The Fuzzy Mic
After retiring from a 30-year, major market morning radio career, I'm often asked what I miss the most about the job. I miss 3 C's...camaraderie, creativity but most of all, conversation.
The Fuzzy Mic is built around creativity and conversation to develop camaraderie. The 4 focus areas are: Mental Health, True Crime, Music and Sports.
So, while The Fuzzy Mic allows me to fill some professional voids, it's my sincere hope that maybe you'll find something personally fulfilling in it too.
The Fuzzy Mic
Bridgett Riley: Thrilling Stories of a Hollywood Stuntwoman
Trapped in an elevator, alarm bells ringing—my fears were closing. I share the details of that story and I reveal my unique tactic for managing fear. It's a wild ride from pitch-dark phobias to political quips, as we glance at President Biden's and former President Trump's approval ratings through a lens of humor and lighthearted cynicism.
This week's star guest, high school pal and Hollywood stuntwoman Bridget Riley, takes us on a tour behind the scenes of her exhilarating career. From doubling for Scarlett Johansson to battling cancer with the same ferocity she brings to the ring, Bridget's story is one of resilience. Our conversation dives into the identity crises and personal triumphs she's faced, providing a raw glimpse into the life of a woman who's worn many hats, including that of the original yellow Mighty Morphin Power Ranger.
The episode winds down with heartfelt reflections on the challenges that come with retirement and shifting identities. Bridget and I reminisce about the glory days, acknowledging how time reshapes our bodies and ambitions. We share the realities of adapting to life's transitions, finding solace in new passions, and the support systems that guide us toward a redefined purpose. Join us for these candid narratives, which intertwine stunts, dance, and the pursuit of contentment beyond the adrenaline rushes of the spotlight.
Welcome to the Fuzzy Mike. The interview series, the podcast, whatever Kevin wants to call it, it's Fuzzy Mike. Hello and welcome to the Fuzzy Mike. In last week's episode with Bridget Riley we talked about her hall of fame, kickboxing and boxing career. She mentioned that every time she got in the ring she was terrified, but she overcame that fear. Well, I thought you know this would be a good opportunity for me to share how I overcome fear and maybe, in the process, help you if you deal with debilitating phobias Like, for example, I'm claustrophobic, I mean highly claustrophobic.
Speaker 1:I think it all started when I got stuck in an elevator for 45 minutes. I was working on the 23rd floor of a 24-story building in Nashville, tennessee. I had an hour before I was to go on the air for my radio show. I decided I was going to go down to street level and get a sandwich before my shift. I'd done this quite often. I mean it was typical and never backfired on me before. Make it all the way down to street level, go to the sandwich shop, get the food, get back in the elevator. I'm the only one in the elevator. I'm pretty comfortable. I've got about 52 minutes until I've got to be in the studio. Press the button for the 23rd floor. Door closes, elevator moves, stop. Elevator ain't moving, no more. Oh, by the way, this was in the early 90s. So yeah, you guessed it. No cell phone. But really I don't even think that would have mattered. I'm in an elevator. Reception would have been shit anyway.
Speaker 1:So, with the elevator stopped, I started banging on the alarm button. No answer. I mean I am hammering this thing and getting no response, starting to get a little panicky. I mean it must have been like 30 seconds of literally leaning on this button with no answer. So I hit the button. That's got that little phone receiver on it. Somebody answered. I explained where I am, what was happening and that I've been in there for about 90 seconds and I'm pretty sure the oxygen level is running low by now. The kind young man on the other end of the line assures me that the oxygen level is fine.
Speaker 1:He asked me if I can open the door Like you mean with the door open button. Oh, you mean. So pry them apart with my hands. So I pushed the doors apart and he asked me what do I see? I see a brick wall. Oh, I was hoping you might be at a floor and you could get out of the elevator. Yeah, that makes two of us.
Speaker 1:He tells me he's going to put me on hold so he can call someone. He comes back on. Got a hold of the elevator company. They're sending someone out. Well, hey, can you do me a favor?
Speaker 1:I work at the radio station on the 23rd floor. I'm supposed to be on the air at 6pm. Can you go up there and tell someone that I'm stuck in the elevator and I may or may not be on time or even alive for my show? He says I'd love to do that for you, sir, but I can't. Oh, why not? The building has other elevators Because I'm not in your building. Oh, that's right, you're at the fire department. No, I'm not there either.
Speaker 1:Well, where are you? I'm in Seattle. Come again. It sounded like you said Seattle. Yeah, I'm just the answering service for the elevator company. Seattle, washington.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I don't know why. I would have assumed this, but I just thought you'd be in a little office on the first floor of our building, not 3,500 miles away. No, it's quite all right, sir. I've already contacted the company and they know where you are and they'll be there soon. Is there anything else I can do for you.
Speaker 1:Um, you're just going to hang up now, unless there's something else you need. Do you know how far away the elevator technicians are? It's rush hour here in Nashville. I don't know that information. Sir, I do know that they've been made aware of your situation and they will have someone there soon. You said you needed to notify your employer of your whereabouts.
Speaker 1:There, a number where I can call them for you? The only number I know is our request line. If you give it to me, I'll call. Yeah, and we can have a race to see who gets answered first, you with the studio or me getting rescued from the elevator company. I don't understand, sir. Ah, you've never called a radio station request line before. No, I have not. We have two in-studio lines, thousands of people calling. Do the math, let me at least try. I give him the number, he puts me on hold, then comes back. It's busy. So you say you're in Seattle. Huh, yeah, you a Ken Griffey Jr fan. He's my favorite mariner, for sure. Cool, yeah, mine too. Just then the elevator started moving and I made it to the studio with five minutes to spare. Yeah, great story, klein.
Speaker 1:But how does this help with your claustrophobia. Simple I don't use elevators anymore. Fear the dark Klein, carry a flashlight. Fear of heights, live in a basement. Basically, my answer to any fear is just do the opposite. If something scares you, don't do it. Fear of flying, drive. Fear of crowds, stay home. Fear of failure Don't try anything. Look, overcoming fear is overrated. It involves a lot of work and discomfort Unnecessary discomfort. So just do things that are comfortable and don't cause stress, which, incidentally, is also how I deal with my fear of dying. Good luck In the news.
Speaker 1:In a new poll, only 33% approve of President Biden's job performance, while 58% disapprove Former President Trump's ratings for the job he did when he was in office or 41% approval and 53% disapproval. We seriously can't find anyone better than these two. Look, I know the job hasn't been about who's best for the country in decades. It's a rich person popularity contest. Don't be surprised when the day comes that we're voting for the Rock Kevin Hart ticket. The problem is this guy to my right will completely sabotage the candidate. 100% 20, 24. 100% yes. So that's the problem.
Speaker 2:I'm the guy that will take it down. Literally sabotage from the inside. Yes, I will take it down. I don't want it to happen, just because it would make you that much better than me.
Speaker 1:For a Jason Kelsey Travis Kelsey ticket.
Speaker 2:If you would have started off with my Fellow Americans, that would have been such a showstopper.
Speaker 1:Or even a Kanye West, his multiple personalities ticket. Everybody says who does he think he is?
Speaker 2:I just told you who I thought I was A.
Speaker 1:God Survivor winner turned Kentucky lawmaker, nick Wilson, is clarifying things. After filing a state bill last week that would legalize sex between first cousins, he's called this a mistake Shocking. I know, I thought that already was legal in Kentucky. Finally, during the past CES Consumer Electronics Show, a new device that will be available publicly later this year was unveiled. It will allow us to move our computer cursor using only our tongue. A fucking lazier, we, holy shit. The device is being called the mouse for the mouth.
Speaker 1:I always thought that was the clitoris. Oh my god, behold my glory. What are you? I am the clitoris, the clitoris. I did it. I found the clitoris Basically what this device does. It attaches to the roof of our mouth. So now we'll be staring at our computer screen looking like a dog that just ate peanut butter when we scroll what? This is going to replace carpal tunnel with carpal bungle. You so fucking stupid when you talk. That made me laugh. I mean, what are we going to have like cramped up tongue? You're a stupid dumbass. Seriously, these are the questions that have kept me awake at night after I read this article.
Speaker 2:Ladies and gentlemen, I give you your moron.
Speaker 1:My guest this week is a continuation of my conversation with my high school classmate and boxing, kickboxing and black belt holofamer, Bridget Riley. This week we're going to talk about Bridget's lengthy career as a Hollywood stunt woman. She's the original yellow Mighty, Morphin Power Ranger, and she's stunt doubled for Scarlett Johansson, Amanda Seafrey, Maria Bello, Rosie Perez and several other high profile actresses. She's been in the Twilight saga movies, Bad Boys for Life, the Scorpion King, Million Dollar Baby she actually boxed against Hillary Swank and tons more movies than I'm sure you've likely seen. I go on IMDB. I see 50 something projects that you've been a stunt woman on, but some say most of them say uncredited. What does that mean?
Speaker 2:No, it's really weird. I don't. Even sometimes in movies I'm in. I mean, I get the residual, I worked it. I'm not in the credits. It's really weird.
Speaker 2:I think I don't know if something gets messed up with paperwork or what and I let go of my IMDB pro because once I like once I got cancer, I just thought I'm done, I'm done with everything. I really thought the jig is up not to be negative, nancy, so I got rid of stuff that I was paying for IMDB pro. So a lot of stuff is on and I can go in there. I think, if I get it back and and I'm like this one agent who I might be working with is like you have to, you have to do IMDB pro I'm just like I've been paying. I mean you're paying for so many things. I'm like the stunt I'm in these, like I got off all of it, all the stunt. Like there's these little stunt things you need to subscribe to and be a part of. There used to be a book and now everything's online and I'm just like if you don't know me, you know I'm not doing it and I need to.
Speaker 2:I really didn't think like one of the last things my mom said to me was you're not done and I want you to get back out there. And it was right before she died, like it was like four days before. She was still a little coherent and she just said you're not done, you're not. And I'm like mom, I mean because I have stuff. You know I deal with some stuff and I couldn't get Social Security disability because I make residual income but it's still not enough to like. I mean I get by but it's not. It's just a catch 22 and I just know if I can fully go back and work because I had a stoma, I had an ileostomy bag. I have no rectum. They took it out. I have some issues. I have something called Lars Low Anterior Recessions Syndrome. Nobody tells you these things.
Speaker 1:Explain Lars.
Speaker 2:Okay, so the cancer I had rectal it's really. I mean, the American Cancer Society wants me to call it colorectal, it was rectal cancer. I had rectal cancer. It sat way low in my rectum and they found it by getting a colonoscopy.
Speaker 1:Which your mom encouraged.
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:So she saved your life.
Speaker 2:She was like, just do it. She saved my life If I kept waiting. And I was like, oh, I did. Like, right, I did a pilot in Atlanta. It was a boxing and I played a part. It was really cool, but it didn't get picked up and then I got bad boys for life. So my mom is like, yeah, you got to get that coloscopy. I go after bad boys. And so, thank God I did.
Speaker 2:But so my colorectal surgeon. It was a long, like a six and a half hour surgery and he removed my entire rectum and there was a line, there was a margin. He goes if I pass it, you'll have a bag for the rest of your life. And I was just like what? And you know I didn't understand that he goes, you're going to wake up with a stone.
Speaker 2:I mean, I had all these meetings at the hospital Like they, they were telling me I didn't quite get it. All I all I was hearing is we think you're going to live. You know what I mean. Like we think you know what I mean. So I'm like, okay, whatever. And I woke up with a bag and a stoma and I knew I could either wake up with it or not. And I remember when I came to and I looked down, I was like damn, oh well, okay, I'm going to have to figure out how to do this Like, let's go. And that was a lot. That was a lot. And because of COVID, they looked at it, because they do a reversal and about six to eight weeks later, while everything's healing, because they reattach my what used to be my rectum with the sphincter, it is what it is.
Speaker 2:You know that needed time to heal. But because of COVID I had, I had that bag for like a year and I was like I can't work. I mean, I can teach a class on it. Yeah, it was a lot. And so I'm like I can't work with this. I mean, and there are people with a bag who do things, who do amazing things, who run marathons, and I'm all for it. It was a lot. It was a lot and I felt like my life is over, yeah.
Speaker 2:So I went through the whole thing and the whole depression and the whole like my whole identity is gone. And I know better because I already I already went through that with fighting. Letting go of fighting was like taking a bullet, you know. And then, but I'm like I'm alive. So I'm going to have to figure this out. I'm going to have to figure out something else to make me feel like I'm still on this planet. And when my mom said you can, you're not done, I went okay and I, I literally it's weird I got a call to do a League of their own up in Pittsburgh, which is the remake from the film, and I worked a week and I didn't think I could. I didn't even think I could travel and I just prayed about it and I do intermittent fasting and I got through it. I got through it and I'm like okay. So now I'm doing. I did a couple little jobs acting because I'm I really want to get back to acting.
Speaker 1:You've got one in post production right now that you're the female lead, right? Don't you play Norma?
Speaker 2:That is, we're hoping to sell it. But I was, I was the mom. Yeah, so we'll be called the force. And that was exciting because Florida there's like all these young students and you've got Orlando, tampa and all these. You know we're way down in Naples and I had to drive up but there's these young, hungry directors and I'm just like I want to act again and you know, just reading and being a part of it it's different, it's non union. And then I was nervous about getting in trouble because I'm sad, I'm like I'm acting, I have, I have to do non union. I'm not going to go walk on to a major TV. You know it's. That's the reality. Nobody knows who I am as an actor. They know me as a stunt woman and as a stunt woman you get pigeonholed and they put you in a box and they don't even think you can deliver a line and I'm like give me a chance, man.
Speaker 1:So acting is not easy. Acting is hard. A lot of people don't realize how hard acting is, and I didn't either, until I took a class and I was like I can't do this.
Speaker 2:I think you could.
Speaker 1:Well, no, the reason that I can't, the reason that I can't do it, is this I'm a people pleaser, okay, and I'm doing this one line, and the teacher is like okay, do it this way. Okay, now do it this way. All right, now do it this way and do it this way, and all the whole time I'm thinking I'm doing it wrong. I'm doing it wrong Not really the case, but that's what I'm thinking- it's hard, it's so freaking hard, it is hard.
Speaker 2:And Bob, when we were in LA he went to Baron Brown, which is a major acting studio out there. They had Xenero and Halle Berry, the list goes on and on and I did it for six weeks and I was like I can't do this. It takes your whole life and emotionally prepping and it was Meisner and you know it's like acting, reacting, listening, and he did it for a year. He did really, really good and I thank God I got a job and stunts. I was like I'm done.
Speaker 1:You have to know acting to be able to do stunts, because you're just not out there being athletic. You actually have to be a performer too.
Speaker 2:You're action acting, which is really hard, and a lot of times not having lines and acting is harder than having lines. You know to fill the space and you just got to get there. I really like it now, like I'm up for the challenge. I'm like I really am. I'm like I need to do this. It's my first thing, you know, so I'm like let's go back.
Speaker 1:So you said earlier that you kind of, after boxing, lost your identity. What's your identity now?
Speaker 2:A child of God. Just I mean, I am, you know, not you know, not freak you out, but I just have a faith in God and I'm like we made me and I am whole, I am complete, and I'm his daughter. I'm daughter to the king of everything, who created everything, who made everything, and that's who I am. And I'm a housekeeper and I love that. I love my little home. I'm a wife. I love making dinner for Bob, like I love. I love cleaning my home. I'm OCD and you know. So I, I love all that and I've just slowed down. I'm a minimalist and I really love my walks. I love nature, I love to just be outside and I love, I love my halo, my circle of friends who are fighting cancer right now. Who I man? I'm their biggest cheerleader. You know, that's my identity.
Speaker 1:After I retired, I struggled. I struggled with, you know not. I always said that I that's how I make my living, Radio's how I make my living, Pediatric cancer and philanthropy is how I make my life. But I ducked away from both of them, you know. I mean, I, I literally just took off. People to this day still don't like me for the way I left, but yeah, I needed to.
Speaker 2:Now why, if you don't mind me asking what, what? Why did you just say okay, I need a break.
Speaker 1:The personal reason was because I tried to do something in my running in 2019 and I failed and I looked at myself as a fraud and I didn't think I could go on the radio and ask people to pay attention to our cause and listen to our show.
Speaker 2:Hmm, being a fraud and you're not, and I like how you self analyze but that's a lie because you're not a frog. But when you feel that when you're walking through that thing, it's very scary, yeah, it is, it's depressing, you know, and it's like, what am I supposed to do now? Like, am I supposed to be like Mickey, work in the wrestler and go, you know, chop some beef in the back of the kitchen? Like what really? What am I? What can I do now? Like I get it. I understand that my wheelhouse. I came up with Chad Stahelski who directs all the John Whit movies and my demo reel. I can't kick like that anymore. I can't do all that stuff. When I went through 28 radiation treatments it changed me and I have scar tissue and I had a hip replacement and I can't kick anymore like that. I could maybe kick a little person, but I mean, yeah, you know, I don't have that skill set and I cannot do the gymnastics I used to do. I'm limited and that's scary. I can't be me.
Speaker 1:That's what I was gonna ask you. It's funny that you kind of took this into this direction, but is that what you miss about your youth?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:I miss having my confidence is different because I knew I was a triple threat. I mean I could fight, I could do gymnastics, I was very athletic, it's. I can't do all that stuff anymore. It's just the reality. Besides cancer and all the stuff, I'm getting older. I just can't. I can still get down and fight any day of the week, but as far as the flashy stuff but I do like to see films losing that, like the whole, all the wired gags I just don't. I don't have that skill set anymore.
Speaker 1:It is scary, but you know, like you said, we're getting older, but don't you still feel like you're 18 in your head? I do, I do. I feel like I'm walking the house. I feel like I'm walking the house. Oh, oakville.
Speaker 2:Oakville.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Right.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:You, I'm like and I'm not done. I still have passion, I wanna do things. I just don't have the confidence. I can't go to a coordinator and say, yeah, I can do all of that, I can't. I gotta keep it real. You know, I'm not gonna write a check. My rear end can't cash cause I see these young girls coming up and they do that. They say stuff and on the day when they get and put in a hot spot and I was always in a hot spot, I was always in the hot seat when they get put in a hot seat, they're like they can't do it, they cannot deliver, and that's worse than anything. I mean that's hot, you know. And I see these young girls. I'm just like, don't. Don't say you can do something you can't do.
Speaker 1:What is a hot seat?
Speaker 2:Don't gamble. It's like a hard stunt.
Speaker 1:You know like like jumping from a car to a moving. Suv.
Speaker 2:Yeah, yes, flipping over a rail, landing on a cop car, that's moving, yeah, like these are hard stunts, like everybody can fight and a lot of people can drive and a lot of people, you know, have they have their specialty. I have a lot of respect for all that stuff. You know, everybody has their little specialty and I always try to be more rounded. But I wasn't, I'm the fight girl. I'm the fight girl. But those hard stunts like there's, I'm just like even another pretty famous stunt woman.
Speaker 2:She was at an audition and it was for a boxing commercial to fight Clarissa Shields, who they're calling the goat, you know gold medal and all that. And thank God I booked it because it was on. She would have knocked out every other stunt girl I know in the business, especially this other one who can do a lot of really cool, flashy, which Libre, all that fancy shit. And you know, I'm just can't wait till that goes out, kind of like when Hong Kong stunts went out. I want, I like reality, realistic fights, like let's keep it real, let's keep it. I don't want to look at that and go is that a wire? You know what I mean? Like obviously it is. I don't want to question wow, was that organic, was that natural? I like that. That's what I want to do.
Speaker 1:When you're doing fight scenes and I want to talk about a lot of the different aspects of stunt work but when you're doing a fight scene, are you really making contact with the other person?
Speaker 2:Sometimes, a lot of times, they don't want you to. I have a rap where I like a little contact. I kind of like Bruce. I just watched this thing with Quentin Tarantino and talking about Bruce Lee, how he hurt Some guys don't like him and I never heard that story and they he would hurt them, he would make contact and hurt them. And there was. I was on something and one of the stunt guys was like, hey, you don't really have to sink it, you know, gotta really hit. I'm like I'm not sinking it, I'm giving you a little contact. I'm like God, you can hit me to the body a little bit. I'm like put your big girl pants on or go change your tampon. Like shut up and let's go. I like a little bit of contact. And like on Star Trek Beyond and I forget his name and I love him from the raid, raid, redemption, which is like our Bible.
Speaker 2:It's an Indonesian stunt team and their fight scenes are sick and he came on as a bad guy in Star Trek Beyond and I got to fight him and he's an actor and he wanted to go and I mean we freaking kicked the crap out of each other and most stunt people are like oh, you don't have to. You know you got you can't hit the actor, but they can hit you. You never want to hurt an actor. You're trying and you're trying to pull it and have you know get close and how they shoot it, where they put camera and all that. But I like contact If I'm fighting the stunt guys.
Speaker 2:But one of the biggest jokes on a movie called Serenity, I was doubling Summer Glau and Chad Stahelski and Hito Kota. They were running it and they put the whole fight together. And when Summer Glau did it, when we're shooting, you know all the stunt guys. It's like 15 stunt guys they're all you know gearing up. Chad goes, okay, now we're gonna put Bridget in, and they're like, ah, and they all run to their stunt bags and they're patting up and yeah. So I yeah, you're not really supposed to unload that much, but I think it brings a little more reality to it and I'm a fighter at the end of the day and I'm just like, suck it up.
Speaker 1:So the what you're talking about with Serenity is that on your demo reel? Is that because I thought I really I'm watching that and I'm going? Did she stunt double for the crazy 88s?
Speaker 2:Summer Glau.
Speaker 1:Yeah, yeah, but I thought maybe you might have done it for or for Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, cause it looks just like the same scene.
Speaker 2:That was Zoe Bell, who was a good friend of mine in LA and Quentin loved her, and I never worked on that, though I don't know what happened, I don't know if I missed the audition and she's tall, like they're tall, and so I never worked on that, but yeah, I don't know. Chad choreographed the Serenity fight and we shot that thing. I mean, we shot that shit out of it pretty, pretty quick.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's amazing. You like take on like 18 or 20 guys, you know, all coming at you. How does the breaking of a glass bottle over somebody's head work? Because that happens often in that scene.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it's fake. I mean they special effects, visual effects, they all work together and they design it. It's kind of like candy glass or breakaway glass anytime you see, and a lot of times on a big thing of glass you've got you're working with, it's a timed thing. When it goes hot they set it up to help it explode a little bit. But your timing has to be perfect and you can still get really cut up, like I've gone through major glass where you just you know, and once you land you don't move. It's like hold on and you close your eyes and they spray it but you get little cuts and nicks all over the place and so the glass is similar, it'll still hurt.
Speaker 2:On scary movie too, I remember Keenan Ivery Wayans was playing around and I was doubling Kathleen Robertson and it was like he had this like vase and he goes well and he goes lean back, bridget, we could maybe do this. And he just drops it and it, freaking, wasn't scored, like we scored things. That helps it break a little bit easier. It wouldn't even scored. It hit me so hard in my head I almost I mean I got my bell wrong and my other stunt friends are like what is he doing. It's like sometimes they just don't think.
Speaker 2:You know, what I mean. They think you're indispensable. Oh, we got another one. You know, like Hong Kong, I'm like freaking, I go through underwear. It's like ridiculous, and so, yeah, I was like I can't believe he did that and I mean that left the mark. But yeah, normally it's scored. They make like they go back and they make set, direct decorators and all of the effects people. They design it, they make it, they give us all fake stuff and but you can still get hurt. You can still definitely get hurt.
Speaker 1:How many takes does a stunt? Do you have to get it right in one take or do you have to do multiples?
Speaker 2:Oh, we want to get it in one. But sometimes you get directors, especially new directors or not secure directors, that they're not sure and they'll cut, and a lot of times you got to turn around on a shot. So you do have to. You know you get it and you got to turn around on it and they'll get different angles. And I mean I've done takes, 20 takes, and when you're hitting the ground and you do not want to do that Now I've also nailed first take a lot.
Speaker 2:But there's a lot of factors because if something gets in the shot, if the boom gets in the shot, the camera's not right. You know, because some directors they're very particular on you know, your camera, your study cam. There's so many factors. I you know what I mean and so a lot of times you just it's normal to do several takes. Now when I do stair falls I really don't want to do a whole bunch of those. So I make friends with the camera men all the time. Everything I've worked on, I always make friends with them and they're cool, they're hella cool.
Speaker 2:And the grips. I'm just like hey, are you seeing me? How much are you seeing me? Are you seeing? You know, like, if you're not seeing me. I'm not gonna sell out every time on this. You know, like, and it depends who your coordinator is right, cause some stunt coordinators want you to do it every time. Every time, I'm like no, I want to save my people. I'm gonna save you, for you know like, I'm not gonna. If you're, especially if you're not even in the shot, like you know, stop it, grow a set. But you see these insecure, very insecure. You know new guys or guys that are just their kiss asses, and they're, you know they're stroking the producer. It makes me sick. I just want to throw up. I'm just like-.
Speaker 1:Well, somebody could get seriously hurt.
Speaker 2:Yeah, no or dead.
Speaker 1:Or dead.
Speaker 2:Like no joke, and I have to double check, triple check my wife. You know I always work with really good wire teams. I've been very fortunate.
Speaker 1:Explain that.
Speaker 2:Because you're the guy on like, on your wires, like, so we have harnesses especially made for us and they're not cheap and you harness up and you get hooked up. And so different wires like uncharmed, I got ratcheted all the time. It's flat. You know like, boom, yeah, I'm flat, I'm hitting walls. And then sometimes when you go to the floor you got to really know how you got to tuck your chin and you know you got a spot and you just need to know air sense and a lot of people don't have air sense, Like, and you have to have that air sense and know where you're at. And different wires there's some million different wire gags. I'm good on wires. I know how to ride a wire. I've done a lot of that. I've done ratchets. Hand pulls are nice. They're a little more forgiving. When you're on a ratchet, I mean you are, it's got pressure and it's set up like what's that scary one I did?
Speaker 2:I can't think of it. It was a horror movie and I'm a witch and I'm running, running forward and when I hit my mark this guy's gonna shoot me and I'm gonna get yanked to my back and the director did not want a pad in the shot. I was just like, oh, this is gonna suck. And it was like four in the morning always that's our big joke. Oh, let's wait, let's save stunts for their major gag at four in the morning Awesome.
Speaker 2:And so that one the first one was beautiful, and the second they wanted one more for safety, and I don't like when they do that either. That's usually when people get hurt. If you got it, move on, Check the gate, let's go. I don't know when I did Millie Dollar Baby and I got to work with the master Clint, he was like one take, one take. He knew when he had a shot, he knew it and he knew he didn't have to keep doing so many takes. He knew when he had it and I was like, wow, that's experience and that's assurance, Like he knows who he is, he knows when he's got his shot.
Speaker 1:You know, you were Hillary Swank's opponent number two. You can't hit her, but she gets to hit you. Is that what it is?
Speaker 2:It was like don't blink, you know, like she hit me and I got up and then she knocked me out. But it was fun to see her work Like she's, she's. I was impressed. I was impressed with her. She did her stunt double, never dressed out, she actually did all her fights, hillary, wow.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I was really impressed In a fight scene. How many times do you have to rehearse that?
Speaker 2:A lot.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Now television not as much. Television's fast. Tv's fast and depending how they're shooting it. Some TV shows are getting very sophisticated where they look like feature films, but for a film we usually get especially a big film like Twilight we get a lot of rehearsal time, almost to a fault, like I feel like, cause it keeps changing and we shoot it's called a pre-this and it's like we shoot it to show the director and then he'll go. Eh, eh, like Joss Whedon. Joss Whedon, who's major you know, he didn't like, he didn't like. I remember he looked at Serenity and he's and Chad put like cool music to it. It was, it was awesome and he went. Eh, yeah, I don't really like the music. Keep working on it. Chad was just like dude. They're insecure Because a lot of these stunt coordinators become second-year directors and they really know how to shoot action and they're threatened.
Speaker 2:A lot of these directors are threatened by that and you see, it's just like I just really like secure directors who are cool, who understand. It's like I think every director needs to get in a harness and hang from a wire for a minute and you feel what that feels like, because they'll just leave you hanging, they'll just leave. Sometimes they'll leave you and I'm like hello, you know, and you, almost, you feel like your organs are shutting down. I'm like I don't know if I have any kidneys left right now. Can you get me up? Like Will Smith literally said, get her up. He was great, he was great, and you know. So I really appreciate actors who respect us and a lot of them think we're cool, you know, but a lot of them I hide from.
Speaker 2:I hid from Sophia Boutella on Star Trek Beyond. I was like I, you rehearsed on double yes and she did not like it. She's like budget, budget. Why are you here? I do all my stunts and I'm just like because this guy is gonna kick the shit out of you. And you know what. You definitely want it to be me. That's not me. That's a naive actress, though, and she's amazing. She's a dancer Like. I'm like holy crap, like she's very talented, but fighting's a different thing and you know, when you really wanna have some contact, no, we can't knock you out.
Speaker 1:You're talking about. She was a dancer. You were a dancer. I didn't know that you actually danced for the for the storm in St Louis. I didn't know you did that.
Speaker 2:A million years ago. Yeah, I liked hip hop, me and you. You remember Kim Kim Perkins?
Speaker 1:Yeah, absolutely, I want to listen to Über Kim.
Speaker 2:Yeah, she was a year younger than me and we had a group called KB Posse and we went to remember clubs 747 and all the clubs and that we danced against the outside dogs and Minaj, like that was our thing, man. And we got really good because of the Golden Girls, thank God. And we went to camp and I became a UDA instructor, tracy Wilk and I, we went all over the country and I was with real dance and I just faked it Like I knew a little I could dance right, because I could hip hop, but I had dance from being a gymnast in the floor routine, but I just faked it and all those girls were like they danced their whole lives. They went off and became Laker girls. You know, yeah, I'm just like I don't know, I just could, I could mimic, I could, I could watch something and I could pick it up and mimic it, which is good for stunts, because we want to. We want to move as much like our actor, you know, as pop you know. But it is what it is. But yeah, that's, and I taught this awesome dance.
Speaker 2:I went back and I showed it to Kim and she's like let's compete, let's get in the dance contest. I was terrified. We rehearsed, rehearsed. I remember we were about to I go, kim, I don't think I can do this, let's wait till next week. And Kim said no way in hell we're doing this. She didn't do it and that that was the best time of my life dancing. Doing that, oh my gosh. And we started beating everybody.
Speaker 1:Well, but boxing and kickboxing takes care of the athleticism in stunt work. I got to think that the Golden Girls in UDA really helps with the choreography memorization.
Speaker 2:Oh my God, totally, because we had to learn 12 dance routines in like four days. I'm not a dancer, right. So I mean I was up on that. I was practicing in my room. You know what I mean.
Speaker 2:I'm like I'm going to talk about a fraud. I'm like they're going to find out, but yeah, I could just pick it up and it really helps with choreography. And it's really interesting because you see all these hardcore freerunners that are sick. They're so talented in these trickers that can do. I'm like, are you on a wire? They're not, they're just doing all this crazy shit. Like that wasn't around when I came up but you put them in just a basic three punch combination with three guys in a fight scene and it's not happy, it's not very good. So I'm grateful because fighting is it is a specialty and as a stunt person, you've got to know how to do it, because the majority of stunts are going to come down to a fight. Our gun play, gun play, weapons. I can pick up anything and fake it.
Speaker 2:I'm not that trained. I just I'm really not and I was a lazy. I should have trained harder for stunts. I had the opportunity. I did Like Chad was like you need to be here every weekend. Every weekend I'm like ugh, all I want to do is fight. So on all my downtime, I wanted to be in the gym, I wanted to fight. I didn't care about the stunt thing. So sometimes I look back and I go man, I really had, I had insane opportunity. I mean in Asantos I could have gone, I could have trained with all those guys, and I just, I just didn't. Once in a while I'd put in just enough, just enough to be like, ok, I hit my quota.
Speaker 1:It's so easy to sit back and second guess what if I had done this? What if I had done that? I mean we make our choices and I mean you hope that it works out for the best, and obviously it has for you. I wouldn't. I have no regrets. I have no regrets about any of the decisions that I made.
Speaker 2:That's awesome. Yeah, well, it's Are you interested in having a tattoo, yeah, but just think.
Speaker 1:I mean, if you second guessed every decision you ever made when you were younger, holy crap, you'd be paralyzed.
Speaker 2:That would have been. You'd have been stuck on pause.
Speaker 1:Yeah, for sure, for sure.
Speaker 2:It's frozen.
Speaker 1:So when you're doing a stunt, how long are you on set?
Speaker 2:Depends. Some days are. I mean, you get in, you get out and we love those days, but those are rare. I have done a lot of like on Twilight, breaking Dawn and we shot that in my section, our section Baton Rouge Boy. We had 15, 16 hour days Like literally we call it a forced call because they're in our contract. We're supposed to have a certain amount of time to sleep. We didn't even have time to sleep.
Speaker 1:Really.
Speaker 2:And when they do that, you get a forced call which is it's like you love it because of the money. It's double day, it does scale, and it's like, oh, those add up. I mean you could pay after house. And so I was like, yeah, this is great, but then only to a point where I need to sleep now, like my body is and it was rough, so it all depends.
Speaker 1:Well sleep deprivation causes you could make mistakes easily.
Speaker 2:Completely, completely, totally. I'm just like I'm not even in the industry and I know that. Yeah, and we fought to get that in our contract. That's why we have a union, wow. So when they stretch it, it's kind of like, and then it just really depends on your stunt coordinator how much he's going to go to bat for you, how much he's going to fight for you. Some of them they just lay down.
Speaker 1:Have you choreographed before.
Speaker 2:I've done some student films in LA. I've helped, I've assisted, but it's not really where I want to go. Ok, because when you're a coordinator, you're married to it, like you're in the meetings, you're in the I mean it's just. And then a lot of them didn't get residuals and I'm hoping that got changed because we were just on strike. I'm hoping that got changed. I don't want to be a stunt coordinator. I don't feel, even in all my experience, it's a lot and you really are responsible for these lives and I just would rather be the stunt person. I still feel that great at it. I'm more of a performer, yeah.
Speaker 1:I get it, I totally get that. So when you're, I was looking on IMDB as the internet movie database and if you want to find out about an actor or an actress, you go there and list all their projects and stuff like that. And I looked on yours and you've if it's believable sometimes it's not believable, but Scarlett Johansson, you were stunt double for her and you were stunt double for Clarice.
Speaker 2:Leachman.
Speaker 1:Yes, how do you do that age range and makeup? How long does that take?
Speaker 2:Wow, Well, that was all prosthetics and those guys are amazing and you sit like what was that one? That was really funny. She's a hoot.
Speaker 1:Oh, I bet she was.
Speaker 2:She was so hilarious lady, but like, where was I? Well, for Star Trek I was in the chair, prosthetics six and a half hours. Like you just sit there and they're putting all these pieces and that's why you do the mold. They make all these pieces and they put, like I had a whole head thing, and then they spray paint you. So you're god knows the toxins you're breathing in, but you're not thinking about it then. But literally I would get my calls so they would pick me up and this was in Vancouver, pick me up. I get, like, say, a 2.45 AM call, pick me up, drive me 25 minutes. I get into effects and I'm sitting in the chair for six and a half hours and then I get wardrobe on and then they call me to set and we rehearse and then I come back finishing touches, go back to set, shoot like 12, 13. I mean those. I really lost sleep on that one. But I made a lot of money. I paid off my credit card debt. They rarely, they rarely, yay, they rarely.
Speaker 1:Are there times that you'll do a stunt and it'll end up on the editing floor?
Speaker 2:All the time.
Speaker 1:Does that piss you off?
Speaker 2:Yes, some of my best work is on the floor and back then I didn't like hustle or try to get my my footage. Nowadays, I mean, everybody's walking around with their iPhones. I still feel I'm old school. You don't walk around with your iPhone on set, everybody does, and I just you know they're all like we sign all these NDS and I don't know how. I mean I will. I will now because I want to get some pictures and prove that hey, I did this shit, but I'm frigging my friend. Shit's not a dirty word in Texas, that's what Bob says?
Speaker 2:Not at all no not at all, not at all. But yeah, so much, so many times it doesn't make it, you know.
Speaker 1:When you worked on Iron man, was it Iron man two?
Speaker 2:Yes.
Speaker 1:Were you ever on set with Gwyneth?
Speaker 2:Not her.
Speaker 1:Okay.
Speaker 2:I doubled Sienna Miller and GI Joe, gi Joe Okay.
Speaker 1:Two.
Speaker 2:But there were two of us. I had been working in Vancouver for six months on Watchmen and the coordinator needed me back and I was almost done and the coordinator in Vancouver is like, no, I can't let you. I've gotten like but I could be on the number one, double on GI Joe, or it was GI Joe too, anyway. So they had to bring in somebody else but I was the number two and a lot of the superhero movies there's five like for the guys, a lot of them For the gal superheroes like I was the only one on Watchmen and Serenity, but on the bigger, like those, we had a couple and I was glad to be there, you know.
Speaker 1:I was glad to be there. Oh sure Do you get to spend a lot of time with the stars on set.
Speaker 2:Some, some. I run away, I try to hide, but I need me. Yeah, because a lot of times we need to make sure they're safe and we also need to pad them up, even, you know, because the director always wants them to start and finish and catch pieces of it and then we'll come in and, you know, do it. But a lot of times, like Tori Spelling, I had to put a harness on her and she was so teeny, teeny tiny and I had that was Gary, movie 2. And she and I was doubling her also, I was doubling a couple of people and she was like she told us, not for any of my butt was too big. She said that, no, I was like whatever I love my work and I can roundhouse kick you.
Speaker 1:I could punch you. Keep your thoughts to yourself.
Speaker 2:They crashed a TV over me. They dragged me and ripped me across the table. I'm like I'm selling out for you.
Speaker 1:I have some effects you know, but and that that that leads me to a question that you're selling out for the star. You know, like an NFL quarterback, at the end of the year will give their offensive line a Christmas gift for protecting them. Do the stars give their stunt poke Gives like that.
Speaker 2:I wish Keanu Reeves was my stunt double because he gives motorcycles and he gives real big gifts, but y'all get little things like model, and Ackerman gave me like a hundred dollar bottle of champagne and a couple other actors have given me like flowers, like you know sweatshirts. Like Amanda Seyfried, I doubled her on Gone and she she gave me a real Patagonia like cool, like sweatshirt hoodie. Yeah, a lot of them at the end at rap they give stuff, little things. It's very nice, it's, it's really nice. Yeah, that's super cool, that's really super cool.
Speaker 1:So I know in a previous interview you said that you are always setting goals and constantly moving the bar. What's your goal now?
Speaker 2:I'm going to find OK. So I'm speaking at another event for the American Cancer Society on the 20th and then right after that I want to get into an acting class live. I've done the zooms and I want to. I want to do the theater here and I want to go. I want to go train. I'm really, really excited to, to, to pour myself in.
Speaker 1:Well, will you have an advantage because you've worked with so many directors before?
Speaker 2:Hmm, I think yeah, because I have set etiquette, I have, I have experience, but acting is like, like we said, it's, it's a different animal. No, I really want to. I want to dive in.
Speaker 1:Well, I'm sure you will succeed, because you've succeeded at everything you do.
Speaker 2:Thanks, well, you're welcome.
Speaker 1:No, that's awesome. I can't wait to see you on the screen more without costumes, so I can say, hey, hey, my friend.
Speaker 2:Me.
Speaker 1:That's right. So are you still into?
Speaker 2:running Because.
Speaker 1:I know that when you were training and boxing and you were running a lot, you still like running.
Speaker 2:Well, I was obsessed with running and running is my therapy. But after, after the hip, my surgeon said running needs to stop. And I was like what you talking about, willa? My what? And after I was like no, that's my thing, that's my thing. And after radiation, because they made a cast for me to lay in and it was very targeted and I had 28 radiation. I had little tattoos. It did a number on me and nobody told me that I have. I had so much scar tissue and I didn't know that and it changed me. It changed me. And then you put the hip replacement on top of it. I just lost all that flexibility.
Speaker 1:So yeah, I can't run anymore.
Speaker 2:They're like stop running and I was like so I power walk. Not, I mean, I walk fast and I get a little weight and I box and you know I make it a workout and I love it. I love walking. I miss running, but you know what it's OK.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's one of the things with with cancer is you know? Yeah, sure we survive. I mean the kids survive, you survive, but 99 percent of the cases it leaves some serious scar tissue that it compromises what you're capable of doing and what you used to be able to do. You can't do anymore. It's sad.
Speaker 2:Yes, it's really sad, it's, it's hard and you know, I guess I just I've been fighting this for so long and Going through all this with my mom. I didn't really have time to feel sorry for myself or have a pity party, but there's been a couple times. You know, I'm in the shower and I just ball. I just ball because I'm not what I used to be and I miss it. I miss it. I miss being in that hot spot, I miss being the one, I miss the respect, the camaraderie and all that and I, I, I miss it and I, and it breaks my heart and I'm through depression.
Speaker 2:But I'm also so forward thinking and shifting, just, I make the shift and take those negative thoughts captive and I give it to God. I'm like, ok, open up a new door for me, like I'm not done, like, please, you know, help me have more desires and passion, because I kind of, just, you know, I, I, for a while there I really went through a thing where I was just like I don't know you know, I know exactly what you're talking about.
Speaker 2:Very depressed. And then, looking at social media, that wasn't helping. I'm like, ok, because everybody's a narcissist on there. I call it self included that you have to be, you got to promote yourself and I'm just like this is not helping me, I don't want to hear about, and I hated that. I was becoming bitter, I was becoming hopeless. I was that's not who I am, that's not who God made me to be, and I was becoming that. I was becoming jealous. I don't, I never was jealous of anybody. I'm like, ever, ever. I wasn't a jealous person ever. I lift the people up, like let's go, let's be better. I'm a part of the. You know the solution, not the problem. Well, when I went through all that and I started seeing everybody else's success and they're like 20 years younger than me and I did I felt I hated, I hated.
Speaker 1:How much did Bob help?
Speaker 2:A lot he's very uplifting.
Speaker 2:He's really very positive and he's very pro God and he's just like you got to, you got to get out of that, we got to get you out of that, and he prays with me. So we pray together and I'll tell you what when you start praying, take it off yourself. It's kind of like my interacting Take it off me and put it on the person Put it. I start praying for other people. My halo, I see what they're going through. It really brings you back to what matters and it's like it's not all about that. There's much, there's much, much more to this life, this existence than that, you know, and maybe that's the lesson I don't know. God was the lesson Teach me, I want to be, I want to be teachable, I want to.
Speaker 1:I was very selfish as a fighter, very, very very Well, you have to be, you have to be. It's your, it's your life, it's your hell, totally yeah.
Speaker 2:But I went years like that missing. I mean I missed the birth of all Kim's kids, my best friends, weddings. I miss you, miss, you, miss stuff and I miss my dad dying and so I think God I got that redeemed, getting to go be there for my mom.
Speaker 1:Sure.
Speaker 2:So it's like awesome, like God works all things out for the good of those who are called his children, and I'm just like, okay, there's, there's a purpose here. I don't see it. I might not see it till I die, but you know what I'm going to just keep trying to put one foot in front of the other. My steps are ordered.
Speaker 1:I think, I don't think I don't think you have to wait till you die to find out your purpose. I think your purpose is already being fulfilled. It's in helping the, the halos that you're helping out right now. It's the mentoring that you did with the underprivileged kids. It's the entertainment that you provide people. I think that's your purpose and I think you found it.
Speaker 2:Thank you no.
Speaker 1:I didn't find mine. I didn't find mine till I was 35.
Speaker 2:You know, that's awesome though I love late bloomers yeah.
Speaker 1:I'm 38.
Speaker 2:Like I never thought I'd get married, you know it's like, but I think the best, I do think the best is yet to come, and we got to hold on to that, and you know, and we just got to. Okay, what? What are we going to do today? You know?
Speaker 1:carpeting. Yeah, I can't wait to find out what you do with the acting kid. That's going to be awesome.
Speaker 2:Thank you so much for this. I appreciate this.
Speaker 1:You're welcome, thanks for doing it and thanks for so much time. I appreciate it.
Speaker 2:You too. I'm proud of you.
Speaker 1:Proud of you too. Thanks, bridge, talk to you soon.
Speaker 2:Okay.
Speaker 1:Bye. My thanks to Bridget Riley for joining me and my thanks to you for listening. If you enjoyed this episode and you'd like to help support the podcast, please subscribe to our YouTube channel and leave a rating and review. Pretty sure, if you do, regardless of what you say, I'm going to use it on a future episode. And please share the fuzzy mic with your friends. We're trying to grow an audience as our fuzzy following grows. I'm definitely going to be indebted to you To stay connected with the fuzzy mic. You can follow on Instagram, facebook, twitter, also LinkedIn For video. Please subscribe to the fuzzy mic YouTube channel.
Speaker 1:The fuzzy mic is hosted and produced by Kevin Klein, production elements by Zach Sheesh at the radio farm. Social media director is Trish Klein. Join me next Tuesday for a new episode of the fuzzy mic. It's going to be an intense one. We're going to talk to somebody who knows exactly how it feels to be on death row. Don't want to miss this one. See you next Tuesday and thank you for listening. That's it for the fuzzy mic, thank you, thank you.