10 Outrageous Ways Movie Directors Got Performances Out Of Actors

Bringing in one of the most creative minds the industry had to offer around the time of Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind's creation, Michel Gondry's decision to keep Jim Carrey from going on one of his typically captivating improvised mad ones was ultimately a rather inspired call.

However, it was one that legitimately frustrated his leading man whilst shooting the eventually critically acclaimed 2004 hit.

While the likes of Mark Ruffalo and Kirsten Dunst were free to change things up on the fly and be "crazy" should they feel the need, the director had given Carrey strict orders to keep the joking to a minimum in order to produce a rare restrained and vulnerable performance from the usually larger than life comedy star.

In fact, there were even moments when Gondry admitted to telling Kate Winslet “Go as big as you want! This is a comedy!” in one room, only to wander into another with Carrey and claim "This is a drama, not a comedy."

And while Carrey was understandably a little miffed at the time, Gondry would confess to the pair becoming pals in the years that would follow, with the brassed off star eventually remembering the whole ordeal "as a great experience."