2002 TV News Archives

Smallville

December 29, 2002: An Interview with Smallville's Stunt Coordinator

KryptonSite have published an interview with the Stunt Coordinator for Season 1 of "Smallville", Lauro Chartrand. Here's an excerpt from the interview...

Q: Could you describe us a day as a stunt coordinator/performer on a show like "Smallville"?

LAURO: As the stunt coordinator for a show like "Smallville" your day never starts with what you are doing when you arrive on set. Everything that you are doing that day started a week or so prior in meetings and rehearsals. When I arrive on set I already know the order that the stunt sequence will be shot in from the call sheet that the A.D.'s prepared the day before. So usually on my way to work I go over who I will be having perform for me that day, who I will be having doing stunt safety if it's needed and what we will set up first.

When I arrive I'll report to the A.D.'s and get my radio and share my plan of attack with them so we are all on the same page and to make sure nothing has changed, because it usually does. Then either by myself or with my stunt crew I will set up pads or rehearse or even just talk through the events as they should unfold for the day. Then I'll usually talk with the director and we will run through the scene with the actors and stunt performers so everyone including the crew is aware of how we will make the stunt happen within the scene. I will supervise the shooting prior to the stunt sequence for the safety of the actors and to make sure the actions they perform will match with what I plan to have my stunt performers do. We'll finally get into the stunt sequence, I'll double check that everyone is clear on their action and in the right position and hopefully we only have to do it once. Once the stunt is over the stunt crew wraps up the pads or any other equipment we might be using like air rams or ratchets. The director continues to finish off the scene and I stay to supervise again making sure the end of the sequence is safe and matches with what the stunt performers did. This whole process can take anywhere from 4 hrs to 4 days depending on the size of the stunt and the stunt sequence.

As a performer things are much less complicated. I would show up at my designated call time and go through hair, make-up, and wardrobe. That can take anywhere from 1/2 hr to 6 hrs depending if prosthetics are involved. Once I'm ready I am usually called to set to watch the lead up to the scene I will perform the stunt in so I know how the actors are moving and what all the prior action is. I will help any actors that the stunt coordinator asks me to safety until it is my time to step in and perform. Prior to being called to do my stunt I will pad up as needed for the stunt I'm about to perform and be ready when they are. Finally they are ready and we go through the stunt sequence for camera as much as possible, then we go back to our original positions and get ready to shoot it. Once the stunt coordinator and the 1st A.D decide everything is safe to go we shoot the stunt. After we have successfully completed the stunt the whole stunt crew helps to wrap up any stunt equipment and get it off set as quick as possible. I stand by to see if the stunt coordinator or the director needs me for any other shots, and if not then I am wrapped for the day. I change out of wardrobe, get the make-up off, sign out and head home. This process can take from 4 to 18 hrs depending on the shoot and of course could last several days depending on the stunt sequence.

Read the complete interview at the KryptonSite website.



2002 Television News

Listed below are all the Television News items archived for 2002 organized into 4 categories:

“Smallville” News:

“Justice League” and “Superman” Animated Series News: “Lois & Clark” News: Other Superman Related Television News:

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