THE IMMORTAL STUNTSMAN : An interview with Hollywood's Persian Stuntman Darren Shahlavi
4/19/07
I do all the stunts myself, except for the love scenes of
course...
- Roger Moore on his portrayal's of James
Bond
If there is anything in movies that
cannot be faked even despite the great technical wizardry of digital effects its
: The Stuntman. A profession popularized in a US TV series of the mid 80's The Fall Guy starring the former Bionic
Man Lee Majors, it is without doubt one of the most crucial and yet
underestimated professions in the film industry. If like many you have always
wondered how Charlton Heston won his Race in Ben Hur or how Roger Moore as James
Bond can fall off a plane without a parachute and hang on Jaws' leg while
fighting him in the sky and making it to safety, well here is their secret: ITS
NOT THEM !
That is the Stuntman's job. Some
have become Legends such as the late Yakima Canutt whose credits in such films
as Ben Hur or Spartacus as well as numerous Westerns
earned him the respect of both his colleagues and some of
Darius KADIVAR : (DK) : Tell us a little about
yourself and background ? How did you get into this
profession ?
Darren Shahlavi (DS) : I was
born in Stockport England, I started Martial arts when I was 7 years old, my
father took my brother and I to
study Judo, we trained in a local drama hall. I loved Martial arts and
would be early for class and watch the drama students and took great interest in
acting. So I found both my loves at a very early age, I also trained in
Kickboxing under 6 time world champion Ronnie Green and Karate with Dave Morris
and Horace Harvey and did all I could to pursue a career as a Martial
artist/Actor. When I was 16 I contacted and became friends with then Magazine
editor and now producer/writer Bey Logan and he hired me as his assistant on the
film Gun n' Rose a Hong Kong film shot in England, he then Hired me as the star
of a film he wrote and off I went to Malaysia, unfortunately the financing fell
through, but fortunately his partner and stunt co-ordinator Mark Houghton let me
stay on and taught me a lot about Hong Kong film fighting and I worked for him
on some tv Movies. Later I went to
DK: You have been working on the
much-expected Warner Bros. Film 300,
what kind of stunts is required on such a film vehicle?
DS: this film was pretty much all
fights, spears against swords single and double and lots of hits and falling to
the ground, some wire work and horse stunts are in there too, Stunt co-ordinator
Damon Caro is a head instructor from Dan Inosanto's academy as is Chad Stahelski
who was Keanu Reeves double in all Martix films, these guys put together some
fantastic scenes with truly well planned and unique choreography.
This
film is based on Frank Miller's Graphic novel "300." Every day
I was on set with Zack Snyder, the stars of the film
and the stunt team of which I was a part of, the main concern of Zack's was to
remain faithful to Frank Miller's work and make a kick ass action film that
looks amazing. The stunt team was comprised of two halves, those playing
Spartans and those playing Persians and both sides where made up of the best
stunt performers / fighters available from LA,
Vancouver, Toronto and Montreal and great attention
was put into the
training,
weapons and tactics and choreography for each side. I think
the action and visual
effects are groundbreaking. I also think the most evil character in the film is
Theron and the most pathetic Ephialtes, both Greeks! ...
DK: Were you cast as a Persian or
Greek or both?
DS: I wasn't cast by the Director, I
worked for Damon and Chad, most of the time my face is covered up, I was a
Persian infantry and an Immortal (with the silver masks) and a Persian scout and
even a Spartan when they needed us! Their was defiantly camaraderie between all
the stunt guys on either side so that was fun, I felt I was there defiantly on
the Persian side to use my skills to make the Persians look strong as fighters against the Spartans, but we
also had to use our skills with reactions to make the Spartans look powerful
too! That's filmmaking!!.
On set with Jackie Chan, Ben Kingsley, Gérard Depardieu
&
Christian Clavier ©darrenshahlavi.com
DK: Do you need to have acting
skills to be a good stuntman?
DS: Acting skills at least
physically are a must in my opinion, on 300 we were stunt actors, using both
skills all the same time. It is like shooting a silent film we are very
theatrical and it helps to know the camera angles, lenses, lighting and film
speed all this I learned as an actor, many of the stunt guys on our team have
plenty of acting experience.
DK : How have digital effects like working in front of a blue
screen changed the nature of your profession ? Has it greatly reduced the
danger or thrill you get in your
job ?
DS : The risk in doing stunts
is always there, one of our team members broke his leg simply by another guy
falling on him as he was playing dead ! the kind of stunts we did on 300
and what I specialize in are fights, when I do fights there is no adrenaline
rush for me, it is a calculated dance of rhythm and timing, movement and
technique the only thrill comes when I watch a good take.
One of the main things that blue
screen shooting allows, is for the FX team to have us repeat fights and movement
many times and digitally place us next to ourselves to increase the number of
people in a battle scene, so unfortunately their may often be less work for
other stunt performers.
Their where 44 members of our stunt
team and they had to make it look like 300 Spartans and hundreds of thousands of
Persians, by replicating us.
DK: Which of your films have
required the most difficult stunts to date?
DS: I don't really do much of what
I'd say is obviously dangerous, working with actors who are the stars of the
movie is where you use most caution, I just did a film with Ben Stiller, "Night
at the museum" where we had Battle scene with canons and rifles with bayonets,
and Ben Stiller has to run through it and dive out of my way as I'm flipping
through the air, we use extreme caution in cases like this or when I was Boxing
Eddie Murphy in "I-Spy" because in productions point of view with the films star
in these shots they are considered dangerous that's why we are there, to use
caution and ensure safety of the actor.
The Blood is only make belief not the muscles ©darrenshahlavi.com
DK: How do the actors you double react to the fact that they are not
actually doing the dangerous action scenes? Do they talk to you after a take or
in between scenes?
DS: Most actors like to say they do
their own stunts, many of them are under the impression they are doing stunts
because there is a stunt co-ordinator there and a double if needed, but in
general I've found most stars appreciate a stunt double and their only concern is that the
audience can't tell it's a double and rightly so. Everyone is communicative
about action and safety but when they have important dialogue coming up it's
their private time as far as I'm concerned.
DK: How
many hours do you train in a day ?
DS: it varies, 30-60 minutes cardio,
30-45 minutes weight lifting, 20 minutes stretching and martial arts training
and choreography with a small group of friends.
DK : Is there a school where
one can learn your craft ? What are the minimum requirements to become a
stuntman and do you yourself teach it to eager aspiring
students?
DS: Many places have what they call
stunt schools and many unions and co-ordinators require a certain amount of
experience, I do not teach stunts, though many people have courses, but do your
research. Most work is got through good solid references, one should be as well
trained in as much as possible, Martial arts, fencing, Climbing, swimming,
horses, Cars, high falls, firearms, burns, gymnastics and the list goes on the
more you know and the experience therein gives you a better chance of being
hired, the most important is safety awareness and professionalism.
DK: What
are your interests outside Stunts ?
DS: Training and watching movies and hanging out with friends takes
up most of my time, I love art so I'm getting back into painting, my father is a
fantastic designer so it's in me, I love interior design too, My Mother is
inspiring to me as she is learning design with computers and I'm trying that,
photography and traveling, plus music. My main interest outside stunts is acting
and writing, I have a film I hope to direct one
day.
DK: One
last Question Darren : Have you been to Iran and what would you like to see if
you were there today ?
DS: I've never been to Iran and one
day I'd love to go to Tehran and Isfahan, see Mount Damavand, go skiing and also
have a glass of red wine in Shiraz! and I'd like to see the Caspian Sea.
DK: Thank you Darren and good luck in the rest of your career.
Darren Shahlavi The Fall Guy ©darrenshahlavi.com
Author's
notes:
Official Website of Darren Shahlavi:
http://www.darrenshahlavi.com/
Recommended
Reading:
- Persia? Ancient Persia's
virtual absence in Hollywood By Darius
KADIVAR
- Swords
and Sandals Films about Ancient Persia By Darius
KADIVAR
- Persian Golden Boys in
Hollywood by Darius KADIVAR
-
The Persian Empire Strikes
Back by Darius KADIVAR
About the Author: Darius KADIVAR is a Freelance Journalist,
Film Historian, and Media Consultant.