In the wake of Blake Lively’s ongoing drama with Justin Baldoni, Jana Kramer and Peter Facinelli are weighing in on how actors and directors can have respectful relationships.
“I think it’s interesting because there was this big piece going around — I mean, the Blake Lively thing — but she was saying, like, ‘Oh, she likes to put her hands in everything.’ And I’m like, ‘As an actor, I think you should,’” Kramer, 41, said on the Wednesday, February 26, episode of iHeartRadio’s “Whine Down” podcast. “The last movie I did in January, it was like, ‘I just don’t know if she would say this. Like, can we tweak?’ It’s like, I think there should be a collaborative thing.”
As speculation swirled of a rift between It Ends With Us costars Lively, 37, and Baldoni, 41, in August 2024, a source exclusively told Us Weekly that the pair had “creative differences” while filming. Months later, Lively made headlines when she filed a lawsuit in December 2024 accusing Baldoni of sexual harassment. He has denied all allegations. Baldoni fired back with a $400 million lawsuit against Lively, Ryan Reynolds and her publicist, Leslie Sloane, claiming the actress was “determined to make Baldoni the real-life villain in her story.” Lively has denied the accusations.
As the pair’s legal battle continued, Baldoni alleged that Lively sent him a draft of a pivotal scene in the film — where two characters meet on a rooftop — which “dramatically differed” from the original version.
In Kramer’s mind, it’s important to be “mindful” when giving suggested edits as an actor. “I was like, ‘But I totally understand it’s your movie and, like, you wrote this and you’re so passionate about it,’” Kramer said. “I think it’s OK to be able to kind of have that voice.”
Kramer shared that “for so long” she “never said anything” and was “the puppet that went to the place.” Now, she has “a little bit more insight” and wants to have some ideas.
In Facinelli’s perspective, as long as the collaboration is done “respectfully,” he’s OK with it. (Facinelli, who has acted in films including the Twilight franchise, directed 2018’s Breaking & Exiting, 2020’s The Vanished and 2023’s On Fire.)
Related: Everything Justin Baldoni Has Said About Working With Blake Lively
Justin Baldoni initially appeared to have nothing but positive things to say about his It Ends with Us costar, Blake Lively, as reports of an on set feud continue circulating online. The drama officially hit theaters in August 2024, and Baldoni, who both directed and starred opposite Lively, has heaped praise on his onscreen partner. […]
“If I’m writing something that I’m writing, then that’s mine. If I come on board, like this movie that Jon Gunn wrote, The Unbreakable Boy, I didn’t come in with any ideas of like, ‘I’m going to rewrite your stuff,’” Facinelli, 51, said. “I’m not going to rewrite it or take over other people’s stuff. There’s definitely collaboration, like, ‘Hey, maybe this would be more fun this way.’ But I’m always respectful because I direct as well and I would never want somebody kind of taking over my stuff.”
As a director, Facinelli shared that he’s “also very collaborative” and is “all for” anything that’s a better idea. “It’s a very collaborative medium for sure,” he said. “I love actors who — if they say something that’s more interesting than what I wrote, then great. And if my writing is working, then let’s go back to that.”
Kramer added, “Full rewrites, though? No. That’s where it’s a little too much.”
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