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What did you enjoy the most about working on the
film?
DS: It was very special working with my son in this
film. This is his very first professional stunt job and he did a
great job. I'm proud of him.
DKS: I liked flying through the air. That was fun.
Oh, and I had a bigger trailer than my dad.
How much
choreography is involved in stunt performances generally and
particularly on this film?
DS: There's a lot of preparation and choreography
that goes into every stunt performed. Safety first is our number one
priority.
What is your
idea of a perfect holiday?
DS: Everyday I wake up is a perfect holiday. I truly
feel blessed to have the opportunity to live my dream and make a
living doing exactly what I’ve always wanted to do - entertain.
DKS: Christmas is a perfect holiday because I get
gifts.
How did
having dad on the set help son’s performance?
DS: It made him feel more comfortable and safer
because his dad was there to make sure he didn’t get hurt. But I had
fun working on the movie. Morris Chestnut and Katt Williams talked
to him and were very nice.
How much rehearsal is involved in preparing for your stunts? Does it
vary if the film is an indie or studio project?
DS: The same amount of preparation and rehearsal
goes [into] working on indie and studio films. We always use extra
precaution to lower the risk of anything going wrong – safety first.
In preparing
for your scenes, describe the interactions that occur among film
director, stunt coordinator and performers?
DS: Usually the director tells the stunt
coordinator what kind of action he or she wants in the film. It’s up
to the stunt coordinator to hire the right stunt team (stunt
performers and riggers) to get the job done as safely as possible.
It’s up to the stunt performers to come prepared and perform the
stunt to their best ability as many times as possible, without
getting hurt.
In remarking on
your performance in Diary of a
Mad Black Woman, Tyler Perry called your work “Brilliant.” How
do you decide on which techniques to employ in a particular scene
and specifically the bathtub drowning attempt in Diary?
DS: In Diary of a Mad Black Woman, I stunt doubled
Charles, played by Steve Harris. Charles was paralyzed from the neck
down. Helen, played by Kimberly Elise, pushed the wheelchair with me
in it into the bathtub. I wasn’t able to move my arms and catch
myself during the fall because I was supposed to be paralyzed. She
pushed the wheelchair as fast as she could and I flipped into the
bathtub landing head first. It looked so brutal and real that Tyler
Perry jump out his chair and rushed in to see if I was okay after
the scene. He thought I was hurt, but I was fine. Now, every time I
see Tyler Perry, he smiles at me and says, "I know you were hurt. I
don’t care what you say Derrick. I know you were hurt."
And we laugh.
I really wasn’t hurt. But that’s the job of a
stuntman – to make actors look good in action scenes. I take pride
in my work.
What impact
has computer generated effects had on the live action stunt field?
DS: CGI is good sometimes. It lowers the risk of
stunt people getting hurt or killed during some of these impossible
action sequences in movies. I just don’t like when they overdo it in
movies. I prefer the action scenes to look as real as possible and
the only way to do that is have a real stunt performer doing it.
In addition to
your stunt work, you also act and have directed your first film. How
did you get your start as a director? What influenced you to direct
films?
DS: I have directed, wrote, produced and starred in
my first indie film titled "Jump Offs," which is being released
straight to DVD December 14th. So, look for it online -
www.jumpoffsthemovie.com.
I have been working on other people’s movies for a
long time. The industry has been good to me over the years. However,
I wanted more control in some of the projects I worked on. It was
time to take it to the next level. I started writing "Jump Offs" a
few years ago. I also reinvested some of my money and bought my own
film equipment. It was one of the best investments I’ve ever made.
First I started directing music videos for friends and local artist
and then I made the jump to feature films shortly after. It’s been a
long, hard road, but great experience for me. My influences are
Spike Lee, Tyler Perry and many more.
What lessons
have you taken away from producing your first film?
DS: You can do anything you put your mind to.
Instead of talking about it, just do it. It also helps to surround
yourself with positive people and the right team that believes in
you. And one more thing, never shoot a full feature film with one
camera. It sets up a nightmare for the movie editor [smiling].
What has the
film festival experience been like? The audience reaction to your
film?
DS: We got a nice warm welcome at the Hollywood
Black Film Festival in 2007. It made me feel good seeing and hearing
the audience laugh throughout the film...Lots of compliments on how
funny the movie is. I’m very proud of my first film "Jump Offs." I
look forward to directing many more.
How do you
decide on what acting projects to take? What do you look for?
DS: I take all of them. I appreciate a good
challenge. I really like the bad guy role. Everyone remembers the
villains.
In between acting projects, how do you keep the faith? What keeps
you hopeful that the next project is just around the bend?
DS: In between acting and stunt, I work on my own
projects. It’s a lot of work and very time-consuming. So I have very
little downtime to worry about what’s my next role. I’m truly
blessed.
What is your next project? DS:
Right now, I’m working as a stunt double in a movie called "Push,"
directed by Lee Daniels. In March 2008, I’m going to start shooting
“Jump Offs 2." The summer of 2008, I’m going to direct my first
action movie – lots of stunts and the best footage will not be left
out on the editing floor [grin].
Any plans for
dad to create a feature role for son?
DS: If my son shows the desire to pursue the
entertainment industry, he has my support and I’ll do whatever I can
to help and guide him in the right direction. I didn’t have any
family or friends in the business when I started. There's a lot of
who you know rules in the business. So, anything I can do to help my
friends and family who are serious about getting into the business,
I will.
M
December 2007
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