This week

Today Jon left to go work on Indiana Jones 4 back East for a few days. I will meet up with him at his mom's house in NJ on Sunday for his birthday. It is super cool that he is working on such great movie franchise.

My dad has been in town working on selling his show, Martial Arts Explorer. Since he was in town we decided to go to Disneyland yesterday. We had a great time but it was so crowded that it almost wasn't worth going. I guess I get spoiled living here and going on a Wednesday afternoon in the middle of September when the weather is great and there are no lines. I am still glad we went.

So funny...

I am sure most of you have already seen this because this guys is an internet celebrity but I just saw this yesterday for the first time and laughed my butt off. I don't usually share this kind of stuff but I couldn't resist...(click on the image to watch the video)

Whirlwind Weekend

I worked from 6pm Friday night until 6am Saturday morning, I slept 2 hours then got on a plane to fly up to Washington for a dear friends, Echo, wedding on Saturday night (we have been friends since we were 8, crazy). I was the maid of honor in the wedding so it was essential that I was there. I got there about 3 in the afternoon just in time to get ready for the wedding. I was so tired but Starbucks helped me make it through the day. We stayed up late and I got up early this morning and flew back to LA in order to be back in time to join a few other stunt guys to race go carts.

I was in WA for only about 16 hours. I had a great time at the wedding I only wish I could have staying in WA longer so I could see my family. I guess I will just have to make a trip up there some time during the summer.

Working

About a week and a half ago I was hired to be the double for the leading lady on National Treasure 2 for 2nd unit work. I didn't want to say anything because in this business nothing is for certain until you are at work. I am officially starting tonight so I thought is was safe to tell you all.

Sometimes they have two stunt doubles when they are filming two units at the same time. The main stunt double (a super talented stunt woman) and another friend of ours put my name in for it. I was so excited when I got hired. This is a lot of the same people who did the Pirate movies, so to work with them all is cool. They weren't sure when I would start but they colored my hair very blonde and cut a couple inches off to make me match the actress. They thought it would be 3-4 weeks of work originally but you just never know in this business it may just be a few days, either way I will take it!

Update

I surprised Jon on our anniversary night and took him to Ruth's Chris Steak House in Beverly Hills for dinner and then we went to the musical Wicked. We had such a wonderful night.

Monday was my birthday and we also had a wonderful day. We spent the day at our friends pool BBQing and hanging out. Later that night a bunch of our friends went to dinner then we went back to our house for chocolate fondue fountain, which was the best part of the night, after that we played charades. It was such a great day.

The rest of the week we spent networking and working on potential jobs. Jon was hired to be the stunt coordinator for Spike TV's First Annual Guys Choice Awards. This is so cool for Jon. This is his third coordinating gig this month.

Happy Anniversary to Jon and I!

Today is Jon and my 4 year anniversary! Each year just keeps gettting better and better. Being married is the one of the best gifts God has ever given me. To have someone to love and someone share life with is amazing. Words just can't discribe how much he means to me. At my wedding my minister said three keys to marriage are: friendship, fun and forgiveness. It is so true.

New Head Shots

Let me start off by saying I am not too happy with these head shots. I paid a lot more for these ones than for the ones I got last year but I like the old ones better. I got new head shots for two reasons: one I have blonde hair now (my friend did change my hair color on my old head shot thanks to a little photo shop so I could have used that) and two I realized that I really needed to have 3/4 body shots for stunts so they can see what my body looks like. Here are my top three choices of 3/4 body shots where I am smiling. There are other good ones that aren't 3/4 and I am not smiling I look more serious. I need help deciding which pictures look best. Let me know what you all think I should use for my new head shots keeping in mind the goal is to look young, in shape, cute and just look good. I don't think these are the best pictures ever but they will work fine. (this last picture I just thought was good but I won't use it for stunts I may use it for my commercial head shot)

Work Yesterday and our first Stunt Awards

I had an interesting day of work yesterday. We were filming a car chase scene and I was riding passenger in a Shelby Mustang GT. We were coming hot around a corner and the driver lost the back end of the car and we smashed the back end into a cement column. The back window exploded on impact and the car buckled in half (we hit hard, I mean hard). This was not a planned car crash. I felt the car lose control and I braced my self for the crash. I think that is why I ended up relatively unscathed. I guess this is why they use stunt doubles, even if it is just riding passenger.

I was able to get off work early enough to show up about 15 minutes late to the stunt awards. I was so happy I was able to be there at all. I had such a great time. The after party was amazing! There was an open bar (of course), an incredible spread of food, and a live band. I was surprised at how many people I actually know after only being in the business for a short time. We had a great time at our first red carpet event. I can't wait for next year.

(The first picture is of Jon and I on the red carpet at the stunt awards. The second pictures is the same day when I was at work in wardrobe and makeup in front of the car I was in that we crashed accidentally)

Our First Red Carpet Event

Tomorrow night is the Taurus World Stunt Awards, which is basically the stunt version of the Academy Awards. It is an award show honoring the best stunts performed in movies (doesn't include TV shows). This year the host is The Rock.

I have to work tomorrow but I am hoping to be off in time to at least make the after parties. Jon is going to go to the whole show with another stunt guy. Apparently there is a red carpet that you walk down and everything. I so hope I can make it. Make sure you watch the awards show. It airs on May 25 on AMC.

Work Schedule; 24 Hours in NYC

Things changed since I last wrote. I ended up not working as stunt coordinator covering the set for Jon because the job Jon took that wouldn't allow him to be there, he hired me for. The job was for a big big movie in New York. We got to work together for the first time with Jon as my boss (we all know who the real boss is haa haa). It was a huge job for Jon to get. We didn't really realize how big it was until we got there. Unfortunately I am not allowed to say anything about it, but when I can I will.

I flew in to New York from Seattle late Sunday night. I worked through the night Monday and went right from work to the airport early Tuesday morning and flew back to LA to be here for a rehearsal for a fight I am doing on Wednesday. I was supposed to fly out to Hawaii Wednesday night after work but I just found out that I won't be done with work in time to make the last flight out to Hawaii. It looks like they are going to have to use someone else. It really sucks to have to turn work down but at least it is because I am working on something else.

Work is Moving Right Along

We have had a phenomenal past couple of weeks as far as work is concerned. Today I had an interview with a stuntwoman's group. Basically there are three groups of stuntwoman with about 20 members in each group making up the top 60 stuntwoman in the business. I am being considered for the great honor of joining one of these groups of top notch stuntwoman. I can't even say how excited I am to even be considered after only being in stunts for a year and half. I feel so honored. I have to get letters of recommendations for stunt coordinators and some other information then I have to be voted in by the members. Pray that I get in. Even if I don't I am just happy to be considered.

The short movie that Jon is coordinating is shooting on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday. The big fight is on Sunday. He just got a call today to cover the set of a feature movie out in New York for a few days early next week. So he isn't able to coordinate the short on Monday and Tuesday because he will be working in NY so what does that mean... I am will be coordinating the last two days of the the movie. This is my first time being the boss and I am a little nervous. We aren't doing anything super hard but still.

I am getting new head shots today since I have changed my hair color since I got my last ones taken. Tonight I have rehearsals for an upcoming stunt fight then tomorrow I fly out to WA for a few days to see family and attend a bridal shower on Saturday. I fly back on Saturday night in time for work on Sunday morning. Busy busy. I couldn't be happier!

Martial Arts Explorer

Last fall when my dad left Lost he began working on a self created project called Martial Arts Explorer which is a documentary style TV show. Basically, they travel around the world studying different types of martial arts. It was an idea he began thinking of years ago but it wasn't until last year that everything began falling together. He was able to raise enough money to shoot the pilot. He was the director and executive producer of the TV show. My sister also worked as an associate producer.

Now he is working on selling the TV show to a network. If you would like to watch a 7 minute promotional video on his show click here. This is what he is presenting to different networks.

Triple Booked and Very Busy

For the first time I was offered to work on three different movies at the same time. I have been praying to be busy with work and I guess God was listening. One of the movies fortunately ended up being pushed back a week, another one is a short movie (typically under 17 minutes and they are usually filmed for festivals in hope that they will be made into a full length movie) which Jon is the stunt coordinator on so I turned him down and the third movie I took. It is only a few days of work but I am doubling one of the stars and I have a great knife fight. It should be fun. I had rehearsals yesterday for the fight and I think I had a smile on my face the whole time. I think fights are my favorite thing to do for stunts. It reminds me for doing a high energy dance routine. I love it!

We have been busy this week. Jon and I have been working on Jon's movie, choreographing a few fights, teach the actors and hiring the stunt folk. We also started taking Wushu classes which is a form of martial arts (used in such movies as The Matrix and Crouching Tiger Hidden Dragon). We both enjoyed it.

Update

I got back in LA yesterday from both South Carolina and New Jersey. We had a nice time visiting Jon's family. I didn't realize how many alligators there are in South Carolina. They are just hanging out on the golf course while you play. I am not a huge fan of alligators. I think of them as really really big spiders with large teeth. (this is a picture of an alligator Jon took on his camera phone while he was golfing)

We drove from SC to NJ on Friday morning and on Friday night we went to a Third Eye Blind (great 90's music) in the middle of no where in New Jersey in this small little venue. It brought back so many good high school memories.

Unfortunately, the show Drive that I worked on a bunch was cancelled after only airing three episodes. Apparently, they aren't even going to air the rest of the shows that we filmed. I guess that is show biz. It is a bummer because that was some good work and a good show.

The movie Next that both Jon and I (I doubled Julianne Moore and Jessica Biel when their regular doubles weren't available)worked on last summer opened this weekend. We haven't had a chance to go see but I looks pretty good.

In Hilton Head Island SC

We flew in to New Jersey on Thursday night and we drove through the night and arrived in South Carolina yesterday. We are here vacationing for a week unless one of us gets a call for work and in which case we would head back to LA early. We are staying at a very nice resort and playing tennis and golfing all week (what a stereo type) but it should be fun. The weather was great today. I went for a nice jog along the beach today and saw a family of dolphins swimming right up on shore. It was amazing.

We drive back to NJ on Friday morning and then are head to a Third Day Blind concert (great 90's music) on Friday night which we have back stage passes too. We fly back to LA on Saturday morning. Here is a picture from the balcony of our villa (the picture was taken on my computer camera so it isn't the best but it gives you an idea).

The Worst Wig Ever

I hope all of you watched Drive on Sunday because I have been working on it a lot and I want the show to stay on the air. Here are two pictures from when I worked on the episode that aired Sunday. Like I said, I rode passenger during some of the high speed chases. As you can tell from the picture, the girl I am doubling (who happens to be the same girl that I worked with in Hawaii who was doubling Juliet and is pictures a few posts down my site) is taller than me but when you are riding passenger in a car that doesn't matter. It was funny doubling another stuntwoman.

We all had a good laugh about how awful the wig was. It didn't match Shawna's hair at all but it was a last minute thing so they did the best they could. Don't forget to watch Drive every Monday on Fox. I will be in some of the upcoming episodes.

Worked all Week

I worked all week on the new TV show Drive that premiers this Sunday on Fox. I worked on the pilot a few days also however you can't really tell it is me because I was riding passenger during some of the high speed chases. I can't even tell you how much fun it was. I worked a ton of hours this week and I am so beat today but I love I mean love to work. Sleepiness is nothing a little coffee can't solve.

"I Do My Own Stunts"

People always ask me if it is true when an actors says "I do my own stunts". Here is an interesting article about just that.

The Show Last night

I was on Lost three times last night. Did you see me all three times? If you haven't scene the episode and plan to stop reading I don't want to spoil anything for you. Here is a picture taken of me and the other stunt girl after the fight in the rain and after working all night. We were very cold and very wet but we really had a good time.


It this picture I had to do a standing front flip to my back hand cuffed on to the cement. The only thing I was really nervous about was not getting high enough and hitting my head since I can't get any momentum. It turned out great and I only had to do it twice. If you go slow motion you can see that I was wearing a back bad so I didn't break my ribs.


The third picture is our big fight in the rain. They ended up cutting half of the fight out in the editing room, which is very normal for TV. It is always hard to see how they edited fights because when you do it you picture it differently. I still think it told the story.


The last stunt I honestly can't tell if it is me or Evie. We both did it a few times and I can't tell if it is her or me. I guess that is a good thing if I can't even tell if it is me or not. This was a super fun stunt. I loved rolling around in the mud.

Interview

I just wanted to thank The Lost Blog for taking their time to interview me and shed some light into the world of Lost through a stunt persons' eyes. I hope it's a welcomed perspective for their readers. If you want to read the interview click here.