Movies

Blake Lively’s former director details her behavior during first acting job amid Justin Baldoni legal war

BBG News

It’s been 20 years since The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants was released.

Twenty years on, the friendships among Carmen (America Ferrera), Lena (Alexis Bledel), Bridget (Blake Lively), and Tibby (Amber Tamblyn) remain as solid as ever.

Now, the film’s director Ken Kwapis, 67, is sharing his insights into Blake’s first film at age 16.

Reflecting on People, Kwapis found it tough to envision any other face for Bridget except that of Blake Lively, despite the fact that it was her debut role.

In my perspective as a lifestyle expert, I’d say, “At just sixteen years old, she walked into the audition room and left everyone spellbound. Her natural affinity for the character was palpable – it was almost as if she had been living this role her whole life.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d say I crafted an ingenious method to help four budding stars establish a strong connection swiftly, as we were required to shoot scenes from both the movie’s start and end straight off the bat, leaving little room for traditional bonding.

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The difficulty lay in the fact that these four performers hadn’t worked together previously for this movie, and their characters didn’t share many on-screen moments.

Essentially, Kwapis pointed out that the group appears at both the start and finish of the movie; they serve as the opening and closing acts.

The task I faced during pre-production was figuring out a method to bring these four actors closer together and make them long-time friends swiftly.

One approach I took was designing activities intended to strengthen their relationship. I previously shared this method in my book, where I gave each of the four actors around $75-$100 and instructed them to shop at a thrift store for something that aligned with their characters and also provide guidance to the others in character as well.

The director of License to Wed explained that this method was an engaging alternative to traditional rehearsals, allowing them to practice scenes without explicitly doing so.

The activity provided them with the opportunity to develop a secret code that reinforced their bond, as if they had been friends since childhood.

And it worked! The young women developed a bond and remain friends to this day.

Kwapis remarked, “It’s truly extraordinary, and it’s quite uncommon in the entertainment industry. I believe that in the world of show business, connections are often intensely passionate but brief, leading individuals to eventually part ways.

In a unique turn of events, these four individuals formed a group, portraying four close-knit friends on screen. Interestingly, their camaraderie extended beyond the set, and they continue to be genuine friends. Indeed, such lasting bonds are quite special and delightful, as Kwapis points out.

The seasoned director has also kept in touch with the ladies.

He stated that he regularly communicates with some people and enjoys their company immensely. Furthermore, he expressed his desire to collaborate with them in the future.

Additionally, Blake’s fellow actors voiced their backing during the ongoing court case with her It Ends With Us castmate and director, Justin Baldoni.

Together on Instagram, Tamblyn, Ferrera, and even Bledel (who doesn’t usually use the platform), shared a joint statement that bore their collective signatures.

I expressed my backing for my sibling, Blake, in a post’s description, adding a red heart emoji and my first name to show solidarity.

For more than two decades, we have been friends and family to Blake. Today, we stand united with her in strength and support, as she bravely confronts the alleged smear campaign aimed at tarnishing her good name.

During the production of “It Ends With Us,” it was noted that she found the strength to request a secure working environment not only for herself but also for her coworkers.

They went on to express their dismay upon discovering the deliberate and malicious actions taken to undermine her credibility, they added.

Three actresses additionally voiced their disapproval regarding Baldoni’s supposed effort to obscure Lively’s role – as stated privately by him and his team in a leaked message found in court documents – under the pretense of acting with good intentions and aiming to highlight domestic violence, a key theme in It Ends With Us.

What’s particularly troubling is the shameless use of victims of domestic violence’ experiences to suppress a woman who sought protection, as expressed by Lively’s Sisterhood co-stars. The level of inconsistency is remarkable.

‘It’s eye-opening to see that someone as powerful and esteemed as Blake, who is a woman, can still encounter harsh backlash for advocating for a secure work setting. We find her bravery in speaking out not only for herself but for others truly inspiring.’

If you’re interested in delving deeper into this topic or contributing to this significant discussion online, I recommend checking out the comprehensive legal complaint detailed in the investigative work of Megan Twohey, Mike McIntire, and Julie Tate for The New York Times.

Ferrera, Tamblyn and Bledel tagged Lively in their post.

Furthermore, Ferrera and Tamblyn reposted the news of Lively’s Friday lawsuit from a New York Times article on their Instagram Stories, providing the article’s link as well.

In her Instagram post, Tamblyn stated that during certain difficult times, she served as a trusted advisor or supporter for her sister Blake.

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2025-06-02 01:18

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