[Edaily Starin YUN GI BACK Reporter] “No cell phones. No smoking. And no UGG boots.”

The moment they step onto director Christopher Nolan’s set, actors and crew members must temporarily bid farewell to their everyday lives. They cannot take out their cell phones from their pockets, and not even a single cigarette is allowed during breaks. Even their comfortable UGG boots must be left outside the set. This is the so-called “Three No’s” principle that Director Nolan has long adhered to.
At first glance, these rules may seem strict and eccentric, but the standard is clear: once filming begins, everyone must remain fully immersed in the world of the film.
Ahead of the release of his film *The Odyssey*, Director Nolan recently revisited his philosophy on set management in an international interview. He drew particular attention by personally explaining the reason behind the “UGG ban,” which had sparked curiosity among fans.
He stated, “UGGs are very modern.” He explained that on a set filming a story set in ancient times or the past, the very sight of someone walking around in UGG boots could disrupt the film’s atmosphere.

One might wonder, “What does it matter if they aren’t caught on camera?” However, for Director Nolan, the set is not merely a space captured on screen. It is more like a vast stage where actors must immerse themselves in their roles and the crew must share the same era and space. He believes that even a single pair of modern shoes passing by off-screen can disrupt that flow.
The ban on cell phones stems from the same reasoning. The moment an actor checks messages or scrolls through social media while waiting to shoot, they shift from their on-screen character back to their real-life self. Similarly, if crew members are distracted by outside communications, the tension on set can dissipate. Director Nolan blocks cell phones—the fastest conduit to the real world—within the confines of the set.
Smoking is also prohibited. This is reportedly a measure to prevent disruptions in the flow of filming and to maintain a consistent atmosphere on set. The goal is to minimize even the brief pauses that occur when someone steps away, the crew is reassembled, and filming resumes.

Director Nolan himself does not deviate from this principle. He has even eliminated the director’s chair in front of the monitor. Instead of sitting in a chair and merely giving directions, he is known for spending most of his time standing and moving around the set. He maintains the rhythm of filming by checking the actors’ movements up close and exchanging ideas directly with the cinematographer and crew.
He also rarely takes bathroom breaks. Cillian Murphy, who starred in the film *Oppenheimer*, jokingly revealed in an interview, “Nolan goes to the bathroom twice a day—at 11 a.m. and 6 p.m.” While this may be an exaggeration, it illustrates Director Nolan’s tendency to rarely interrupt the flow of filming once it begins.
For actors and crew members, this may not be a comfortable set to work on. However, when you consider his body of work—from the *Dark Knight* series to *Inception*, *Interstellar*, *Oppenheimer*, and *The Martian*—it becomes clear where this unique approach is headed. On a set where reality is erased as much as possible, he creates another reality that draws the audience in.