This is what happened when Benedict Cumberbatch and Robert Pattinson got into the mood for some movie magic.
The two actors were shooting the upcoming “Little Ashes,” a World War II drama that centers around a love affair between a middle-aged man and a young girl, when they decided to film themselves having sex. They asked director Sam Mendes to leave the set so they could indulge in some private entertainment and Mendes obliged.
After a bit of role playing, the two stars quickly undressed and laid down on a bed, with Pattinson going first and then turning over so Cumberbatch could have sex with him. They were naked for several minutes before rolling over so they could have their own little threesome. The clip, which was originally posted to Instagram, has since gone viral, racking up millions of views and almost 700,000 likes. (The New York Times, The Times, and The Telegraph have all written about it.)
If you’ve never heard of the Fresh Prince, let me introduce you. This year the actor will appear in a string of popular films, including “Toy Story 4,” which is set to be released in October and will be followed by a cameo in “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker.” (For those of you who are curious, Toy Story 4 is about Woody, Buzz, and the other Toy Stories living in the future after their owner, Andy, grows up. They must come together to save the world from a great threat.)
But before all that, let’s take a trip back in time. In 1945, Pattinson’s character was an English soldier, while Cumberbatch’s was a German Jew. Their on-screen chemistry is hot enough to melt an engine belt, so you know this was good. (Even the makeup artists couldn’t keep their eyes open during “Little Ashes.”)
The Daily Mail says the two actors were influenced by the 1996 film “Mandela: Long Walk to Freedom,” which was based on the true story of Nelson Mandela’s incarceration. (The parallels between the two are striking: Cumberbatch’s character lived through the same traumatic experience as Mandela’s, and they are both former military officers. The timing of the two films is also uncanny as both are set to be released this year.)
One of the reasons why this masturbation scene has gone viral is because of how steamy it is. (In fact, we can see the bed frame through the bathroom wall.) For those of you who are curious, the movie “Little Ashes” is five minutes of pure adult entertainment. (Mendes told The Times the whole thing was a “blur” because “we were all a little bit stoned.”)
Robert Pattinson And Benedict Cumberbatch’s On-Screen Chemistry Is Stunning
It is no secret that actors can be expensive to work with. Since they have to pay for their own food, gas, and lodging, it’s not hard to understand why they’d want to get some money back by being as productive as possible. (The only thing more expensive than a good actor is a good director. So if you’ve ever wanted to work with either of these luminaries, now might be the right time to hop into the industry.)
Since they’re two of the most popular actors of our time, it’s no surprise that people want to spend time with them. In fact, it’s quite the opposite; this week a fan petition to remove a scene from “Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker” where Rey and BB-8 have a loving nuzzle in the snow went viral. Naturally, this scene is one of the most expensive in the film. (The average production budget for a major movie is around $15 million. “Rise of Skywalker” reportedly cost an astounding $77 million to make. Can you imagine having that much money to spend on something that will never be seen by anyone? This is why you should never, ever sign a contract with a celebrity unless it’s for something you’re sure to get paid back.)
Here’s Where The Story Ends
It’s important to note that this isn’t an isolated incident. Last year, a leaked email revealed that a member of the crew for “Black Panther” had filmed several unsimulated sex scenes with unknown actors. (The crew member was fired and the film was temporarily shut down, but it eventually wrapped with a fake sex scene inserted into some of the shots.)
There is also the case of “Bohemian Rhapsody,” this year’s King George VI Prize winner for Best British Film. The biopic about Queen Elizabeth II’s favorite band was met with some criticism for using a very expensive and highly skilled horse whisperer. (The director of “Bohemian Rhapsody” had previously collaborated with the renowned William Styron on the screenplay for “The Confessions of Max Amadeus,” which won Styron the National Book Award.)
The point is that you can’t always trust what you see on screen. There is a massive difference between the story an actor tells and the story the industry wants you to believe. This is why it’s important to do your research and find out what the actual production budget was, as well as how much the executives at the studios were paid for the movie. (In the cases where the unsimulated sex scenes were included, it is possible that the horse whisperer was involved with the project for a cheaper price than the average actor. If this is the case, it’s only right that he gets some of the screen credit. This was also probably the case with the “Black Panther” crew member mentioned above. It is important to realize that even though the scenes were simulated, they still cost a small fortune to produce since good-quality horses must be used and treated well to capture the magic of real breeding.)
Why Is This Important To Know?
If we are ever going to see a true representation of the cost of cinema, we must begin with the basics: the ticket price and what we’re paying for popcorn and drinks. (Roughly 75% of the cost of a movie ticket can be attributed to food and drink. If we are ever going to see a reduction in the cost of filmmaking, it is going to be in the area of production values, not ticket prices. As they say, you get what you pay for.)
The cost of a movie ticket is, inarguably, outrageous at the moment. After several years of austerity, cinema-going has become a luxury commodity once more. As with all luxury goods, the price we’re willing to pay reflects the cost of production as well as the power the studios have over us, the audience. We’re being gouged. (I’m not going to lie to you: I spent the entire afternoon of October 16th, 2019, watching two movies for the cost of one. But that’s a story for another day.)
This isn’t a new phenomenon. Back in 1922, the French film director Louis Lucarelli lamented in the pages of The New York Times: “Cinema is a luxury, and it has become unnecessary in the light of the modern innovations in television.” Since then, cinema has seen numerous ups and downs, but one thing has remained constant: the price of a movie ticket. Indeed, as the technology has changed, so too has what we pay for cinema changed to fit the new times.
Inevitably, scandals involving misrepresentation and hidden costs arise from time to time in the movie business. “The Oscars are rigged,” proclaimed comedian and TV host John Oliver in a prominent segment on one of his podcasts. “Even the winners admit it. You can’t get an honest picture of what a movie is actually worth without getting into a bidding war.”
Oliver is partly right. The cost of making and distributing a movie is extremely high; the bar for entry is so high that only the most successful studios can afford to make a profit. (“A Good Day to Die Hard” is the highest-grossing movie of all time, earning $333 million worldwide, and a single ticket cost $12.50. If you’re wondering, Spiderman costs about $65 million to make and it has made about $15 million. So if you want to see a superhero movie, you’re going to have to pay close to $80.)
But Oliver is also spectacularly wrong about the Oscars being rigged. Since 1918, the “Oscars” have been presented annually by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to “honor exceptional achievement in film” and “motivate and inspire tomorrow’s generations of artists.” (You can learn more about the Academy at their website.)