OVERLAY REPORT

No, Rade Šerbedžija did not improvise his lines during the filming of Eyes Wide Shut. While Stanley Kubrick is famous for his rigorous adherence to the script during takes, he often used a collaborative rehearsal process to refine dialogue. Šerbedžija has stated in interviews that Kubrick gave him very little direction regarding his character's background (Mr. Milich), simply providing a name and telling him it was a 'completely American character.' Consequently, Šerbedžija 'improvised' the internal characterization and backstory. During rehearsals, Kubrick would frequently rewrite the script based on these interactions and the actor's performance (including his distinctive laugh), but once the camera was rolling, the lines were performed exactly as written.