The Stunt Pod

Paul Jennings Part 2: Marvelling at his mullet

Episode 2 of our chat with 2nd Unit Director Paul Jennings.

We chat further about his career and delve into such films as Munich and The Dark Knight, plus look at his work on the horizon.

Hope you enjoy this as much as we did.

Don't forget to subscribe and leave as review!

 

Paul Jennings Part 1: A visitor from the eighties

Back in 1989 a young man wanted to be a stuntman. A film crew followed his journey and once it was aired the amount of people up and down the country who realised stonework was an actual job was huge.

His story is one of dedication and drive - gaining all of his appropriate qualifications and one or two bruises along the way. His impact on the film business has been extraordinary not only here but in particular in the US with work on movies like Batman Begins, Jack Reacher and Munich. 

He has branched into the world of 2nd Unit work and directs action all over the world.

In this two part episode, we talk about his career and the TV show that started it all.

Enjoy, please subscribe and leave a review.

Lilly Aspell

Lilly Aspell is Scottish-born actress famous for portraying the main
Young Diana (Gal Gadot) in Wonder Woman 2017 and the eagerly
anticipated Wonder Woman 1984. Her parents are both professional
jockeys and have encouraged  Lilly to enjoy the equestrian world. She
combines both acting and showjumping.
Jon talks about her career to date and her aspirations for the future in
this week's episode of The Stunt Pod

StuntBook Australia with Haydn Dalton

HAYDN DALTON is an Australian, so don't mention the rugby, or the cricket for that matter! However, his a good bloke. He's also a talented stuntman and the creator of STUNT BOOK AUSTRALIA, a dating app for production companies and stunt coordinators enabling them the chance to find their perfect match....for a stunt performer anyway.

 

We talk about his background and entry into the stunt business and how the stunt business in Oz if very different to that of the rest of the western world. We ask him about his early stunt jobs, doubling for ZACH GALIFIANAKIS on the HANGOVER movies, tearing all the ligaments in both knees during a stunt, his love of PINBALL, everything EVEL KNIEVEL and doubling for DONALD TRUMP!

 

All this and so much more on this weeks show.

Don't forget to leave us a five star review and help us get the pod to the top of the charts!

JEAN COULTER - The Charlies Angel who has a Hart to Hart with us

JEAN COULTER is one of those stunt pioneers you read about in cinema history books. When many of today's top stunt professionals were either in kindergarten or in utero Jean was falling down stairs, being knocked down by a car or rolling a car in a very short skirt, high heels and limited or no padding.

She has worked very hard to get to where she needed to be in order to work on shows like CHARLIES ANGELS, KOJAK, HART TO HART & THE STREETS OF SAN FRANSISCO - and has performed on the big screen in AIRPORT 77, CUJO, HONKY TONK FREEWAY, JAWS 2 & A VIEW TO A KILL.

She has also come up against those men, working in the business, who set out to make her life nothing short of downright difficult. A good looking girl on a movie set back in those days may, to some, have been considered fair game for almost anything, but some went just that bit bit too far.  It started with cat calling and ended with inappropriate suggestions and threats that ultimately blacklisted her and caused her to rethink her career.

JEAN COULTER is a survivor and we are very grateful for her for giving her time to chat. 

 

Enjoy.

ROY ALON - The Stunt Pod Legend Series (Episode 2)

ROY ALON was one of the most prolific stuntmen the world has ever seen. He was introduced to the business through VIC ARMSTRONG who was good enough to join us and share some of his favourite stories about Roy.

ROY ALON got a reputation for being a high fall man and performed some of the very best. In particular a 100ft fall in the 1981 film GREEN ICE which was admired by stunt performers the world over including the great DAR ROBINSON who was no stranger to a high fall as you all know.

I was lucky enough to know ROY ALON in the late eighties and got to perform a few falls with him whilst I was training for the Stunt Register - he was a lovely guy. A hero and a great teacher, he also made you feel so much better after you'd spoken to him.

This episode is a celebration of his life so if you haven't seen him work, check out some of the titles we talk about and either find the clips on YouTube or watch the films themselves.

Download, Subscribe and Enjoy

 

Life In The Foust Lane....TANNER FOUST

TANNER FOUST is one of those guys who just needs to be behind the wheel of a car. He's the guy who will volunteer to be the designated driver just because he hasn't driven this particular make or model yet.

His incredible rise is down to his determination and drive and his ability to make a car do absolutely anything....and very quickly.

Professional Rally X, Formula Drift, X Games and holder of the worlds longest jump in a 4 wheeled vehicle....332ft.

This ability was spotted by Hollywood and he was then asked to perform driving stunts in a number of big budget adventures including NEED FOR SPEED, THE DUKES OF HAZARD & FAST AND FURIOUS TOKYO DRIFT

 

So buckle up and don't touch anything on the dashboard - TANNER FOUST is in control and when he stomps on the gas you'll wish you'd gone 10-100 before the show.

Paul's Paddle

Hello One and All

Just a quick podcast to support the efforts of Paul Lowe, who is paddling his kayak from the mountains of Cumbria to London via all manner of tributaries and canals. Not as easy as it sounds. You may ask why? Well, it's to raise money for Alder Hey Children's Hospital where the life of his nephew Daniel was saved.

Please support Paul on this worthy cause by visiting: www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/littleloweykayak

Support him here Instagram: @littlelowey

Thank you

Greg Powell Part 2: Everything You Always Wanted To Know About Greg Powell, But Were Afraid To Ask

This week we look at how he does what he does to make the action happen.  What does he do when he reads the script? Does he create the action in his head or does he get out his little cars and work out the chase right there on the living room carpet? All will be revealed as Greg gives us his insight into creating the very best action based on whatever condition the script is in when he gets it. 

He also speaks his mind about the business today and his take on the stunt register. Is it a good thing? What changes can he see on the horizon and what does he expect from stunt performers on set these days? 

All this on top of the state of the world and will the film business survive COVID-19? Ironically the one virus that stops the world in its tracks sounds like a really good sci-fi sequel.

So tune in to THE STUNT POD and find out more this week.

Recorded 2nd May 2020

Greg Powell Part 1: Have Cigar, will travel

GREG POWELL is a big name in the industry. One of those names that has pedigree and family connections with that industry that go back to the 1940s.

His father FRED ‘NOSHER’ POWELL and his uncle ‘DINNY POWELL’ have both worked on numerous film and television productions over the years. Greg was destined to join the family business and now, finally after years of asking we get an opportunity to get him on THE STUNT POD.

We talk about his early career and what living with a stuntman was like. Early memories and we explore some of Gregs back catalogue to find out more about him as the performer and as the stunt coordinator. Work on  classic action movies like SUPERMAN, THE WILD GEESE, THE SPY WHO LOVED ME and NEVER SAY NEVER AGAIN - also his recent ventures as coordinator on all the HARRY POTTER films, AVENGERS AGE OF ULTRON, THE FOREIGNER, THE HITMAN’S BODYGUARD and its sequel the highly anticipated THE HITMAN’S WIFE’S BODYGUARD

We also get chance to have a laugh - its not all hard work on set and Greg has one or two stories to explain set life to us.

So pull up a comfy chair, sit back and enjoy as we invite Greg Powell onto The Stunt Pod.

Recorded 2nd May 2020