Actor Christian Bale's on-set verbal lashing of "Terminator Salvation" director of photography Shane Hurlbut was simply "part of the creative process," according to director McG. A four-minute audio clip of Bale blasting Hurlbut surfaced online, Feb. 3. The actor is heard berating and lobbing expletives at Hurlbut, who distracted Bale twice during a scene by walking on set. "The whole thing got a little heated, but frankly the bigger violation is that anything that happens on a movie set leaks out," McG said during the Warner Brothers panel at New York Comic Con, Saturday. "It's not fair, and I hope it doesn't color filmmaking in the future with actors being more cautious regarding going for it. It's part of the creative process. Christian took responsibility for how he acted. Shane and Christian are fine now. ... I wanted that kind of passion to show up in the John Connor character." Bale was quick to express his regret over the incident, which has received considerable media coverage. "It's been a miserable week for me," Bale said during a recent interview on KROQ FM's morning show. "The thing that I really want to stress is I have no confusion whatsoever. I was out of order beyond belief. I was way out of order. I acted like a punk. I regret that. There is nobody that has heard that tape that's been hit harder by it than me. I make no excuses for it. "I put so much into what I do and care so much about it and sometimes the enthusiasm just goes awry. I'm embarrassed by it. I ask everybody to sit down and ask themselves, have they ever had a bad day and have they ever lost their temper and really regretted it immensely. "Feel free to make fun of me at my expense; I deserve it completely." "Terminator Salvation" is an epic "origin story" for John Connor's rise in the post-apocalyptic resistance. It opens in theaters May 22. Express yourself and be part of the news! Leave a comment below or join our rabid discussions on the SyBoards.