M. Night Shyamalan, the acclaimed director behind iconic projects like The Sixth Sense (1999) and The Visit (2015), is no stranger to the limelight. Thanks to his unique filmmaking style, he has garnered a dedicated fan base that continues to appreciate his work.
Despite his success and recognition, he recounted a hilarious anecdote during the shooting of the Wayward Pines series in Vancouver where he misjudged his level of fame.
M. Night Shyamalan Recounted a Hilarious Anecdote About His Fame
In a recent appearance on the ReelBlend Podcast, the filmmaker got candid about his one experience, which he completely misunderstood, which happened when he was attached as an executive producer in the Wayward Pines series.
During the series’ production, M. Night Shyamalan arrived at his hotel in Vancouver to a warm reception. As he stepped out of his car, he noticed a large crowd eagerly waiting outside.
He signed autographs and took photos with whom he believed to be his fans. However, things started leveling up.
I’ll tell you one really funny anecdote. Once, we were in Vancouver shooting ‘Wayward Pines,’ and when I first got to the hotel, there was a big crowd. I signed some things and went inside.
The Sixth Sense actor continued,
The next day, I saw that across the street there was a whole bunch of people. I waved at them, went to the shoot, came back, and they were still there.
This became a routine for a few days as the director would wave at the crowd before moving on to do his usual business.
Thinking that his fans had been waiting for him all the time, he decided to take a step forward and greet them by crossing the street. This was when he cleared up his misunderstanding.
This went on for a few days. Then, I thought, ‘Hey, I’m just going to go over and say hi.’ As I started to cross the street, I realized it was a bus stop. None of those people were my fans; they had nothing to do with me.
He added,
So, for three days, I was waving to bus stop people. “I love you too!” Really, I am that guy. It was a humbling moment.
It was then he realized that the people he had been waving to for days were not fans waiting to see him. They were waiting for the bus at a nearby stop, having no relation with the director.
M. Night Shyamalan is Back With Trap
The realization of his experience was both humorous and humbling for Shyamalan. It can come off as a stark reminder that fame can somewhat create great misunderstandings.
He shared his anecdote while promoting his newly released project, Trap, a psychological thriller starring the likes of Josh Hartnett, Ariel Donoghue, Saleka Shyamalan, Hayley Mills, and Alison Pill.
The movie revolves around a father (Hartnett) who takes his teenage daughter (Donoghue) to a pop concert, with no idea of what awaits them. He attempts to evade a police blockade during the same concert, and what happens next, is a part of Shyamalan’s distinct filmmaking.
As of now, the movie has earned an estimated $15 million in its first three days of release in domestic theaters and a little in the international market. As per Box Office Mojo, the worldwide gross stands at around $20 million.
Trap is running in theatres now.
