may 23, 2023 - Filming of Slow Dance Scene as Outlined in Complaints

Description:

Footage of this was released on Jan 21 2025 by the DailyMail, it was also a key point in Lively's complaint:

Lively:
'48. On another occasion, Mr. Baldoni and Ms. Lively were filming a slow dance
scene for a montage in which no sound was recorded. Mr. Baldoni chose to let the camera roll and have them perform the scene, but did not act in character as Ryle; instead, he spoke to Ms. Lively out of character as himself. At one point, he leaned forward and slowly dragged his lips from her ear and down her neck as he said, “it smells so good.” None of this was remotely in character, or based on any dialogue in the script, and nothing needed to be said because, again, there was no sound—Mr. Baldoni was caressing Mr. Lively with his mouth in a way that had nothing to do with their roles. When Ms. Lively later objected to this behavior, Ms. Baldoni’s response was, “I’m not even attracted to you.”
b. Mr. Baldoni inserted improvised gratuitous sexual content and/or scenes
involving nudity into the film (including for an underage character) in highly
unsettling ways. '

(see page 19 of her complaint)

Justin's Response:
'89. Lively’s later complaint sheds light on what this point was alluding to in this
demand, which at the time was baffling, and upon review of the filmed evidence, is unequivocally based on a lie. Production was filming a “romance montage” of Lily and Ryle on their date. One of the producers played music to set the mood so the characters could slow dance. Lively, consistently unable to take direction, insisted she really liked the idea of the characters constantly talking, because, as she described, she and her husband like to “keep talking and talking and
talking.” Baldoni, her director, and the film’s assistant director (who was directing the scene)
disagreed. In an attempt to encourage her to take his direction Baldoni offered up that he and his wife often just look into each other’s eyes silently, to which she responded, “Like sociopaths,” and laughed. Baldoni laughed and shook it off, while Lively once again started talking about how she and her husband can’t not talk. Baldoni said, “I think that’s cute,” and complimented the couple, to which Lively responded, “I think it’s more than cute.”

90. Lively continued arguing and tried to direct him for the scene. while they were
supposed to be in character filming the scene. At some point Heath and another producer, irritated, called Baldoni aside to express they can’t capture the intended “shot” because Lively wouldn’t stop talking. He was instructed to somehow get her to stop. While there was a brief verbal exchange, Baldoni, heeding the instruction of their Assistant Director and producers, continued to try to bring them back into character. As they were acting in this montage scene, Lively continued to break character and speak as herself rather than as Lily, which was extremely confusing for Baldoni, who was trying to balance directing the scene within his artistic vision while also acting in character while filming and trying to get Lively to do the same. Lively apologized for the smell
of her spray tan and body makeup. Baldoni responded, “It smells good,” and continued acting, slow dancing as he believed his character would with his partner, which requires some amount of physical touching. Lively took them out of character again and began to joke about Baldoni’s nose, which he laughed off and joked in turn, even as Lively joked that he should get plastic surgery. Lively incorrectly alleges that this scene was filmed without sound. Baldoni was wearing a microphone, and the entire exchange is captured on camera. Any suggestion that this scene was filmed in any manner other than pure professionalism by Baldoni is unequivocally countered with actual evidence. Her allegation of sexual harassment is a documented and knowingly fabricated lie.
(see page 54 of his complaint)

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