Taraji P. Henson Fought To Have Drivers Take ‘The Color Purple’ Cast To Set

[hewontgo]

Taraji P. Henson Fought To Have Drivers Take 'The Color Purple' Cast To Set: "They Gave Us Rental Cars" https://t.co/8XlKcUe4RD
- Deadline Hollywood (@DEADLINE) January 7, 2024
Taraji P. Henson is criticizing that production had the cast drive themselves to the set

Comments

mother

[kanonot]

[ionadelfina]

I thought that was usually the standard?

[_kleptomane]

Mostly is. A lot of actors, from beginning to a-list drive themselves. They usually have the option of driving themselves with mileage reimbursement, getting a car for the duration of the shoot, or getting a driver. There isn't a set standard or SAG or something rule as far as I know. I think the issue here is that based on the location she felt it would have been more secure to have them be driven to set, or given the option to which is fair. Especially given the context of the notoriety of the producers, and that it's a 100 million budget film.

[iznanassi]

i think it depends? my experience was if it's someone not from the area they tend to default to having a driver

[alexlover14]

In the UK (in Scotland anyway) we would accommodate them and have cast drivers to collect them for their call time and be on stand-by on shoot days, but we also have reliable public transport so they can get around on their off-days without a vehicle rental. Especially if they are on set for 14/15 hour days.

For A-list or top billing actors, they would usually have deal where they have a driver to themselves (so they can go straight back to their accomm or share their car with day-players.

Crew on the other hand - lol fucking drive yourself mate (is the attitude)

[v_is_for_violet]

Hmmm on the one hand this sounds kind out out of touch and entitled like “regular” people drive themselves to work in “dangerous” areas every day and they are just fine but on the other hand if having the principal cast be driven to set on major motion picture is an industry standard(I honestly don’t know) then she’s right to complain

[curdlesnoots]

Yeah like it would be easy to dismiss this as first world problems but if they’d do it for a majority-white cast then…this feels like the sort of thing studios would spin to make her seem difficult when really it’s about equality.

[evilyn_1007]

Yeah, my immediate reaction was not the same as when she was talking about pay inequality. Even though this seems to be part of the same conversation.

[cheerspinkears]

See, as somebody with driving anxiety, I read the whole “dangerous” and “insurance liability” thing about driving in Atlanta to be more about her being expected to drive herself in an unfamiliar area on unfamiliar highways. That CAN be dangerous af.

Highways vary so much from state to state (stoplights on the freeway in LA??) and some people really drive like they don’t give af if they live or die so I would want a driver too.

[phililen3]

Why would you want major actors of your movie driving themselves around? That would make me nervous as a producer. Especially a movie costing 100 mil.

Plus, I heard Atlanta people drive like they're possessed.

[josiefier]

Not possessed, just stupid

[skeetertuskin]

but how is having a driver any less dangerous on the road? like i just fail to understand the logic of driving yourself being "an insurance liability" over being driven by someone. unless they're asking actors to ski boat to the locations, every means of travel is a liability risk when you think about it.

and in this climate, producers are thinking about keeping the costs as low as possible so that the budget won't go over the already astronomical 100 mil (i don't understand how/why this particular movie with no CGI and extravagant sets would cost so much), which is why they replied with "well if we do it for you, we'll have to do it for everyone". securing private cars and drivers for every actor every single day can drive up costs like a motherfucker so it's really not a question of a-listers vs. co-stars. i think taraji is coming off a bit tone-deaf here but i can understand her frustration having been mistreated for so long that even the slightest downgrades can feel as disrespectful or personal.

[hiimtish]

Because that’s their job, to drive. Like their only work task for the day is to be a professional driver, not be a tired actor driving unfamiliar roads who then has to start their job.

[craww]

I've seen the way people drive in Atlanta so she's not kidding. Worst I've ever seen, even worse than NYC.

[peddlestools]

can't be worse than miami

[callonme_84]

Can’t be worse than Jersey 🫢

[reasontorhyme]

Maryland!

I am convinced they just let anyone with a pulse drive.