In final analysis, avoiding conflict is key
February 28, 1999
BY DAVE HOEKSTRA STAFF REPORTER
Most film directors are authoritarian, but Harold Ramis believes in giving actors flexibility. He hates conflict.
``Some directors get what they want by pulverizing everyone,'' Ramis said. ``I'm a strategist. I read Sun-tsu's Art of War. I have a Zen Buddhist leaning, and I've discovered a lot of things I've always thought are in the Buddhist philosophy. My wife [Erica] spent a few years in a Zen center, and my best friend in college was a shaved-head Buddhist monk in San Francisco for 14 years.
``One wonderful Buddhist phrase is `You ride the horse in the direction it's going.' And another thing from The Art of War is `Never corner an enemy with no place to escape.' If you have to fight a battle, you've already lost. Sun-tsu says the success is in not ever engaging. So I've sort of worked from this Buddhist attachment thing.''
Ramis' laid-back nature worked in directing Robert De Niro and Billy Crystal in the new comedy ``Analyze This.'' Ramis never had directed De Niro or Crystal. He explained, ``When I was selling myself to them, part of the tension going into the project was Bob was afraid Billy would turn it into a broad situation comedy and Billy was afraid Bob would turn it into `GoodFellas,' too serious.
``I already had a successful meeting with De Niro in L.A. He knew I understood his character, but I needed to convince Billy. I think Billy was feeling a little ganged-up on. Once Bob came into the project, it was `Ooh, Bob De Niro,' and Billy felt like the forgotten man. So to Billy, I said, `Above all, comedy is the God that I serve. I know no other. I want this movie to be as funny as anything we've ever seen.' That was very reassuring to him.''