‘Black Swan’ director Darren Aronofsky defends Natalie Portman

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Finally! Someone who understands that true bitches need an OCD-level of detail. Darren Aronofsky, director of Black Swan, has finally made a comment about the ongoing controversy between Natalie Portman, her baby-daddy Benjamin, and Natalie’s Black Swan ballerina body-double Sarah Lane, all over who exactly did most of the dancing. Darren isn’t content to merely throw his support behind Natalie’s Oscar-winning performance. NO! Darren actually sat down with his editor and the editor counted all of the shots where Natalie is “dancing” and all of the shots where Sarah Lane is dancing. We have hard numbers, people! Here’s Aronofsky’s statement:

“Here is the reality. I had my editor count shots. There are 139 dance shots in the film. 111 are Natalie Portman untouched. 28 are her dance double Sarah Lane. If you do the math that’s 80% Natalie Portman. What about duration? The shots that feature the double are wide shots and rarely play for longer than one second. There are two complicated longer dance sequences that we used face replacement. Even so, if we were judging by time over 90% would be Natalie Portman.

And to be clear Natalie did dance on pointe in pointe shoes. If you look at the final shot of the opening prologue, which lasts 85 seconds, and was danced completely by Natalie, she exits the scene on pointe. That is completely her without any digital magic. I am responding to this to put this to rest and to defend my actor. Natalie sweated long and hard to deliver a great physical and emotional performance. And I don’t want anyone to think that’s not her they are watching. It is.”

[From Darren Aronofsky’s statement to Entertainment Weekly]

So… wait…? All of Natalie’s defenders were saying that OF COURSE everyone knew that Natalie wasn’t dancing everything herself, and the studio kept saying OF COURSE Natalie was dancing everything herself and now Darren Aronofsky is saying that Natalie did MOST of the dancing. But not all. Darren’s numbers also seem to be very similar to the numbers Benjamin Millepied gave in his LAT interview.

I don’t know. I’m still very confused, but I also find myself somewhat placated by Aronofsky. I like hard numbers. I’m a whore for hard numbers.

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105 Responses to “‘Black Swan’ director Darren Aronofsky defends Natalie Portman”

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  1. mln76 says:

    I really don’t care how much she danced or didn’t dance by percentage points, she should have had the grace to say thank you Sarah Lane.

    Just like Jeff Bridges…
    http://www.herald-review.com/news/local/article_5713edd4-22ed-11df-b777-001cc4c002e0.html

  2. Hollowdoll says:

    In my opinion she looks so much prettier with a fuller face. I agree should have acknowledged Sarah Lane. Definite faux pas. I thought she had better manners.

  3. ctkat1 says:

    I like hard numbers as well- and I think that Aronofsky’s numbers sound about right. The ballet double, Sarah Lane, was used for two of the longer dance scenes (I’m thinking the rehearsal scene where Natalie is interrupted by Mila entering the room and the scene where Natalie sprouts the black wings), and Natalie did most everything else.

    I’m still not sure what Sarah Lane is having a problem with- is it that Natalie Portman didn’t thank her during her acceptance speeches? Or is it that she felt Fox Searchlight didn’t give her the credit she felt she deserved?

    What exactly did she feel she deserved in terms of publicity/public acknowledgment for being a dance double?

    Remove your hate for Portman, and your feeling that Bening was robbed, and what do you think is fair for a body double to receive?

  4. silken_floss says:

    I’ll be glad when she lays low to have her baby. I like her, but I’m tired of seeing/hearing about her. She needs to disappear for awhile.

  5. ctkat1 says:

    @mln76- that was very classy of Jeff Bridges to thank his stand-in. However, Jeff and that man had worked together for 30+ years- I think they had a friendship and a relationship that went beyond just a one-time body double situation.

  6. DGO says:

    Natalie always said she didn’t do the hard stuff. I have no problem believing these numbers. They used camera angles and other tricks of the trade to make Natalie look believable. That’s what Hollywood does.

    And as far as Natalie mentioning this trick, she did, ad nauseum in interviews. Sarah comes across as very petty and bitter. Wonder if it’s because she’s in the same company as Millipied’s ex.

  7. silken_floss says:

    @mln76- That was such a gracious thing for him to do. Another reason why I love The Dude

  8. Tiffany says:

    Since there was not dancing throughout the whole movie and we know that the really difficult stuff was done by Lane and Portman’s head was CGI’d on her body, that means that Natalie waved her arms approx. 100 and that is considered a dance scene. Here is how I conclude this situation, to Darren and Natalie, while I am not a Harvard grad, stop thinking I’m stupid. She did not do the stuff on the level that her character(who is a professional dancer) was to potrait and thats alright, just don’t take us as fools.

  9. LittleFATMe says:

    Oh, Kaiser, I am a whore for hard things, also! 😉

  10. Relli says:

    OMG i am so tired of this story it everywhere today…………

  11. KB says:

    Why does she have to thank her? Its her Oscar for ACTING, she won it, yes she had a dance double, she probably had 20 coaches, hair, makeup, costume and a craft services lady they all helped her. you hardly hear the stunt doubles name in movies, is it ungrateful not to mention them? Sarah Lane was paid, she should have took that thank you and shut it.

    TEAM NATALIE!

  12. Solveig says:

    I was one of those who said “OF COURSE!”, and apparentely I was wrong, good to know.
    At least the “OF COURSE” ones didn’t put Natalie and Benjamin in a pyre, ready to set them on fire just because a lame dancer called Lane was in an egomaniac state of mind. Glad to know that Natalie did most of the dancing scene without claiming it or acting like she was so above us all for being so good in being believable as a dancer.
    I suppose that most of you need to take a step back and be less biased against Natalie who did nothing wrong, as Aronofsky (and I) said.

    Team Natalie, e che cazzo.

  13. N.D. says:

    I’m surprised to hear she danced the opening sequence tbh. All in all I think Darren knows better which shots made it in into the final cut and who was in them.

    @mln76, she did thank her several times in various interviews.

  14. Nanea says:

    It seems Team Portman/1000 Feet/Aronofsky is getting desperate.

    The whole thing could have been nipped in the bud with a simple Thank You and a proper mention in the credits. BM doesn’t seem to be very bright, seeing how he handled the LATimes interview.

    Contrary to what many people seem to believe, Sarah Lane is not some stunt double, but an artist in her own right, a soloist with ABT.

    As other commenters have mentioned in other threads, NP’s port de bras was wobbly, her upper body movements mediocre at best, so to bring up her dancing skills time and again makes even more people realize there must be something wrong somewhere along the way.

  15. lucy2 says:

    I don’t think you can get much clearer than that, if he went through the film shot by shot.
    I’ve never seen where the studio said she did “all” of the dancing, but if someone can point me to it, I’d happily agree they were wrong to say it. Between 80-90% certainly qualifies as “most”, I think, which is all I ever saw claimed.

  16. Lucinda says:

    This whole thing is silly. I never thought Natalie did all of the dancing. I read several articles where it was stated that she didn’t do all the dancing but that she did far more than was average. She worked very hard, transformed her body and gave an excellent performance worthy of praise. But I never once believed or felt I was being told she did all of the dancing. This is sour grapes, pure and simple.

  17. Brittany says:

    I’m surprised that Aronofsky got involved… it’s either the truth, or her really likes her and wants to work with her again. Or maybe even both.

    Why is it so hard for me to believe that Natalie is likable? lol

  18. almond says:

    I’m a whore for hard numbers, too. And I’m satisfied with what he gave us: cold, hard facts.
    So the tally is this:
    Natalie is a snob who actually did most of the dancing.
    Lane is a… bitter(?), indignant(?) ballerina who has the tact of a socially impaired turtle.

  19. LOVE ANGELINA says:

    Love Darren Aronofsky for this. People have been way to hard on Nat for stupid stuff and this is the stupidest. Can’t wait for this to be over.

  20. albeli says:

    I say they have a dance off!

    j/k

    Before I was like, so what if it wasn’t her? I understand that CGI and doubles are par for the course in Hollywood these days. I felt her performance was more about her character’s mental breakdown than her dancing.

    After hearing Aronovsky rattle off the stats, I’m actually starting to be a bit impressed by Natalie (although not deluded).

  21. sandy says:

    well, well, i was wrong, i will give her (Natalie) more credit than before, i hope this is the end of this. someone used the movie -the piano with adrien Brody, and so many others, why should Natalie thank this person for doing her job, she got paid for, she wants fame herself- Natalie did not hire her, the director or who ever hired her should thank her, she is jealous. and a trouble maker, let it go.

  22. Ron says:

    It doesn;t change the fact that Natalie delivered the PERFORMANCE and that is what made the movie, not the dancing. It’s part of it of course, but without what Natalie gave, the whole thing would not have worked. She did a great job.

  23. Rita says:

    I’ve had enough of Natalie. Time for her swan song.

  24. Flounder says:

    This whole thing is very flashdance. I’d like to hear Natalie’s input…

  25. Camille says:

    @Nanea: IAWY.

  26. Erin says:

    Team Natalie, all the way. This non-story is ridiculous, and is just a bunch of seriously bitchy snarking. Don’t like her if you don’t want to, but there was no deception. Don’t start fires where there are none – it’s silly.

  27. Liana says:

    Contrary to what many people seem to believe, Sarah Lane is not some stunt double, but an artist in her own right, a soloist with ABT

    ************

    So? She was HIRED as a dance double. That’s ALL she was on this film. Nothing more nothing less. Her being a soloist with the ABT means squat in this case, since she was not hired as anything more than a dance double. Stunt doubles are also artists in their own right, by the way.

    And I’m a little surprised by how much dancing was apparently actually Natalie. And the fact that Aronofsky copped to face replacement tells me he’s accurate.

    Ah, I see I’m still being moderated every time I post.

  28. Roma says:

    This is where I (continue) to call BS. Read the interview that Portman’s other body double gave; she makes it clear that Sarah was called into do the hard dancing and she did all the other dancing shots when Sarah had to leave.

    If everything else was Natalie, why did they need Debra?

    http://www.huffingtonpost.com/debra-levine/natalie-portmans-evil-twi_b_789564.html

  29. Gabrielle says:

    Do you think she did that planche stretch in the bedroom mirror herself? I’m a dancer and I know that stretch is really hard.

  30. Lisa Turtle says:

    Everyone wins because they’ve all bilked the film for one more shot of publicity.

    Yay Everyone!

  31. Jess says:

    I agree with KB.Thanking the dance-double would have been unnecessary, and shouldn’t be expected of her. She didn’t deny having a double, and mentioned her in several interviews. This whole story is just getting a little ridiculous.

  32. Novaraen says:

    So he counted all the shots? Which out of those 139 Natalie was in 111. Of course what he fails to mention is that a TON of those 111 shots of her were the close ups. They did careful editing to make it look (from up close) that she was actually dancing.

    STILL no one thanks the ballerina who did those 22 other shots (which are of course all the far away shots showing the difficult dance moves that Portman couldn’t possibly have done) So what if she was on pointe in that one scene??…that still isn’t dancing.

    Just say thanks to her and quit making Natalie sound like some sort of ballerina prodigy! She isn’t.

  33. WYIJM says:

    Sarah Lane has delusions of grandeur if she believes she deserves more credit for Black Swan than she got. I don’t doubt that she is an accomplished artist in her field, but for the purpose of this movie she was nothing more than a stunt double.

  34. taylor says:

    @WYIJM
    Well said. Talk about a story about nothing. I remember when the press junket took place for Black Swan both Mila and Natalie mentioned how competitive the professional ballet world was and how snarky the women could be. Even more so than anything they had experienced in the acting world. Lane, with her bitter response to the dancing was proof positive of this. At no time did Aronofsky, or especially Portman claim she did all the dancing. In fact, in several interviews Portman went into great detail about how much work it takes to be a ballet dancer, years and years of dedication, and there was no way she could have done all the dancing. There was never any intent to deceive or hide that fact. I thought Lane’s claim of 5 percent was ridiculous and totally unnecessary and self serving, for no reason other then to serve her own ego. I think the Director has a better idea then she does as to what shots were ultimately used in the film. I am glad he spoke out.

  35. TQB says:

    Team no one. I’m tired of Natalie. I’m tired of hearing about this movie that I actually wanted to see before everyone I know and respect rated it somewhere between drivel and nonsense. I saw a fantastic faux poster where they retitled the Oscar noms with what the movie was actually about, and Black Swan’s pretty much sums up this whole mess:

    “Ballet Dancers Be Crazy!”

  36. Kira says:

    Contrary to what many people seem to believe, Sarah Lane is not some stunt double, but an artist in her own right, a soloist with ABT.
    ________________________________
    Actually, stunt doubles are artists, too. They carefully choreograph every action sequence, doing the impossible. You try dangling 100 feet above ground while doing a fight sequence. And if the stuntman misses the mark, he/she ends up in the hospital or dead (it’s happened MANY times). And many stunt doubles get NO recognition EVER. I dated a stuntman once and it’s hard way to make a living. Sorry, I think they all deserve more recognition (wishful thinking in Hollywood), but just because someone isn’t in ballerina shoes doesn’t make them any less of an artist.
    ____________________________________________
    As for Natalie, she never pretended to be a prima ballerina. She did work hard to achieve the look of one. And, she has acknowledged Sarah Lane and the other double in interviews. Maybe, she should have thanked the doubles on Oscar night, but who knows how much interaction they had? The sequences could have been shot on different days? She seemed to acknowledge the people closest to her and thanked many others. It seems people are making this to be a bigger thing than it is because they dislike Natalie personally for her good luck or for winning. Oscar backlash strikes again . . .

  37. taylor says:

    @TBQ
    To each their own I suppose….I would not classify it as a mess…with 5 Academy Award nominations, one win, and a vast majority of positive reviews I would say many others saw it differently.

  38. Myra says:

    Sarah Lane isn’t a “lame dancer”. I don’t hate Natalie Portman, but there’s no reason to shit on the dancer. She was responding to Benjamin, not just hunting people down for an interview. There’s nothing wrong with what she said either. You can’t become a professional dancer in a year and a half. Unless your talent is an aberration. People have defended much worse statements.

    And she could have thanked Lane, it wouldn’t have been hard and you should thank the people who helped make you look good, which is what Lane did.

    Regarding why she didn’t thank her, Natalie probably is extremely self-absorbed, but she might have just forgotten in the moment.

  39. LadyBert62 says:

    In my opinion, the “real dancer” comes across as bitter and jealous. Natalie Portman got the oscar for her acting not her dancing. The real dancer is like a stunt double – she knew that going into the deal and is now pouting because she is not famous after the oscar win. It would have been gracious for Natalie to thank her at the Oscars but it probably slipped her mind in the excitement of the moment. That dancer should grow up.

  40. nik says:

    now everyone is going to thank their double for fear that the truth will come out.

    team nat

  41. Hmmm says:

    Would it have been so difficult for Oscar nominees and winners simply to graciously acknowledge this dancer’s contribution, NOW? How hard is that? This thing would have blown over. Now, it’s just dramarama. Hmmm….

  42. K-MAC says:

    love me some DA for standing up for his actors!!! And I love me some CB for being OCD! You are hilarious!

  43. Flan says:

    I don’t know what that body double is complaining about. Being a body double was her job and Natalie’s acting impressed me not because of the dancing she did, but the intensity of her face.

  44. Juu says:

    That prologue’s final shot was definitely Natalie. She was BOUNCING on pointes.

  45. N.D. says:

    @Myra Lane made those claims back in December, it’s BM who reacted on the negative buzz she created, not the other way around.

    And she wasn’t involved in editing, wasn’t she? She couldn’t possibly have a precise knowledge of who had got how much screen time in the final cut. Especially that there was other dance double involved. She spoke out of her ass tbh.

  46. Jamie says:

    I have the same fear, nik.

    Hmmm, it also would have blown over if the body double hadn’t brought it up at all. Like someone else said, she already made these claims back in December. I remember that distinctly. There was absolutely no need to bring it up again. The only reason people are debating over this is because Sarah Lane started talking about it again. Otherwise, it would have blown over a while ago.

    Flan, I completely agree with you. Sarah Lane’s job was to be a body double and she got paid for that, didn’t she? Natalie got the Oscar for her acting performance (and this is coming from someone who didn’t even see the film, but I have seen clips of it here and there), not her dancing.

    That’s the impression I get as well, N.D.

    I’m not even a fan of Natalie’s, so I’m not being bias in my opinion here. Truth be told, I’m quite indifferent about her to be completely honest with you. But, I find this whole situation absolutely ridiculous and I’m glad to finally see some hard numbers.

    The situation definitely could have been handled better by everyone involved, but when you’re in show business this is how things work. If you have a hard time with that, then don’t agree to be a double for someone. It’s as simple as that. Just my opinion, of course.

  47. gloaming says:

    I don’t recall any interview with anyone including DA stating NP did 100% of the dancing – far from it actually. Even her own interviews on Letterman etc she said she trained for a year or so, but only that long as the production hadn’t got the money together for the movie, she left everything to the last minute.

    But kudos to Darren for standing up for his Actress.

    Now I want a statement from him citing the real reason he’s dropped out of Directing The Wolverine*

    I don’t believe it’s family circumstances like he said, maybe it’s the financial succsess of Black Swan, maybe he dodged a bullet, maybe he isn’t too keen on spending a year in Japan after an earthquake, tsunami and nuclear disaster but I’m gutted he’s not doing anything soon.

    *really crappy title for a movie.

  48. Totally Do says:

    But didn’t Natalie have two dance doubles? So those numbers can’t possibly be correct because he split all the dance scenes between only two people while there were actually three involved.

  49. becky says:

    hey love angelina! havent heard from u in a minute!
    that reminds me, innocents been awful quiet lately. that must mean bad shits about to go down

  50. Hmmm says:

    @Jamie,

    Usually I might agree. But who has all the power? Would it have killed them to give the low person on the totem pole her due? As I understood it, she felt that they were dissing all the incredible labour that goes into being a real ballet dancer. I’m glad she spoke up. The little people rarely do, because they get labelled as whingers. While the powers that be expect as their due an attribution of pure intent.

  51. Shay says:

    The idea of her turning into a ballerina in a year is preposterous. Sure, doubles are never in the credits (see Flashdance), but to practically make out that Natalie Portman did everything is bullshit as well.

  52. LOVE ANGELINA says:

    Hey Becky. I have been like a bee. *waves* Still come to catch up on my celeb gossip though.

  53. Jelie56817 says:

    HA! Lets see this Sarah Lane ever get a job as a body double again! Big time FAIL for a simple body double!

    Sarah was in a great Oscar wining movie and could have used that as a wonderful addition to her resume…but NOW! I honestly doubt her prior employers would ever recommend her. Or for that matter with the bad press and “taint” she tried to put on the Oscar winner, NO ACTRESS will want to work with her again!

    Sarah was stupid in doing this, she lost her self a career. Her petty “acting on hurt pride” is going to cost her more in the long run than what the movie may or may not have credited her for. Thats how I see it anyway.

  54. So-and-so says:

    Ooooo child-raping-Polanski apologist Aronofsky says Portman did amost all the dancing in his crappy movie. I guess that’s that! I’m just waiting for Portman’s baby daddy to cheat on her like he did on the girlfriend he was living with when he knocked her up.

  55. Chris says:

    @mln76: Why would Jeff Bridges thank Sarah Lane?

    But seriously if not thanking a dancer is the worst thing Portman ever does then she’s doing pretty well.

    Team Hershlag

  56. Snarky_Pup says:

    Oh, Natalie, go away! Even if you did do most of the dancing (still highly unlikely and of course Aronofsky will say you did at this point) the fact remains that most people just don’t like you.

  57. viper says:

    I only feel for the dancer in this one – Jeff Bridges did a really great thing and it only make me love this man more. Why wasn’t Portmans double recognized? Do people think stunt doubles are just objects you use then discard? Hell Megan Fox had a stunt double for TF1 and 2 and her double is a SCHOOL TEACHER. These people deserve to be respected in Hollywood they sometimes die just give the audience a good time.

  58. kasper says:

    Well I guess Aronofsky is playing with semantics — counting Portman’s flustered duck flapping as dancing. But enough about Portman, the real controversy is Ballet K-Fed’s choreography. It looked like the friggin Ice Capades, he must give fantastic head because there is no other explanation for him getting work.

  59. N.D. says:

    @Shay “to practically make out that Natalie Portman did everything is bullshit ”

    Well, when you remember that most of the dancing in the movie were basicaly waving her arms around and close-ups of her face, I think it’s not so impossible to believe Darren and Co.

  60. futureperfect says:

    Ok, maybe the point is: the reason people believed it was Portman is because Sarah is not all that good. On the other hand, it might just be the choreography.

  61. Sue says:

    Of course director Darren Aronofsky had to come to Portman’s defends the producer’s portrayed Portman as a prodigy who became a premier ballerina over night during award season and Natalie went along with this lie. They are not going to back track now when she’s won so many awards for the movie so they’re going to cover their asses. Unfortunately for them no one believes their lies the public at large is not stupid we have eyes.

    Someone should tell Benjamin and Darren Aronofsky face shots and close ups don’t count as doing 85% of the dancing.

  62. lili says:

    oh, please – look at her body (in the movie) – she did not dance anything with those short stubby limbs. I went to countless ballet performances and you never see a ballerina with a body like that. Read the interview with Kimberley Prosa….Look at the body proportions in the non-dancing shots of NP and her dancing shots – these are not her legs. Her legs are much shorter.

  63. Matt says:

    OMG what a storm in a teacup.

    Sarah Lane – STFU.

  64. wunderkindt says:

    It could be 111 still shots of Portmans foot wearing a pointe ballet shoe!

    Quantity does not equal artistic quality.

    The other qualitatively important shots could be of the real ballerina moving around, doing something that got Portman an Oscar.

    So how many shots there are has nothing to do with the perception which was created re Natalie being a ‘prodigy’ and having done all the dancing.

    These ‘hard data’ number can be used to deceive and to confuse the matter in order to create ‘reasonable doubt’.

    Of course the director is going to defend ‘his’ actor! He’s financially tied to her success.

    He sounds like she’s already on trial for artistic fraud and he’s trying to testify in her defense.

  65. Confuzzle says:

    Is this mediocre movie coming out on DVD this week, is this why it’s getting all this pimping?

  66. Amy says:

    Wait is he claiming the feet/toeshoes we see in the opening shot of the movie are Natalie’s? She did all that complicated footwork in the opening scene? Is that what he means by the prologue?

  67. jane16 says:

    Well, hopefully, we can put a lid on this controversy, its almost as tedious as the movie. For myself, I doubt his numbers, and think the Black Swan people would have looked classier if they weren’t constantly trying to make the ballerina look like a liar. Yes, we saw her acting like a ballerina throughout the movie, but I don’t believe any of the real dancing scenes were NP. I think they would have looked better if they had laughed off Benjamins original statement as being that of a proud partner, and stated that yes the ballerina did all the hard stuff and they really appreciated her dancing work. Nat could have sprouted wings and floated over the stage, and I still would think her acting performance was shrill and over the top. Still, she has her oscar, she’s having a baby, and i wish her well.

  68. Goobie Gillis says:

    As far as I know the ONLY mention Sarah Lane gets is as a ‘hand model’?

    This is a desperate cover up of an obvious misportrayal as Natalie being gifted at dance. I see the whole team who ‘did’ benefit from the award desperately trying to keep the truth from being revealed.
    Sarah Lane was given no credit and then they tried to cover it up. It’s funny how Natalie gets special treatment in Hollywood…? Anyone ever wonder WHY?

  69. Flan says:

    Just thought about: if this body double already complained in December, why do people still feel Natalie should thank her?

    If she wants recognition for her ballet work, she should do ballet performances, not double in movies.

    @Jamie: you’re totally right, I’m not a fan of Natalie as well, though I like her better than the Jessica Biel-types .

  70. usagichan says:

    It’s just cruel to wish infidelity on anybody. He may/may not have cheated on his ex but why would you want him to cheat on the mother of his would-be child. So it’s bad to have him cheat on his ex but TOTALLY fine for him to cheat on Natalie?

  71. jane says:

    Wow, this debate continued?

  72. jenn says:

    What a load of stank. Aronofsky’s the typical manipulative director. What they are calling “dancing” are the scenes of Porman stretching, and arm flapping. And striking ending poses. Sure, ok. 90 percent, hey make it 99 percent. Even Portman walking down the alley and eating breakfast was actually “dancing” too did you know that?
    They still get my props for skillfully avoiding calling Sarah Lane a “dance double” by calling her a “hand model” and “stunt person” instead. hahhaha.

  73. Venus says:

    @Jenn — ITA — he is counting every scene that Natalie is in stretching and counting that as “dancing.” He is full of it. It is pretty pathetic, IMO, that he is claiming to have gone through the film & “counted” the shots — and to anyone who believes his “hard numbers,” I’ve got a bridge to sell you.

  74. Venus says:

    PS — She “exits the scene en pointe” isn’t DANCING. For the love of dog, anyone can put on a pair of pointe shoes and bouree (badly and without turnout) on their toes for a few seconds, but I wouldn’t call it DANCING BALLET, Mr. Lying Director. The fact that this guy is calling exiting the scene en pointe “dancing” should tell you all you need to know about how many “scenes” Natalie “danced” in.

  75. Micki says:

    Natalie is not likable.
    Sarah Lane had probably PMS while giving the interview.
    Hard numbers are good.
    Actors and not doubles sell a film.
    Whoever wants to see dancing should go to ballet.
    And if I want to see a story I go to a movie.
    Is there something else to be said? LOL

  76. Micki says:

    And ladies if I have to choose I still would see Portman’s movie over Aniston’s.

  77. hatekyle says:

    it’s no brainer that the director and production company will defend their “star” because their credibility is also at stake here. but no matter what they say, it was a “dance character” that natalie portrayed. the dancing enhanced the development of her character. without the ballet sequences, she would look like an idiot. in other words, her “oscar win” won’t happen either. i bet the faux pas of not giving the merit to the ballerina double was just as intentional as how the studio campaigned for that “undesrved” best actress award. nuff said

  78. jaye E says:

    @usagichan…THANK YOU!

  79. there’s something about this that makes me think Darren altered the hard numbers. I love hard numbers too. that’s what keeps me going. before I see the numbers – there’s no talk. glad he mentioned duration. BUT he sounds like Natalie was so good and body double did so little work – it’s like WHY DID THEY EVEN NEED A BODY DOUBLE?? if they needed a body double at any point this means there were really complicated sequences which a professional performed and must be praised for their hard work.

  80. N.D. says:

    Here is the longer video that explains the CGI, the one that everyone claims was taken off the net.

    http://joshb-log.blogspot.com/2011/01/cgi-of-black-swan.html

  81. di butler says:

    Who cares about the dancing? When are we getting the apology for the one dimensional acting and facial expressions? If Mila, Barbara H, and Winona hadn’t been in the movie, it would have sucked way worse.

  82. Ally says:

    This all ties to back to, the last couple decades, the acting Oscars being mostly awarded like some athletic competition, and not an artistic endeavor:
    – who gained/lost the most weight;
    – who had the biggest nose prosthetic;
    – who learned to limp convincingly;
    – who lived some awkward lifestyle as ‘training’
    – who trained in some actual sport.

    Sadly, that’s what wins Oscars of late, not whose performance was most subtle, most true, and most emotionally affecting.

    Consequently, that’s what the ads and Oscar campaign for Black Swan were built on (plus the kind of idiotic “Wow!” stuff the entertainment shows love to cover): look how much weight the actresses lost and how they learned to dance in record time. It’s intelligence-insulting to now pretend it doesn’t matter how well Portman was able to perform as a dancer, when they rode those claims to massive publicity and Oscar nominations/wins.

    It’s a stupid way to get attention for actors and stupid as a reason to give out acting awards, but the Black Swan troupe went with it, so they should just take it on the chin now that it’s being pointed out how little of the PR was justified in fact.

    But we can all look forward to the countless movie and ballet bloggers doing their own Black Swan math!

  83. olivia says:

    Clever to gin up some phony controversy as the movie’s set to come out on DVD…

  84. Martin says:

    As an engineer, I work with NUMBERS every day – I like hard numbers. Hell, I LOVE HARD NUMBERS.

    I hate whiny ass bitches, like Sarah Lane, whom should be contractually penalized for her comments.

    Haven’t we had enough of non-professional conduct from stunt doubles (wannabe actors) whom SCREAM for attention LONG AFTER THE FACT?

    Had I drafted Sarah Lanes’ contract for the Black Swan, there would have been language (in it) that financially penalized her for any and every inaccurate statement she makes. For example, one inaccurate statement would cost her 10%; two would cost her 30%, three would cost her 60%, four would cost her an attorney and a seat in U.S. DISTRICT COURT!!!

  85. Martin says:

    Go back to your DISH, Sarah Lane!

  86. Addie says:

    If all the pr that followed to promote this movie focused more on her ACTING work and less on the ‘Oh, you are an amazing dancer’ nonsence, Then this might have been avoided.

    @Could be a trick:BUT he sounds like Natalie was so good and body double did so little work – it’s like WHY DID THEY EVEN NEED A BODY DOUBLE??

    Exactly!! Infact, why did they need TWO body doubles, if only a tiny part of the dancing would be done by anyone other than Natalie.

    Am not buying what DA or that KFed2 are saying.

  87. wunderkindt says:

    The only person who should be penalized is Natalie for taking credit-and an award-under false pretenses. Portman stole credit for another artists’ dance-acting work!

    @Martin

    ‘Hard numbers’ can be manipulated. (I am sure you know this since you’re educated) They arent ‘proof’ regarding artistic performances. Art isnt a quantitative endeavor-that’s why it’s Art and not bean counting. Artistic quality must be taken into consideration.

    Dilettante ‘dancer’ Portman didnt turn into what she led everyone to believe after only one year of ballet stretches and trying on pointe ballet shoes! That is why she required a professional ballerina to do all the signature moves for her character. ‘Dance’-believe it or not, is not ‘mindless’-it involves planning, acting and interpretation.

    Professional ballerinas dance ‘in character’ and are very invested in thier art performances. They are Artists. Maybe nobody is taking into consideration that the dancer is also acting as the Swan. (Yes, acting!)Therefore Natalie’s character was also built out of Sarah’s acting/’in character’ dances.
    For a professional ballerina, dance is much more than just moving your feet around on stage!

  88. Liana says:

    For myself, I doubt his numbers, and think the Black Swan people would have looked classier if they weren’t constantly trying to make the ballerina look like a liar.
    ************

    Maybe she should have taken her paycheck for the job for which she was hired and gone back to the ABT without spouting off. Bottom line is that film is a medium in which you suspend your belief or disbelief and enter a story driven fictional world. Percentages of who did what are unnecessary and ridiculous.

    I’m a production and director’s assistant. I do a lot of work. When I assist a director, I often block and prep shots. Sometimes I assist in setting up scenes. When I’m doing a directorial internship, I might even get to direct a second or third unit scene. So does that mean I should get credit as a director? Not in my world. I’m paid to do a specific job, I do it, and that’s that.

    I am not a fan of Natalie Portman (for personal reasons) and I really didn’t get the hype of “The Black Swan,” didn’t care for it, actually. And I thought Nicole Kidman should have won the Academy Award. But I think this whole “scandal” is a tempest in a teapot and ridiculous.

  89. Eve says:

    I agree with Tiffany (# 8), Venus (# 73 and 74), Abbie (# 86), Wunderkindt (# 64 and 87), Ally (# 82) and Hatekyle (# 77). But Sue (# 61) summed it up pretty well. They’re not going to backtrack now that the movie’s (and everybody involved) “reputation” is at stake.

    Hard numbers can be manipulated — I really don’t buy this crap that the head replacement was used in only two scenes. Aronofsky probably counted her arm flapping among the 111 shots, the real dancing, however, was Lane who did it. Like someone else said above, they (studio, director) advertised the idea that she was some sort of prodigy and her campaign suggested/implied that, now they’ll do everything to make whatever they claimed was true.

  90. Martin says:

    @wunderkindt

    Thanks for the edification, wunderkindt. :o)

    Educated or not, my 7 year old daughter could quantify the HARD NUMBERS provided by the director.

    Empirically speaking, I am in complete agreement with you. Of course, my comment, while clearly overzealous, in my opinion, may be considered more quantitative than empirical.

    I support the director emphasizing the HARD NUMBERS in a quantitative manner as it relates to “time on screen” versus “artistic quality, style or appearance” in some subjectively weighted manner.

    It seems reasonable to conclude that Natalie’s stunt double(s) was(were) paid for talent and perhaps for the number of seconds on screen.

    That being said, I say again, had I drafted Sarah Lanes’ contract for the Black Swan, there would have been language (in it) that financially penalized her for any and every inaccurate statement she makes. For example, one inaccurate statement would cost her 10%; two would cost her 30%, three would cost her 60%, four would cost her an attorney and a seat in U.S. DISTRICT COURT!!!

    A few pennies more than two cents,

    Martin

  91. TQB says:

    @Taylor, the “mess” I was referring to was this ridiculous publicity-seeking squabble over “who’s leg is that?” And I repeat, Ballet Dancers be Crazy.

  92. Macey says:

    NP and this movie are so over-rated its not funny. Im already sick of her and the movie really wasnt all that. It was okay but nothing worth watching again. I only bothered watching it b/c Mila was in it. NP same facial expression throughout the film was the most annoying part of the movie even tho i know that was her role.
    I think they’re drumming up hype so ppl buy the DVD to count the scenes themselves.

  93. J says:

    I think the whole ballet sucks in the film anyway, thus, I can’t understand why anyone would fight for the credits.

    Is that you, Sarah, who dances the ballet? Really, as a professional dancer? I think you might as well let the Natalie actress take the credits.

  94. anonymous says:

    Lili March 28th: You hit the nail on the head, NP stubby legs, I don’t understand why the producers or promoters of Black swan continue to spin this silly tale about NP dancing skills.NP does not have the body structure of a ballet dancer, it was plain as day on the movie screen,a movie double was used, the movie was still good. Why is the producer trying to fool the public we aren’t fools out here. Early on they were pushing her for an oscar, see the lies are finally catching up to them.

  95. cuchulain says:

    I am more interested in the CURSE of female Oscar winner’s losing their whiny men;I bet t this one will vanish like a virgin on prom night!I hope she is smart enough to protect her assets from this guy.

  96. Gabi says:

    apart from the discussions I was so impressed by this film! The suspense was huge and I admire the actress achievement! In my opinion Natalie Portman really deserve the oscar!

  97. Johnny Depp's Girl says:

    Why is this a big deal?

  98. TY says:

    Natalie danced 111 of 139 scenes, and Sarah 28. Natalie’s scenes were mostly head or upper body shots. (waving her arms around in port de bras etc without showing her lower body,). Sarah’s beautiful dancing in the other 28 scenes were most of the footwork and full body shots – Dancing is a FULL-BODY ART FORM.Confusing what is REAL dancing (full body dancing) and what is dance-ish (upper body moving the hands around like most kids do).. It was altered by the director to look good on film and he did a good job with it but.. that doesn’t change the nature of WHAT REAL DANCE IS..So yes, SARAH did dance 90% percent of the footwork and full body shots, and natalie danced 85% of the TOTAL upper body!! Once again the directors statements are DISCREDITING Sarah’s role.
    This would not be happening if the studio hadn’t endlessly hyped Portman’s dance study and the lie that she did almost all the dancing herself. She should have been honest-she did the acting, Lane did the dancing.
    NATALIE IS REALY GREAT ACTRESS ISN’T THIS ENOUGH NOW?

  99. Max says:

    Aronofsky needs to adjust his statement. He says of 139 shots, 111 were Natalie; 28 Sarah.
    What about second dance double Kimberly Prosa? According to that math Kimberley did 0 shots. That would contradict this statement from Kimberly Prosa:
    Says Prosa: “Natalie took class, she studied for several months, from the waist up is her. Sarah Lane a soloist at ABT, did the heavy tricks, she did the fouéttes, but they only had her for a limited time, a couple of weeks, so I did the rest of whatever dance shots they needed.”

  100. Karla says:

    The Oscars often reward actors who undergo some hardship for a role. Hollywood enjoys that whole suffering for art thing. So, much was made pre-Oscars of how much Portman trained and how difficult and grueling it all was, all to foster the illusion that she was so talented, smart, and determined that it was possible for her to master such advanced technique in such a short time. Of course this was total nonsense, she didn’t master the advanced technique, the double performed all the complicated moves. Not that anyone would have expected her to be able to dance Swan Lake after training for a year, because of course that’s impossible no matter how smart, determined and talented someone might be. So they hired a professional dancer, and used computer face-replacement to put Natalie Portman’s head on her body for all the full-body dance shots. This wouldn’t have been a big deal except that Portman and the filmmakers were disingenuous about it to begin with.
    Why can’t they just give the dancer credit and recognition?
    She did do the scenes that drew in the audience and she should recive credit for her talent. She’s also an artist – solist at ATB !!!!

  101. AAx says:

    It is physically IMPOSSIBLE for an adult woman to train in ballet to this extent of ability in 1 1/2 yrs.IMPOSSIBLE.There is years and years of extensive strength building involved that must begin in early childhood to gain this sort of fluidity and grace and strength in ballet.Arm positions and simple pirouettes and the warm up stretches are all about what Ms. Portman did in this movie. There is NO way possible she could have trained to dance en pointe in one year and half. NO WAY. And no, I do not deny her acting ability and her deserving the award she’s been given for acting in this movie. She is to be commended. However a big part of the movie was watching the beauty of the dance…which in all cases came strictly from the dance body double…I didn’t even know her name…all I know is she dances like an angel and deserves recgnition of some type.
    The least Natalie could have done was give credit where credit is due to Sarah Lane.

  102. truetalk says:

    sarah lane may sound bitter but she’s probably seconded by other dancers because before she came forth i believe d oscar promo made it sound like natalie did most of d dancing because she worked really hard;they downplayed d dancing double part. even though natalie portman won d oscar for her acting,that false impression played a big part in a lot of people’s admiration and strong support for her.
    it insulting to any profession or art that takes decades to perfect and not just ballet.

  103. harfang says:

    I know a little about actual ballet from dancers — not much, but enough to recognize what Natalie put her body through. She wasn’t just emaciated in that movie; she also had serious lean muscle that came from hard physical work. And it was clear to me that she was genuinely en pointe multiple times. I didn’t need convincing, but
    I believe Aronofsky. With this kind of film, it’s normal for the director to be genuinely passionate about their lead, and vice versa. There’s a certain amount of emotional sacrifice involved on both sides. I buy what he’s putting forth.

    @Aax I know she didn’t do anything really advanced, but the exercises etc. were honestly good enough for me in terms of overall authenticity from the actor. I agree that Lane should have gotten more credit; however, it’s not like this was volunteer work for her, and if you don’t want to get screwed by a big-budget high-profile film, you seriously need to read the fine print or make some minor demands. Major studios no longer make true art; they sell semblances of it. I take this for granted.

  104. harfang says:

    @Aax I know she didn’t do anything really advanced, but the exercises etc. were honestly good enough for me in terms of overall authenticity from the actor. I agree that Lane should have gotten more credit; however, it’s not like this was volunteer work for her, and if you don’t want to get screwed by a big-budget high-profile film, you seriously need to read the fine print or make some minor demands. Major studios no longer make true art; they sell semblances of it. I take this for granted.

  105. M.T says:

    Ballet routines demand knows that it takes years to master them. In no way could Natalie Portman have become even marginally proficent in one year of study no matter how many hours a day she worked. I too saw the movie and loved it but I was made very much aware each time Natalie was featured in a Ballet position on screen. The least Natalie could have done was give credit where credit is due to Sarah Lane. After all, it is a movie and the public knows that what we see on screen is always make believe. Shame on you Natalie! You are a consumae professional perfomer an should have acted with more integrity than this.