Christopher Nolan has a very specific pet peeve on set: he does not want actors wearing Ugg boots between takes. The director recently explained that the rule is part of his effort to keep performers fully immersed in the world of the film, rather than reminded of everyday life.
During a July 20 appearance on CBS Mornings, Nolan told Gayle King that he sees the boots as a symbol of modern life, even if that sounds a little strange. He compared the effect to someone eating junk food off camera, saying small details like that can pull the cast out of the atmosphere he is trying to create.
The rule has reportedly come up on several of his productions, including The Odyssey, where it applied to Anne Hathaway. Nolan said he does not have anything against the footwear itself; it is simply a distraction from the period or cinematic reality he wants on set. He also noted that some actors arrive in extra-comfortable slippers because their shoes hurt, but even that can break the illusion.
Hathaway has joked about the ban before, saying Nolan spotted her in Uggs on The Dark Knight Rises and immediately shut it down. Matt Damon, who is also part of The Odyssey, teased that Nolan “hates Uggs more than anything,” while Emily Blunt has described a similar experience on another project, comparing his reaction to a stern fashion editor. According to the report, the footwear rule has become one of Nolan’s better-known set quirks.
A recurring Nolan set habit
For fans, the detail adds another layer to the director’s reputation for intense control over atmosphere and tone. Whether he is making a period epic or a superhero film, Nolan appears to treat even something as ordinary as shoes as part of the larger storytelling experience.
Source: eonline.com
