Coming this weekend, another fantastic fan convention – your chance to see the cast of Roger Corman’s Fantastic Four reunited! We’ll be signing autographs at Wizard World this weekend in Anaheim, Ca.
It’s Clobberin’ Time! all over again.
See you there!
Carl
Well, I almost don’t know where to start about the recent Hollywood Show in Burbank. It was my first time as a “celebrity” and I was a little nervous not knowing what to expect from the public as well as the other celebs that were there. To my most wonderful surprise, everyone – I mean everyone – was wonderful. I’m humbled and jazzed about the weekend. About the people that I met and how interesting the world can be.
What a great place to be for a couple of days. Helping these folks, some who come from across the country(and other countries) to spend their vacation at an autograph show, realize their fondness to be close to the industry reminds me of how lucky I am to be able to bring some joy and entertainment into the lives of people and friends around the world. The Fantastic Four holds a special place in many hearts and it was great to share stories. I also put together a video with some recently-discovered footage about my experience creating “The Thing” with Roger Corman’s team. (Working on getting it online. Until then, feel free to jump over to my contact page if you’d like to buy a copy of “The Making Of The Thing” now!)
The other celebs that I spoke with were kind and helped guide me thru some questions about what to expect or how to work with the fans. And to my most pleasant surprise I got to visit with some actors that I’ve worked with in the past like Sid Haig, Roger E. Mosley and Yancy Butler.
I was most impressed with the attitude and positive energy the fans brought into the auditorium. Families, friends, couples and groups of people who love, love, love the movies and the people who make them. They were kind, respectful and full of anticipation. It was the most fun I’ve had in a long time. And these people are really fans. Fans to the point that they’ll tell you what you did in a particular movie or series down to your wardrobe and dialog!
I want to thank all of you who were kind enough to stop by my table and talk a while. Michael, Todd, David, Nick, Michele, Mike and Leslie and the rest of you. You and those who share your passion have always been and still are my inspiration.
Looking forward to seeing some of you and making more friends at Wizard World in Anaheim on April 30th.
Take care and keep a good thought.
Carlo
Well here’s something new and exciting! I’ll be appearing at a number of upcoming autograph shows along with my fellow performers from Roger Corman’s 1990′s era production of “The Fantastic Four.” I was fortunate enough to play “The Thing” and worked in tandem with Michael Bailey Smith’s portrayal of the Ben Grimm character.
This is the first time the film’s cast will reunite. And it’s also the first time I’ll get a chance to spend time with fans and share my terrific experiencing creating this iconic character from the classic Marvel comic series.
I’ve produced a special treat for the event, a DVD entitled “The Making of The Thing.” Featuring footage I took during pre-production, it’s definitely some never-before-seen fun for Fantastic! fans.
The first show I’ll be appearing at is the Hollywood Show. It’s held at the Burbank Marriott Convention Center.
This show has become known worldwide as the perfect place for fans to get “up close and personal” with their favorite stars and celebrities. I went there a few years ago with my wife and we said Hello to Erin Moran, who grew up in our Toluca Woods home. What an irony that I’ll be appearing this time! If you have time this weekend, please come by and say hello. I’ll be sure to take pictures and share them right here for those who can’t make it.
At the end of the month, I’ll once again be appearing with “Fantastic Four” cast-mates at Wizard World Anaheim Comic Con. As it stands now, I’ll be there from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. on Saturday, April 30. Fans, fan groups, exhibitors and an exciting list of special guests are adding up to one exciting event. Extra special for me? My family is down there and you expect them to be visiting throughout the day. Plan to say ‘hi’ to them, too!
You also have to hustle and sell yourself in this business and be willing to answer questions from producers, directors, executives and their minions that are at times very pertinent and times very ignorant. And be willing to answer both types questions the same way. With assuredness and confidence. I don’t know how someone does that without knowing their stuff.
All of this means that there are many stunt people who are extremely qualified to become stunt coordinators because of their experience, knowledge and expertise in one or more particular fields. I am very proud and impressed by so much of the fine young talent out there. Sadly, it also means that just because you’re qualified doesn’t necessarily guarantee you a job. The competition is enormous.
So – how to get that first job? I have seen it break down to 3 general avenues. They are inter-related – you will often follow at least one or two simultaneously to some extent. And which ever one or ones you travel, you need to work the industry. Stay abreast of what’s in production. Look for any connection you might have to the production company and/or studio in question. Submit yourself. Follow up.
1. Have a family member who is a stunt coordinator.
2. Have connections with other film professionals, including doubling an up-and-coming actor
3. Have a stunt coordinator mentor
1. Family Members
Are you thinking nepotism? Yep! We got it … got it big … and it’s far from a bad thing. Think of it this way. A stuntman/woman working in the industry has a family. That family grows up around the action business. Horses, motorcycles, trampolines, surfing, scuba diving … their kids learn from a child to understand physicality and how to control their bodies. Pretty soon dad or mom takes them to set and gets them a gig doubling a kid in a car or on a playground. Because he or she knows they can handle it. They’ve been well trained. After 10 or 12 years in positions like that – combined with invaluable stunt talk around the dinner table – the business is in their head. How to run a crew, rig a stunt, answer the questions that directors ask, and deal with all the other departments on set. Everything it takes to be a coordinator has blossomed from a life experience. Dad and/or Mom are coordinators and when one of them has two shows to coordinate, they give one to you … and a new stunt coordinating career has begun.
Make no mistake, a good majority of them are oustanding coordinators. Look at Mickey Gilbert and his three sons. They’re awesome stuntmen as well as coordinators. Or brothers Vic and Andy Armstrong – their sons are tearing up the stunt world.
2. Industry Connections
Another way to go about hustling coordinator jobs is to build relationships within the industry. Line producers, unit mangers, directors and producers are the ones who confer and hire the crew. Trying to build a relationship isn’t always easy … there’s going to be those who you don’t like, get along with or even want to see twice. It’s your call if you want to follow up on people like these because it might mean work for you down the road. I don’t think hustling people you don’t really want to be with is a good use of time or energy or money. But many people you meet are stand-up, although extremely busy. So be professional, make connections, and treat every contact with respect and consider it an investment in your future. This isn’t to say be a user. But do be professional. Make a connection, stay in touch. Be supportive. Share knowledge wherever you can.
Within this is the great good fortune of clicking with an actor as his or her double. As long as you’ve done the work to build your skills and become a pro who is as good as can possibly be, in other words, as long as you’re prepared for opportunity, there is every likelihood that your star as a coordinator, can rise right alongside the star you are doubling.
3. Coordinator as Mentor
When you’re hired as a stunt player, it’s because you are needed for a particular reason. If that coordinator hires you repeatedly, that means you are well liked and are doing a good job. It means that when you’re not doing the actual stunt, you’ve been pulling pads around and folding boxes for someone else’s gag. It means that you’ve been ready to jump in and help wherever you can, even if it’s not your stunt. And if you’re fortunate as well as extremely trained and talented, it means that you’re part of that coordinator’s team. In turn, more often than you might realize, it means that at some point the coordinator is going to ask you to ‘watch the set’ or to ‘take care of this for me with the AD’s.’ After that, it won’t be long before that coordinator will bring you in and give you his “Show No. 2”…just like Dad gave to Junior.
Working the Industry
I’ll close by expanding on an earlier point. If you think that you are ready to take on the challenges of a stunt coordinator, and you don’t have any of the above connections, don’t give up. Put together a resume that reflects your experience – that’s a must. I think that you should also have a Mission Statement and a Bio to let them know something about you that stands out. There’s a boat load of people out there who want to do what you’re doing. Then work the leads you have from “Stunt Contact” or the trades. You have to submit to production companies just like you have to submit to stunt coordinators for a stunt job, and hope that your resume gets in front of the right guy. Look for connections within the production you’re submitting to – is there anyone listed you’ve worked with before? Any connection at all? Mention that in the cover letter you will attach to your submission. Be brief, but be powerful. Yes, most directors and producers have their top couple of stunt coordinators and want them to get the job. And those coordinators want someone on their team to get the job. Even so, the final say is usually the director’s, but there’s always a chain of power above the line, and not everyone gets everything they want. So submit your coordinator’s package where you think you have the best fit and opportunity. And continue to work on building up your connections for the next opportunity.
I would also say that being a stunt coordinator is more work than it may appear. Getting the job may seem the hardest part. Between the politics and power struggles it can be taxing. But not personal. But once you do get the job, whether you’re coordinating on a small budget movie or a mega buck film, your prep, meetings, phone calls and on set duties are the same. That said, you are also, and most importantly, responsible for ensuring safety along with excellence in action entertainment. That is always an exciting and serious challenge.
It’s official: Deon Taylor’s Chain Letter has been picked up by New Films International for a 2010 release! If you haven’t yet heard, Chain Letter is the story of a serial killer , my good friend and longtime colleague Michael Bailey Smith, who preys on teens who refuse to forward a chain mail. This is extremely great news that will mean excellent release and distribution for a film that will scare the hell out of … just about everyone!
We shot Chain Letter in and around Sacramento a while back, and I have to say, it was one of my top 5 film experiences. Had an especially fun and creative time coordinating all kinds of bloody action. Deon laid the groundwork with a boatload of terrifying scenes, and left room for me to contribute by exorcising a few of my own evil demons.
Nikki Reed came to us fresh off shooting Twilight, and was a real pro, as were the other young actors on the set. And I was hugely proud of my stunt team. And that’s all I can say for now! But I promise to return with some shooting stories as we get closer to the film’s release date.
Keep a good thought everyone,
Carl
My experience on the “The Book of Eli” started with a call from the film’s Stunt Coordinator, Jeff Imada. “Would I like to double an actor on the new Denzel Washington film?” Damn straight! So after a couple of more phone calls, I was off to New Mexico.
I flew into Albuquerque, picked up my rental car, drove north through the desert and into the mountains. That was a good two and a half hours. Checked into my hotel, checked in with production … and was told to turn around and go home. Schedules had changed and I wasn’t needed for another two weeks.
Cut to: two weeks later.
I went back to New Mexico, and this time got right to work. My job was doubling Joe Pingue as ‘Hoyt.’ Joe’s a solid actor with great onscreen presence and a terrific resume. He also happens to be an all-around good guy. He was kind of a younger big brother. We had great fun. Joe did some of his action before I got there – he’s an athlete comfortable in action situations. But he’s also a smart actor who understands where a stunt double needs to step in. As such, he was generous and collaborative, and worked with me to make certain our transitions were smooth.
All the actors were comfortable with their stunt people, because Jeff Imada did such a great job of coordinating this show. He brought the right people in and made certain actors and stunt performers alike understood what would result in the best onscreen action.
Jeff definitely put his bad-ass stamp on this film, and I was thrilled to be in the middle of it. Along with the fight style he created for Eli/Denzel, the action includes some serious fights, explosions, chases and of course, great turnovers.
My favorite stunt involves me and an exploding truck … and all I can tell you without giving anything away is that it made my butt pucker just a little. Which will happen almost anytime you’re pulling an ice cream truck with 8 1/2 lbs of explosives in it. Jeff planned it beautifully, but there’s always a bit of Murphy’s Law at work, so the gag definitely had a huge dose of live drama. I saw the result and the cameras caught it all. You can see it too, in the trailer for “The Book of Eli”.
I want to give huge kudos to some of my stunt performer buds on the film. Go to IMdB.com and look up Todd Schneider, Jeff Wolfe, Darrin Prescott, Laurence Chavez, and the always-great Thom Williams. Just some of the great talent that I was fortunate enough to work with.
Happy to answer any and all questions – keep ‘em coming!
Next Post: “From Mexico with Love”
Poster from "The Book of Eli"
A few months ago, I was fortunate enough to work on this film on location outside of Albuquerque, New Mexico. The trailer and poster were released recently for Comic-Con ’09, so I’m happy to release a little of my own experience to you.
“The Book of Eli” stars Denzel Washington as Eli, a solitary man on a mission, traveling across a post-apocalyptic country. Basically, some idiots in charge pushed their atomic buttons, and the film picks up some 30 years later in a world filled with survivors and bandits … and Eli.
Denzel, who also produces the film, is joined by the best: Gary Oldman is his nemesis, Ray Stevenson and Joe Pingue as Oldman’s henchmen, Mila Kunis, who becomes Denzel’s protégé, and Jennifer Beals, too.
Eli was directed in tandem by the Hughes brothers. Their style blew us all away in 1993’s “Menace to Society” and it makes perfect movie sense for them now to have created a world in which society has finally been completely destroyed.
From the start, the Hughes brothers turned to legendary Stunt Coordinator and Fight Coordinator Jeff Imada to do what he does better than anyone else out there: design a lethal hand-to-hand combat style exclusively for this film’s star, story and characters.
ACTION-PACKED FACT
Jeff Imada is the mastermind behind the extraordinary fighting style in the Bourne movies.
For months before shooting began, Denzel worked alongside Jeff to mold his body and psyche into a serious fighting machine. The action on set was exciting as well as inspiring. The result will blow you away.
My prediction: “huge hit.”
Next post: my experience on “The Book of Eli.”
It’s been a long time coming. I hope everyone is as happy with the result as I am. My wife and her web partner put this together, and I highly recommend them to you. Thanks to everyone who’s been emailing me over these years. I thought this might be an even better way to keep the conversations going. Let me hear what you have to say. I look forward to answering your questions and just generally chatting about my crazy life in the movies. Keep a good thought …
Hello filmmakers and action fans. Feel free to shoot me your questions about action in film.
Here’s where you can ask me what you want to know about TV & movie stunts. Just shoot me your questions and I’ll do my best to fill you in.