Okay.
Forty minutes into the assembly, he says, “Wait a second. You’re the director?” And I stated, “Yeah…I’m directing the movie.” And he stated to me essentially the most surreal, weird factor. I nonetheless haven’t been in a position to make any sense out of it. He stated, “Oh, I assumed you have been a drummer.” [Shakes head] I stated, “Uhh, okay. Let’s begin speaking in regards to the movie once more.” After about 30 seconds, he stated, “I obtained to go.”
He simply walked out?
He went off and met with John Hughes and stated we wanted to satisfy once more. Then we had a dinner the place John Hughes was current, and I used to be mainly nonexistent. It was Chevy and Hughes, they usually talked about every little thing besides Christmas Trip. We spent two hours collectively, and I left the dinner and I assumed, There’s no manner I could make a film with this man. To begin with, he’s not engaged. He’s treating me like shit. I don’t want this. I’d fairly not work once more. I’d fairly write.
Do you assume he was hazing you, simply asserting dominance?
I don’t know, possibly that’s it. I assume that humorousness was humorous within the early ’70s. It’s so surreal…Who says something like that to anyone? It is not sensible. So to inform that story nearly is not sensible, however it truly occurred. I assumed, This was how we’re going to work collectively? I’m going to be on set and he’s not listening. [Representatives for Chase did not immediately respond to a request for comment.]
What did you do subsequent?
I known as John and stated, “I can’t do that. John, I want this job desperately, however I do know I can’t make film with this man and I’ll allow you to down.” And he stated, “I perceive. Utterly perceive.”
So that you walked away?
I stop Christmas Trip. The following weekend, I obtained one other script from John—and it’s House Alone. House Alone, for me, was much more private, a greater script. And I assumed, I can actually do one thing with this, and I don’t must take care of Chevy Chase. That was it. John and I began to work collectively, and we had the identical sensibility. The one distinction between the 2 of us was, John appreciated to remain up all night time and I work through the day. Once I was taking pictures House Alone, I would shoot through the day, and John wished to have script conferences at night time at his home until 4 within the morning. I used to be getting about two hours’ sleep. I had a new child!
