FILM HISTORY : FIFTY SHADES OF GREY

 

' There was mayhem behind the scenes '. Actress Star Dakota Johnson details ' Fifty Shades ' experience. 

In a Vanity Fair cover story, Dakota Johnson has reminisced her days on the sets of Fifty Shades of Grey, recalling the experience as a 'mayhem' behind the scenes.

The actor dished out details about her role as Anastasia Steele in the 1.3 billion - dollar trilogy which is based on E.L. James' bestselling books.

The film's first instalment, Fifty Shades of Grey made its debut in 2015 followed by Fifty Shades Darker in 2017 and Fifty Shades Freed in 2018.

Dakota shared the reason she took on the role was because of director Sam Taylor-Johnson's condensed version of the book, but revealed that author James James maintained much authority over how the film was shot. 

Johnson told the outlet, '' I signed up to do a very different version of the film we ended up making.''

In regards to the creative control exercised by James, she stated, ''She had a lot of creative control, all day, every day, and she just demanded that certain things happen. There were parts of the book that just wouldn't work in a movie, like the inner monologue, which was at times incredibly cheesy. It wouldn't work to say out loud. It was always a battle. Always.''

Reflecting on her experience, she said, '' I was young. I was 23.  So, it was scary. It just became something crazy. There were a lot of different disagreements. I haven't been able to talk about this truthfully ever, because you want to promote a movie the right way, and I'm proud of what we made ultimately and everything turns out the way it's supposed to, but it was tricky.''

Describing the chaotic filming environment, she claimed they would '' do the takes of the movie that Erika [the author] wanted to make, and then we would do the takes of the movie that we wanted to make.

The night before, I would rewrite scenes with the old dialogue so I could add a line here and there. It was like mayheim all the time.''

However, in spite of havoc caused during filming, Dakota clarified that she was still extremely grateful for her role. '' I don't think it's a matter of regret. If I had known at the time that's what it was going to be like, I don't think anyone would've done it.

It would have been like, 'Oh, this is psychotic.' But no, I don't regret it,'' she stated.

Dakota went on to finally address the application that she and her co-star, Jamie Dornan who played the role of Christian Grey did not get along on set. She said, putting the rumours to rest  for once and for all, '' There was never a time when we didn't get along. I know it's weird, but he's like a brother to me. I love him so, so, much. And we were really there for each other. We had really to trust each other and protect each other.''

She continued shedding light on how the two  ''needed to be a team'' since they ''were doing the weirdest things for years.''

The actor spoke about how things were '' different when director Taylor-Johnson was replaced by James Foley.

''Sam didn't come back to direct after the first movie, and, as a female, she had brought a softer perspective. James Foley came on to direct, and he's an interesting man. It was different doing those bizarre things with a man behind the camera. Just a different energy.

There are things that I still cannot say because I don't want to hurt anyone's career and I don't want to damage anybody's reputation, but both Jamie and I were treated really well. Erika is a very a nice woman, and she was always kind to me and I am grateful that she wanted me to be in those movies.''

The actor ended on a bitter-sweet note saying the film was ''great for our careers. So amazing. So lucky. But it was weird. So, so weird.''

The World Students Society thanks News Desk, The Express Tribune.