. I would visualize the screening where we'd have to show him the finished film-sitting three or four rows behind him, watching the movements of his head for clues to what he was thinking about what we'd done with all that he'd given us. Now that screening will never be real. I see him every day in my edit suite. I study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly."
Head over to Newsweek to read the entire tribute.
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
1-28-2008 @ 6:38PM
uforeader said...
"I study his face, his voice. And I miss him terribly."
That's a wonderful quote.
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1-28-2008 @ 8:55PM
Christopher said...
What about Brad Renfro he made better films than Heath Ledger! I'm sorry he did! Spend a night, rent several Brad films & Heath films, & look at the two!The only reason people care about Heath and make such a hullabaloo is 1) he was is in a very Over-Rated film called "Brokeback Mountain" which garned him an Oscar Nomination & 2) he will star in the new Batman film "Dark Night"! Most of Heath's films were mediocre & forgettable!!
The only 3 films of Heath's I ever liked were: "Monster's Ball", "Candy" & "I'm Not There"!
Heath has about 23 acting credits to his resume, & Brad Renfro has about 26!!
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1-28-2008 @ 9:15PM
MosquitoControl said...
No offense to Brad, but he was not a surprise. He was in trouble with drugs the moment he hit the spotlight, and that trouble never ended.
A lot of what is going on with Heath comes from two things:
1) Surprise. The public never saw this coming.
2) Timing. He was a name most people knew, but didn't really know. But everyone knew that was changing, with the attention brokeback got and the casting as the Joker. People really expected that he was a face we'd be seeing for a while.
Brad Renfro, on the other hand, is a face most people can't even place, aside from maybe a mug shot. He wasted himself.
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1-28-2008 @ 10:00PM
Aurora said...
Honestly I've just found out today that Brad passed away recently. I've been so busy online reading news about Heath's death, and I came to approach today's article about the 10-the youngest stars dead, and that's where I found out. It's sad, and I'm shocked. I think people should leave it alone who was better actor than who. It doesn't matter, they're both dead at a very young age. Press and people rumors are causing more sadness to their family. Who are we to judge any of them? At least they left name, but, how about us, nothing. So for GOD"S sake leave deads rest in PEACE. My heart goes to both's family. I feel so devestated for Heath
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1-29-2008 @ 5:09AM
daniela said...
I wish there was a way to turn back the clock Heath…and stop this from happening… One of the most talented and promising actors… so many images left unseen, so many emotions left to portray. And on top of it all, you seemed to be a genuine, nice and real person…
Wish I could turn back the clock and stop this from being true… You won my heart…talent is a most splendorous thing… I wish I could still watch you when we were both in our 60’s. Wish there was a way… My heart sunk when I first heard you were gone… And it sinks everytime I think of you… I just shake my head in sadness and disbelief...
I can´t take your face out of my mind Heath, and Gustavo Santaolalla’s “The Wings” from Brokeback’s soundtrack is playing in my head and won’t stop…Probably because it’s so sad, and so beautiful, and it reminds me of you…
Rest in peace, Heath.
This is just me, one who never met you but now feels as if she lost a very dear and close, special friend, saying goodbye…
You’ll forever be up there with the greats to me Heath…
It’s really hard letting you go…
You will be missed.
Love always,
Daniela.
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1-29-2008 @ 7:30AM
RP said...
"Christopher Nolan is the director of the last feature film Ledger will ever appear in ... The Dark Knight. "
Erm, what? As far as i know, The Imaginarium of Doctor Parnassus is still very much alive and much of Ledger's performance will remain.
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1-29-2008 @ 10:54AM
DAVID F said...
I agree with Mosquito Control....Renfro was tragic but no surprise. He's been in and out of substance abuse and legal trouble for the last decade. And WHY compare talents? They were both great actors.
I think what Erik is trying to say is that this is the last film Ledger worked on that was done with principle shooting. the film is shot. Done. Unlike Parnassus which wasn;t even halfway done.
It's gotta be tough for Nolan to be in post right now. I'm sure he'll put a "dedicated to" at the end of the film.
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