Woody Allen unleashes hilarious Vicky Cristina diary

Vicky Cristina Barcelona has been garnering a lot of (deservedly) positive reviews, and writer/director Woody Allen must've decided the time was right. The auteur recently released some excerpts from the diary he kept during the film shoot. For your pleasure, we're posting a few nuggets of lore after the jump. Alternately, you can read the piece in its entirety here.

JUNE 5

Shooting got off to a shaky start. Rebecca Hall, though young and in her first major role, is a bit more temperamental than I thought and had me barred from the set. I explained the director must be present to direct the film. Try as I may, I could not convince her and had to disguise as man delivering lunch to sneak back on the set.

JUNE 30

Dailies are looking good, and while Javier’s idea to add a massive Martian invasion scene complete with a thousand costumed extras and elaborate flying saucers is not a very good one, I will shoot it to make him happy and cut it in the editing room.

AUG. 10

Directed Javier in emotional scene today. Had to give him line readings. As long as he imitates me he’s fine. The minute he tries his own acting choices he’s lost. Then he weeps and wonders how he’ll survive when I’m no longer his director. I explained politely but firmly that he must do the best he can without me and to try to remember the tips I’ve given him. I know he was cheered because when I left his trailer, he and his friends were howling with laughter.

Got news tips for Paste? E-mail news@pastemagazine.com.