Late Aussie actor Heath Ledger reportedly had a horrible time on the set of the Oscar winning movie Brokeback Mountain as director Ang Lee treated him like an "alienated prop", claims producer James Schamus.
According to contactmusic.com, in a magazine tribute piece marking the first anniversary of the death, Schamus and British director Terry Gilliam both remembered how difficult it was for Ledger. Gilliam recalls getting calls from Ledger expressing his displeasure on the set.
Gilliam said: "He felt alone and isolated. I think it was his sense of not getting the kind of warm support we gave him on 'Grimm'."
But Gilliam adds: "Whatever it did, it produced an extraordinary performance."
Schamus said: "During casting, rehearsals, and pre-production, Ang (Lee) is like the warm, wise, cuddly daddy bear.
The minute he yells 'Action' on the first shot, the actors become alienated props he kind of puts up with... It's tough on actors. He doesn't yell at people or humiliate them, but it's a very tough space. Heath had very difficult days. You could really feel the pain he was going through."