With
dozens of A list projects under her belt, Heidi Moneymaker is at the
top of the mountain for stunt work. In 2015 Heidi plans to climb bold
new peaks as she introduces the world to her acting talents in a new
short horror film with Zoë bell called 'No Touching'. In addition to
broadening her horizons in acting, Heidi expands her reach with an
exciting new exercise routine called 'Fierce Lotus' for women. Get
your safety harness ready action fans, another exclusive Dan's
Movie Report interview commences, say hi to Heidi Moneymaker!
Chat
about your background, and your first desire to get into working on
film stunts, and first big break?
When I
was a child, I would never sleep. I would run circles around the
living room until I got so dizzy I would fall over. I jumped on or
off anything I could. My parents were legitimately concerned there
was something wrong with me. There was a gymnastics gym near our home
and they decided enroll me. I believe the idea was for me to burn off
some of the energy. It worked, but I also fell in love with the
sport and rarely left the gym. I earned an athletic scholarship to
UCLA for gymnastics. When I finished competing, I started doing some
commercial work and was passed a few "stunt" jobs through
other gymnasts who had gotten into the business. My first few jobs
were literally just doubling actresses doing gymnastic routines. My
first big break was on Charlie's
Angels: Full Throttle. I
was hired by the stunt coordinator, Mic Rodgers, for a quick four day
simple job. He took me under his wing and gave me the opportunity to
perform many of the films stunts. I never looked back... I was home!
Shifting
gears to The Avengers series of films, share a particularly
amusing or interesting story about life on the set of the blockbuster
film.
The
Avengers series, and of
course the accompanying Captain
America's and Iron
Man's have been so much
fun for me. We just wrapped Captain
America: Civil War, and
I still come out of my trailer in that black suit smiling. It never
gets old. I think what has made the biggest impression on me working
on these films is how genuine everyone is. It is like a really great
family. Everyone works really hard and helps one another out. The
actors are amazing and put so much work in to their action, and the
stunt teams have really been amazingly talented and so much fun to
work with.
The
best way to prepare for any stunt is to already be prepared. I stay
as physically fit as I can year round, fitness training, eating a
very healthy diet, working fight scenes and reactions, and constantly
coming up with new ideas (stunts, fights, action). Wire-work
usually takes a lot of core strength. You also usually end up
slamming into something hard and smashing to the ground, so this is
why practicing reactions and hitting the ground (usually a softer
ground) is really important to do when you are not working. It keeps
your body strong and in shape to take these hits. Fight training is a
whole other beast. Nothing trains you for fights except training
fights. There is a certain type of cardio involved that I haven't
been able to achieve even with sprinting or high intensity interval
training. Basically, you train punches, kicks, reactions, flips, and
anything else you might put into fight choreography, and then you put
it all together and repeat it over and over... until you fall over,
lol.
Doubling
actresses, do you usually try the stunt first, and if they feel they
can do it themselves, they do, or is it a case by case basis, perhaps
detail some of the extensive work you did with Scarlett, with regards
to the action in The Avengers.
A
stunt double always rehearses the stunt whether or not they will be
performing it. This way we can work out the kinks before it goes to
camera. Any stunt that seems feasible and safe for the actor/actress
usually means we try to get them to do it. It is much better to see
their face and people love to know an actor is doing the action. Most
actresses I have worked with are very interested in doing any stunt
they can, especially Scarlett. She is a beast! There are times when I
have rehearsed something that seems quite difficult, but she will try
it and usually nails it on the first go.
Do you
feel that the recent rise of the popularity in superhero films has helped
the stunt community, or is it a double edged sword with more
competition?
I
think the rise in the popularity of superhero films is great. It
gives more people a chance to get to play a superhero. I can tell you
from experience, it is pretty awesome.
Being
one of the top stunt professionals in the world, I ask your opinion,
what needs to happen for the stunt people and coordinators to be
recognized by the academy?
I am
not really sure how to answer this question. Maybe if there were a
"Best Action Hero" category. The actor and stunt player
work together to make a character, so maybe the award goes to both?
I am
not sure what my most dangerous stunt was. I did a car transfer at
40mph on Fast and furious
doubling Michelle
Rodriguez. I had a safety line, but it would only have kept me from
hitting the pavement not from hitting the other cars involved or
getting sucked under a wheel necessarily. I did a 100 foot descender
upside down, attached to another stunt guy with a camera mounted on
my back simulating bungee jumping on CSI:New
York, which felt
dangerous. It is hard to say, because often, it's those stunts you
feel are no big deal that end up going wrong. My favorite stunt was a
cannon roll in a car I had the opportunity to perform on The
Host.(It is here in my
action reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VWdejiEDBto)
I guess that one can be considered dangerous...
Very
true, some of the worst injuries happen on stunts that seem easy. Do
some ladies you double surprise you in the action aspect with how
good they are? If you are able to name a stunt that you thought that
you would have to preform, that the actress did I would love to hear
about the story.
Scarlett
used to surprise me, but now I am used to her badassness. Michelle
Rodriguez is no surprise either, she is a tough and talented lady. We
had her hanging off the side of a tanker truck, dragging her along
the ground and more recently taking the wrath of Ronda Rousey in
Furious 7.
I
think that you absolutely helped her transition to fulfill her action
potential. Speaking of potential, I noticed virtually all of your
credits are stunt related, do you ever see yourself transitioning to
strictly acting? How about aspirations behind the camera coordinating
or directing?
I
really love acting. It was hard to pursue in the beginning of my
career because the stunt jobs were so enticing and so much fun. As I
have gotten a little older, I have pursued Action Acting much more.
It is really fun to completely submerge yourself in the character,
physically and emotionally. I have started making a few short films
on my own which has been so fun. I wrote, acted and directed a short
called, Behind Every
Great Man, (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XJPooJEPoUM),
last year, and I realized I am very interested in directing. I am
about to shoot another short in a couple weeks with the legendary, Zoë Bell, called, No
Touching.
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/No-Touching-Starring-Zoë-Bell-Heidi-Moneymaker/364199213735358?fref=ts).
I hope to get the opportunity to play some great characters in the
future.
Speaking
of the future, please chat about some of your upcoming projects and
charitable causes you support.
I have
a few future project possibilities lined up. One would be an acting
role, so I am hoping that works out. Nothing is every set in stone
until you sign a contract in this business. I plan to train a bit
this fall for some upcoming stunt work in the beginning of the year.
As far
as charitable causes go, I have always wanted to share my knowledge
of health and fitness. I would like to contribute to ending childhood
obesity. I am starting a company with long time friend and
fitness expert, Lisa Newman. It is called, Fierce Lotus.
(https://www.facebook.com/pages/Fierce-Lotus-by-Heidi-Moneymaker-Lisa-Newman/379722282230596?fref=ts).
Right now we are giving fitness and nutrition tips via Facebook, but
we are in the process of creating individualized fitness programs for
the busy women of the world. We are creating a tribe of warriors and
empowering women to be fit and healthy. I believe there is no way to
end childhood obesity without first ending adult obesity. So, here's
to this first step!
Heidi,
thank you so much for taking a bit of time from your hectic shooting
schedule to conduct this detailed and thought provoking interview.
Watch for more on Heidi, as 'No Touching' begins production, on your
home for exclusives, Dan's Movie Report.
