George Clooney Directs New Film from Bed After Covid Battle
Renowned actor and director George Clooney faced a unique challenge while working on his latest film, “The Boys in the Boat,” as he battled a severe bout of Covid-19. The 62-year-old, who contracted the virus for the first time, revealed that he directed parts of the film from his bed using an iPad.
Clooney shared his experience with People magazine, detailing the unconventional process of directing while being bedridden. His producer partner, Grant Heslov, assisted from the set, holding up the iPad for direction. Clooney recounted the atypical situation, saying, “I’m on an iPad hacking away from my bedroom. Grant was sitting on the camera, and they’d hold up the iPad to Cal, and I’d go, ‘Ah, go fast.’ I’d rasp out ‘Faster,’ whatever that was. We only had to do it for a week.”
The challenges extended beyond Clooney, with other staff members, including star Joel Edgerton, falling ill to the virus. Clooney humorously pointed out, “He went down first, by the way, in fairness. So if we’re looking for ground zero…”
The director attributed the spread of the virus to an intimate dinner with cast members, despite everyone being tested and vaccinated. The dinner, held in London, involved a small group of crew members and actors. Clooney explained, “Out of that tiny room, let’s say there were 18 people there, 17 people got Covid.”
Remarkably, actor Callum Turner managed to avoid contracting the virus. Turner shared, “Yeah, everyone one by one went down around me. It was only me and Grant that didn’t get it for some reason. It was funny. George on his iPhone directing in his dressing gown from somewhere.”
This isn’t the first time Clooney has faced health challenges. Previously diagnosed with Bell’s palsy, in 2020, he experienced excruciating stomach pains that led to a hospitalization, eventually diagnosed as pancreatitis. Despite these hurdles, Clooney continues to bring his creative projects to life, showcasing resilience in both health and filmmaking. “The Boys in the Boat,” depicting the story of the University of Washington’s underdog rowing team in the 1936 Olympics, is set to be released later this month.