8 Little Known Tics In Heath Ledger's Performance That Made Nolan's Joker Awesome
6. He Directed The Joker Terrorist Videos
Second directorial units tend to focus on a films action sequences and other bits and bobs that dont involve the main cast; thats for the job of the main, first team. Christopher Nolan famously works without one, meaning he oversees every moment of shooting to ensure it fits his tight vision (and that his action scenes actually feel like part of, well, the action). But one time he did give up the directing gauntlets. And I'm sure you can guess who to.
Heath Ledger made no secret of wanting to eventually move into directing and even dabbled before his death, making a couple of striking music videos. But as with everything on his list, the reason Nolan gave him this freedom was because of his obsessive understanding of the Joker character.
Giving him the camera and little direction for the first of the Jokers video messages (the one with the fake Batman), Nolan was so impressed he didn't see any need to be on set for the second, leaving Ledger to his own devices. Well, he was either impressed, or just saw an opportunity for a break in the mammoth shooting schedule.