Why did you think you
fell in love with martial arts so deeply?
I was always an athlete. I
won the John F. Kennedy Award in 6th Grade for physical
fitness. I fell in love with martial arts because it was the first
time people took notice of me. I was very good and nobody had ever
said that to me before. Martial arts became my secure home, really.
It was the first time people wanted to help me and teach me.
How has martial arts
training transformed your life?
It gave me a direction in
my life, although at the time I had no idea where it would take me.
It gave me enjoyment, and confidence. It taught me to believe in
myself, and a sense of what can be achieved through hard work.
How did Hollywood come
calling?
It found me. I was not
looking for it. I was competing in my last martial arts tournament,
which was called the BKF – the Black Karate Federation. I got
second place, in three black belt federations: weapons, fighting and
kata. Some casting people came over to me and said ''You are very
good. How would you like to fight Chuck Norris in a movie?'' This was
his first starring role in the film GOOD GUYS WEAR BLACK (1978). They
told me they would pay me five hundred dollars cash for one day's
work. That was more than I made in a week at my regular job.
What was the experience
of fighting Norris like?
This was my first time
working on a movie. I did not know about things like hitting marks or
performing for the camera. I didn't even know about 'Lights, Camera,
Action!' But Chuck was patient and kind with me. When we talked, I
told him that he had judged me in tournaments before and that he knew
my Master in martial arts, Douglas Wong. Chuck and I became friends
and I worked for him many, many times in the future. I even
co-starred in his TV show Walker, Texas Ranger (1993-2001).
What kind of mental or
physical exercises do you do before performing a stunt?
Mentally, I make sure I go
over everything about my performance in my head. I stretch out and
stay calm until they say 'Action!' At the end of the scene, I expect
no less than a standing ovation when they say 'Cut!' and 'Print!'!
How much has conquering
and learning to respect fear been a part of your life?
Exactly, that's it. You
have to respect fear. It is normal. It will always be with you. When
you're scared, you must learn how to control it. Only then will you
understand fear. It will help you get through whatever you are doing.
You have been James
Woods' stunt double for over three decades. What are your favorite
collaborations?
My favorite collaboration
is the first movie we did together, BEST SELLER (1987)which is also
where we became friends. I was hired to teach him how to fight, and
if you can believe it, how to look cool! After that I got the job
stunting for him.
How has your relationship
evolved over such a long time?
Well, now he thinks of me
and treats me like a brother and a friend. We are very close. When we
are not working together, we still talk all the time.
Did the recent ONCE UPON
A TIME IN ... HOLLYWOOD (2019) resonate for you?
OK, here we go … Quentin
Tarantino should be ashamed of himself. Why did he make Bruce Lee
look so terrible? His family and friends are hurt. Bruce was not
cocky. He was confident. There is a big difference. There are ten
different ways you could have done that scene. Why choose the one
where Bruce Lee looks so bad? Brad Pitt is no better either. He
should be ashamed of himself too. If I had been the stunt
co-ordinator I'd probably have been fired trying to convince them not
to do the scene that way.
How do you feel about the
advent of CGI? Has it hurt your career opportunities?
I am a real stuntperson. I
don't believe in this CGI crap. In most cases, CGI and cables for
wimps, unless it is for an actor. It hasn't hurt my career
opportunities. Hell, no. The way I do it, which is for real, helped
my opportunities. It has made people admire me and my abilities and
made me more well known in the stunt industry.
Of all the awards for
stuntwork you have won, is the entry into the Stuntman's Hall of Fame
the one you are proudest of?
In one word, yes!
What are some of the
scenes from the films you have worked on that you are the most
proudest of? Is your work on REMO up
there?
I care. I am proud of all
my work. I consider myself an artist more than a stuntman. I love it
all. From REVENGE OF THE NINJA (1983) to INDIANA JONES AND THE LAST CRUSADE
to REMO WILLIAMS: THE ADVENTURE BEGINS and everything else.
What constitutes a good
scene for you?
An empty canvas so I can
create.
Were there times when
you were required to learn a new skill or conquer a personal fear in
order to achieve a stunt?
It's not about needing to
learn the skill, it's about maybe not having the experience that you
would like to have in one particular skill, and believing that you
will achieve what you need to do.
Which actors have had the
best understanding of stunt and action work that you've worked with?
Which ones surprised you the most?
Sylvester Stallone has the
best understanding when it comes to fights, but the one that
surprised me the most was Rutger Hauer. He was a natural in movie
fights.
Which directors?
Steven Spielberg and Sam
Firstenberg. Two great directors. They let you work and create as
long as you produce what you say you are going to do.
You must have witnessed
all kinds of bad behavior on set during your career. What have you
learned from it, and how has it changed your perception of Hollywood?
You learn that there are
all kinds of personalities and behavior. You must understand how to
deal with it all. Some things never change, especially in Hollywood.
The Gene Lebell incident
between him and Steven Seagal whilst filming OUT FOR JUSTICE (1991)
has become a legend. You clear it up in your book, but does the urban
legend of it bother you at all? We may never know who lied about the
story, but Is something like this part of the worst elements of the
world you work and live in?
Just the lies bother me.
Everyone wants to be noticed so they tell stories that are not true.
What are your
recollections of your time working on Cannon productions?
It was the best of times
in my life in the movies working with Cannon. I was always the man
and Menahem Golan was like no other person. He was the best to work
for.
How did your time with
Cannon compare to working on big Hollywood films?
You have more control on
low-budget movies. On big-budget movies you have less control, and
you have more people you must answer and listen to.
With RAMBO: LAST BLOOD
(2019) now in theatres, what is your strongest memory of working on
RAMBO III?
Watching the brilliance of
Sly Stallone.
How do you enjoy
co-ordinating stunts compared to performing them?
They are both so
different. With co-ordinating you have much more responsibility.
Peeforming was easy for me.
Was there a point where
you realised your age was effecting your ability? Is there an age
when stuntmen should quit before they get seriously hurt?
I wasn't the normal age
when it started affecting me. It wasn't a concern for me until I was
about 57. The reason was martial arts catching up to me. I hate it.
What made you decide at
this point in your life to write an autobiography?
I have had a wonderful
life. I have been blessed. I thought 'Why not share it?'
What projects are you
currently working on?
I just finished writing a
script called Ninja Resurrection. We are looking for the money. So
you money people, look me up, we have a hit movie.
Copyright © Paul Rowlands, 2019. All rights reserved.
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