KIck ASS 2
Apologies for not posting for ages, I’m still here! Anyway, my iPhone pinged up with a memory from 2013. The day I ended up (not planned) as an extra in the Hollywood Movie, Kick Ass 2!
How did this happen you may ask?
Due to my activities at the time as promotor of UK based MMA promotion; Fight UK. The casting agency for the film reached out to me seeking help to find suitable MMA athletes that could take a roll as extras in a specific scene of the film, starring alongside MMA Hall of Fame inductee, Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell and lead actors Chris D’Amico and John Legiuzamo.
Obviously I said I would help in their search and the casting director emailed me a brief of the profile they were looking for. Typical things were, height, hair style and physique amongst others. Once I had the brief, I reached out to my network of athletes and began compiling a comprehensive profile list as per the requirements mandated. Origanially they were seeking around 10 or 12 individuals, but in the end they settled on just two from the list.
James Hurrell who's around 6ft 7 and a former basket ball player and professional MMA competitor along with South African born and now UK based former Pro Kick Boxer and MMA Champion, Fraser Opie were selected.
I can’t remember exactly, but it was a cold winters morning when I picked the guys up and took the drive down into the outskirts of London to Pinewood studios. As we drove up to the security gate at Pinewood, we were quietly excited and anxious, especially as in the distance we could see a huge air craft carrier style hanger that had the 007 James Bond branding positioned at the top of the hanger arch. Is this real we thought?
Security was very strict. We were not allowed to take any pictures inside the studio grounds. At first this was disappointing, but it does explain the lack of media and secrecy of why I was at Pinewood Studios, other than the obligatory “check in” on facebook.
We checked in and were quickly rushed into the dressing room department, where Fraser and James were hurried into pre prepared outfits for the shoot. We were then told the day could go on for 12 to 15 hours. Yes, 15 hours to shoot one 30 second scene of the film!
Whilst James and Fraser were doing their outfitting, I was left hanging around beside the directors chair. I must admit, I was in a state of shock trying to take all of this in. Here I am, on set, standing next to the Director of the Film, Jeff Wadlow, wondering what is actually going on this surreal moment. There were camermen, runners and all other types of production crew scurrying around as litteraly as if time is money and the pressure was on! I couldn’t get my head around as to why I am feeling invisible and like I’m not in the room. The focus was all on getting the scene shot.
Out of no where, Jeff Wadlow, turned his directors chair around and bluntly asked who I was and what I was doing on set. I begin by saying I have driven down two gentlemen that will be extras in the film. Before I could say anything else, Jeff said I look like a promoter and that I would fit perfectly in as an extra in the film. He again asked me if I am going to be around for the day and then he waved his casting director over to us. He spoke to her and before I could take it all in I am sent to an office (legal I think), where I had to sign some papers and give them my bank details, address and National Insurance number. I was then taken to room where James and Frazer were (wardrobe) for make over.
The irony is, I was a promoter and the wardrobe team didn’t have to change much to what I was wearing. The picture above was literally the clothes a came in. They added some gold chains and extra bling to give that stereotypical look of a Don King type of promoter, before taking pictures of me. I found out that these pictures would be catelogued for consistency if I was needed in the future to return! Wishful thinking hey?!
Without any warning, I was rushed on to the set which was set up with a boxing ring in the middle of the room and made too look like a New York style old school boxing gym. There were cameras everywhere and one main camera with the camera sat down on what seemed a movable chair that hovered above the ground as if some Jedi fore wielding trick was happening.
Some crew member came up to James, Fraser and My self and positioned us where they wanted us and included a quick brief of what we should do and when. I ended up holding pads for James whilst he pretended to do pad work as the cameras rolled.
Fraser had more of a main roll, he was to be cornerman for the on screen fight scene. I was super proud of him, it’s not everyday you get to be in a Hollywood Movie and around 30 seconds of air time!
The day was long, but it flew by! The same scene was filmed from six different angles. The energy and concentration of all the crew was something else. I still can’t get my head around that they literally did this everyday for around 90 days straight. I have a new found respect for actors and I can understand why they get paid millions of dollars for the work they do. Top level actors get everything they deserve in my opinion after this experience. How they can have a game face on for one 30 second scene that took 15 hours to shoot is beyond me!
We did break for lunch at one point, this was in a converted london double decker bus which provided hot food for all the crew. It’s at this point I managed to break the rules and snap a picture with Chuck Liddell who was in his dressing room with his wife and children at the time.
It was an amazing experience and I learned a lot about the movie world in that one day. My lasting memory is a week or two later when the post man delivered a letter to me. Inside was my payslip for the days work. £90 Great British Pounds! I couldn’t care less about the money, the memories alone were worth it!
Thanks for reading and remember, life is what you make of it and opportunities come around in all shapes and sizes! Embrace!
Check out the video below. This is the scene that took 15 hours to film. Fraser get a lot of air time and James is featured a little. I on the other hand, just get the top of my head shown!
