Acting : Ask Me Anything (AMA) 12/22 - 12/23 by Zuzana Fort

Happy Holidays to you and your family, Zuzana Fort! Thanks for doing another AMA!

"I believe it is vital to provide opportunities for everyone to be heard and to express themselves in a nurturing environment that would allow them to explore and grow." I know a place like that. Let me think... The name starts with "Stage." :)

I've heard that even if a person runs through a house, a movie needs a stunt performer and insurance. Do you know if that's true?

It all depends on the movie, the production company and the budget. And yes, often, that is the case. Sometimes, star actors are not allowed to perform even the smallest action sequences for fear they may sustain an injury and put the entire production on hold. That is why stunt actors are often called in. Also, sometimes you have one team shooting action sequences while another shoots the acting scenes with the main actors. As for insurance, generally, all productions must have insurance. It is commonly part of the contract and part of the entire filmmaking process, a clause that is non-negotiable. It makes sense if you think about how much is riding on the completion of the film.

Recently, I worked on an action film where the star sustained a minor injury, which nevertheless put the entire production on hold. Suddenly, people found themselves without work and on top of that, they had to cancel jobs they were booked for in the months ahead. Insurance helps to cover some of that financial strain.

Another reason for having insurance is the fact that many people have been burnt with insurance claims and workers' compensation. Producers are worried about getting sued and generally will not back a movie unless there's appropriate insurance in place.

As a stunt actor, I too, need to be sure that I am covered. I might not sustain a major injury, but I might break a leg or even pop a knee running through that house (maybe I am in stilettos and wearing an evening gown - I have had to do that) that would put me out of action for a while. It is reassuring to know that I am covered.

Thanks for the great, in-depth insight, Zuzana! I'm sure it'll help me when I write scenes. :D

Hi Zuzana - thank you for doing this AMA! You’re experience in life and as an artist is inspiring. I’m always amazed by people who can do multiple disciplines at a professional level. How do your different disciplines inform each other? How does acting inform your directing and your directing inform your stunt work, etc.?

Zuzana Fort Hi Zuzana, my questions would be: What advice would you give to a director, directing his first stunt action sequence? What should I be thinking about? What are my main considerations, beyond the obvious safety factors?

Great question, Geoff. I will try to answer...

It really depends on what sort of movie you want to make. On the classification and on your target audience. It is essential to know what is allowed and what is classified as an action film. For example, if you want to make a family movie, you may not be able to punch anybody in the face in your action sequences. On the other hand, if you’re making an MA movie, then go ahead and punch away.

Then you also need to understand what genre is your project. Is it an action film, or is it a fantasy film with mystical characters and supernatural powers? Is it a physical comedy, much like Jackie Chan movies? Once you decide on your genre and on your target audience, then you need to ask yourself, what do I want to achieve?

I believe that everything has to be justified, and having action sequences just for the sake of having them is pointless. Yes, you might blow away your audience, but is it going to contribute to the movie and the overall enjoyment of it?

One thing to remember is that just because it looks dangerous, it doesn’t have to be dangerous. That is where consulting with a stunt coordinator makes a huge difference. You may be surprised how the position of your camera, the angles and the lighting can all affect the overall impact of a stunt. Shooting from below can add height, so you don’t need to put your actors or your stunt performers at risk.

Storyboarding is a great way to prepare for a stunt and can add elements that you might not be aware of. In fact, some coordinators even use figurines and toy cars to plot out a sequence. Recently, I worked on a movie that involved over twenty stunt vehicles. The coordinators brought out a collection of matchbox cars and plotted the entire chase on a large table. It made a huge difference in the execution of the stunt. As for fight scenes, I highly recommend choreographing all your fight sequences as you would a dance number and shooting it in sections (remember, a lot can be added in editing).

Another important thing to remember is your characters and the plot. I will touch up on this later in my third blog, but if your characters are people who are not fit or have any fighting skills, then it goes without saying their action sequences need to reflect that. Or if your character is injured or has been on the run for weeks, their movement must reflect that too. If your hero is someone like Superman, then everything he (the actor/stunt actor) does must address his invulnerability. All of this needs to be addressed before you begin shooting and definitely not after. Having a script supervisor and a continuity person makes a huge difference too.

Another thing to remember is you don’t have to start with major stunts. If you shoot them properly and if you have the right people, your action sequences can be absolutely amazing yet not dangerous. Remember, it is all about the illusion, the effect you have on your audience. Yes, there are some movies and some actors who try and trump themselves, for example, Tom Cruise and his Mission Impossible (hence the name) movies. The stunts are as much a star of the film as the actor and the story. The danger is part of the overall experience of that movie. The audiences know Tom actually performs the stunts and that they were truly dangerous. That is part of the franchise. However, not all movies are like that and not all need to be like that.

Ultimately what you want to do is, surround yourself with professionals. Make sure that you do have a stunt coordinator and safety coordinator on site and that your performers, be they actors or stunt actors, know what they are doing and know what is expected of them. It is worth investing a little more money into your action sequences and knowing that they are well-planned and that everybody is safe and fit to film another day.

"Break a leg," and all the best in 2023.

Everything you know and everything you learn can only enhance your chances of a long-lasting and successful career in this business.

The advantage of having multiple skills is also being able to understand and be able to deliver the best outcome for the script. As an actor, I know how we generally become so absorbed in our roles that we really only see our part, and that is as it should be. In a way, in real life, we don’t know what is going on in other people‘s minds, and everything is an improvisation. This means that as actors, we often look at things from our perspective only and how they affect us. That may also mean that sometimes we get too attached to a scene or a piece of dialogue, but that scene or that dialogue may not be helping the script. It may actually be detrimental to the overall flow of the film, and that is where being a director and a writer helps me make tough decisions or accept those decisions. I understand that it is not personal, but some scenes have to go. Sometimes even some roles have to go because they’re just not moving the story forward, they are complicating the plot, and ultimately, we all want one thing, and that is for the film or TV show to be a success, to be enjoyed by audiences.

I am a huge believer in acquiring as many skills as possible. Naturally, that will enhance your chances of getting on set and working in the industry, but it also helps you with all the roles that you may end up having. It will help you when you’re a director because you know how to talk to your actors. You know how to address issues with the script with your writers because you are a writer, and you know how they feel and how they react. As a writer, you know how to talk to your actors and explain things because you are an actor, and you know how to talk to your actors about the characterization and motivation of the characters. Being a stunt actor, you understand physicality. You understand how to portray characters that have been injured or that are super skilled in martial arts because that is something you have studied.

So whatever chances you get to improve and study, do it as much as possible because it will only enhance your own chances of getting a job and working in the industry.

Zuzana Fort wow, thank you. I have clipped your reply to my Evernote files. Thank you for the generosity of your answer.

The project I’m asking about is Demme meets Fincher (Lambs & Tattoos). It is dark and foreboding. We have a big ‘drop’ scene stunt as an opener, for which we paid for a storyboarder to cover the sequences. There’s also a martial arts sequence later on, which I want to shoot ‘Hong Kong Style’ as Jackie Chan calls it, and a foot chase stunt sequence (we couldn’t afford cars on boats!) Many thanks again for your support.

A pleasure, Geoff, hope it helped. Your project sounds intriguing, keep me posted and I look forward to seeing it on the big or small screen. And all the best in the New Year.

Zuzana Fort thanks, Zuzana. So do I!

Hey Zuzana. No questions today but thought I'd share a new line.... "Though you are far, it feels that you are near." - TALES OF THE SUN.

PS. Happy Holidays!!

We are all much closer than we are led to believe... Our passion, our humanity and our unquenchable spirit unite us all... as do all our little weaknesses ... all that makes us human... HAPPY HOLIDAYS TO YOU ALL!!

Happy Holidays to you and your family, Zuzana!

Happy Holidays, hope you have been blessed with lots and lots of gifts - gifts of any kind, including those of friendship and love, the best kind of presents!!

Thanks, Zuzana Fort. Yes, the best kind of presents. :)

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