Above Image: (C) 2022 AMC+ All Rights Reserved, image used for promotional purposes only, not monetized.
Greetings
valued Dan's Movie Report readers. It is time to
unleash a brand new interview with the man behind the action of the
spectacular new film on AMC+ 'White Elephant' Luke LaFontaine is a
man of distinction, crafting intricate action sequences, allowing for
the actors and stunt personal he works with to reach beyond their
limits. Luke is a hard working honest guy, willing to let you know
exactly where he stands. In this 2022 'White Elephant' interview Luke
stops by to chat about working with director Jesse V. Johnson, Olga
Kurylenko, and Michael Rooker. Enough of my babbling on, time for the
textual ass kicking from Luke!
Danny
Templegod: Luke my first question is the pre-production for setting
up the action on 'White Elephant' chat about some of the work you
were able to do with the stunt people prior to shooting, did you have
an extended prep time due to the budget?
Luke
Lafontaine: I didn't have a lot of extended prep time, even w the
larger budget. I had about a week to get everything done, I prevised
all the fights and and meeting with Jesse and Michael rooker. My LA
stunt peeps really helped w Previs and Atlanta stunt performers went
extra mile on location.
DT: I
have massive respect for Olga Kurylenko as an actress and in action,
she always gives 110% and, she has had a solid amount of action
training, chat about working with her, and some of the new action
tips you imparted on her for 'White Elephant'.
LL:
Olga is fantastic , she gives 200% Olga told me she doesn't retain
her training in her mind because its too much, so she lets it go
after every movie. So I had to take her back thru firearms and
fights, she hadn't done CQB knife fights, so that was new. Tip I
imparted to her was to Breath during fights. She would hold her
breath which was a lot harder. Olga is Amazing , her dedication,and
attention to detail are incredible as well as her memorizing Choreo!!
I loved working w her.
DT:
Curious how long of a time prior to shooting the film you had to work
with her as she was a central character.
LL: We
actually had very little time to train, she was held up because of
travel restrictions and US visa so we had 2 hours morning of shooting
to go thru all firearms work, and a few 20 min sessions during week.
I took her thru knife combat in an hour and ran her knife fight for
about 20 mins before we had to shoot! Shes amazing at learning and
performing fight choreo!!
DT:
This is important to me, chat about the seriousness of having a
proper armorer on set, one that is knowledgeable of the weapons used.
LL: It
is of paramount importance to have an experienced professional
Armorer on set!! Always! Firearms and guns that have been modified
for blanks are always to be given full attention to safety, Zero
exceptions!
DMR:
Were there any stunts or action that was kind of left on the cutting
room floor for runtime, curious, as I know action films often shoot
for a possible extended cut down the road?
LL:
There were a couple of action pieces that had to be trimmed. Vadhirs
fight at Russians had to be trimmed in edit in order to cut between
Michael action upstairs. There was also short Aikijutsu grapple w big
baddie and Michael that had to be excised for time.
DT:
Chat about the mixture of old-school and new-school guns and weaponry
in 'White Elephant'.
LL:
We mixed old school firearms and new. Jesse likes interesting guns in
his films. Using old and new gives personality and different sounds
and muzzle flashes.
DT: I
hate spoilers, but chat a bit about the final house scene, how long
did you have to set that up and shoot it?
LL: We
shot interior of house raid on one day and exterior of gun battle the
next day. It was a lot of action to get thru with 15 stunt guys,
Olga, her double and Michael.
DT:
Must have been a week of work crammed into those two days! I really
enjoyed the motel scene with Olga as well, first of all it was well
lit, second of all, I am sure Jesse chatted with you about action
beats and specifics, but I am curious to get your perspective on
working on this complicated sequence, looked like Olga did most of
her own action here.
LL:
Jesse laid out how he wanted the action, we has briefly discussed a 2
level fight but it wound up being motel with no 2nd floor. Blocked
the action to feel real and hectic, with Olga taking on shooters from
all directions. Olga did 90% of her action w Her stunt double Jessica
Medina doing a long run and gun and the dive into mustang.
Above: Jessica Medina and Luke (C) 2022 Jessica Medina
DT:
Perhaps share a couple of amusing or crazy stories on set with an
action sequence, that either had to be re-shot or worked out even
better than planned.
LL:
The action in final house battle got a little crazy w Michael ad
libbing fight moves when rubber gun was knocked out of his hand.
Thank goodness Michael is such a pro and nice guy and didn't hurt any
of the stunt guys!!
DT:
Chat about working with the amazing Michael Rooker, what are some of
the action concepts you discussed with Jesse for him in the film.
LL:
Michael Rooker is an incredible actor and physical performer. Most
people don't know he’s a full instructor in Aikijutsu and kyoku
shinkai karate. Hes been studying for decades! Very strong dangerous
guy if he wants to be,as well as a loyal friend and defender. Love
him to death, and I am humbled to have gotten to work with him so
closely.
Above Image: Esteban Cueto and Luke (C) 2022 Jessica Medina
DMR: I
really liked Rooker's character in 'White Elephant and him as an
actor, moving on... I know your specialty is bladed weapons, chat
about the knife action towards the end of 'White Elephant', military
and covertly used, old school technique, I am assuming.
LL:
Knife fights all came from real techniques. Both Olga and Michael had
small knife engagements. Fights had to be short and brutal, because
that's what real knife fights are.
Above Image: Jesse V. Johnson and Luke (C) 2022 Jessica Medina
DT:
Good point about the knife fighting, rarely in real life are they
long. Chat about crafting the action with Jesse in 'White Elephant'
what I really enjoyed was the action was NOT nonstop, and when it
came it had impact and meaning. I am assuming this is by design, from
your perspective, chat about the importance giving the audience time
to breathe between the action.
LL:
Jesse wrote the 'White Elephant' script a while ago and in his
developing story. It was a honor and life shifting story. A dramatic
thriller about an aging warrior and choices he had to make to sleep
at night and keep his honor. The action had to convey the weight and
risk. No popcorn, filler nonsense action. The pacing is different but
all the intensity is still there.
DT: I
agree, 'White Elephant' has no time for a shoehorned in love story.
Wrapping up, I know it has been a long time since we chatted, curious
if any films or TV shows you have watched for action made you stand
up and take notice, saying ok, that is cool, I thought I read you
likes 'The Northman'.
Above Image: Vadhir Derbez, Luke and double Jason Triplett on set of "White Elephant' (C) 2022 Jessica Medina
LL:
Yes , there have been some movies ive taken notice of , I love the
action In NORTHMAN and the action design in TOPGUN: Maverick was
really impressive!
DT:
Finally chat about advice to stunt people just starting out in the
business, when you work with the director to hire a stunt team what
are some of the qualities you look for?
LL: Up
and comers, Stay safe and HUMBLE!! It’s not about you. The honor
code of the un-named stunt performer making movie stars look good
should endure. Why would you want to steal your movie stars thunder
by posting yourself on Facebook and Instagram??? Try to uphold a
code: safe, loyal, humble, Tough!!
Luke LaFontaine Official IMDB: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0480971/
Photography Credit: Jessica Medina https://www.instagram.com/jessicamedinaactress/?hl=en
