Before Michael Jai White starred in For Better or For Worse from 2011 to 2017, he worked on other television shows and starred in martial arts movies and for Better or For Worse aired on OWN in its third season after being canceled by TBS.
He starred in well-known martial arts movies. He looked incredibly fit. You watch the films you are streaming and see a mighty fine-looking man.
Body Aesthetics
White discusses body aesthetics in this video. As a fitness enthusiast, White provides a summary or introduction to the particular type of training. The training concentrates on building a proportional, symmetrical body. It is not lifting heavy weights or working on just one specific body aspect. Instead, it is a guide to developing your statuesque physique. He shares his secret for looking so good on camera.
Michael Jai White Movies
White’s movie career began in 1989 with minor roles, including Alley Man #1 and Audience Man. His work developed and gradually grew. He was cast in meatier roles on television, including Jag and NYPD Blue. Eventually, he landed starring roles in both TV and movies.
His starring role in Black Dynamite is a story about a 1970s movie that exploited black people as stereotypical characters. White plays Black Dynamite, an impressive crime fighter.
The 2009 movie dramatizes the portrayal of black people in film. The premise is like the movies Dolemite and Trouble Man. Black Dynamite even pokes fun at these types of films because, viewed today, they appear demeaning. I am glad Black Dynamite pokes fun at these movies because they do demoralize the black race.
Years later, only White’s voice starred in the Black Dynamite animated TV series. The series lasted three years and featured the same types of characters as the movie. You can still catch some of the episodes on YouTube.
Martial Arts Training
White spoke to interviewers about how martial arts is a significant part of his life because it helps him achieve his goals.
Michael Jai White’s martial arts training takes his acting ability to a whole new level. He discussed how the body becomes conditioned by the mind’s actions. Building his discipline and focus is the driving force behind his dedication.
He can shut out anything in his life he wants to, so he can focus on acting or business ventures. He knows the importance of discipline because he can accomplish anything with it.
Michael Jai White starred in “Spawn” in 1997 as the superhero. A milestone for him because he was the first African American to play a superhero in a blockbuster movie.
Action Martial Arts
White starred in Universal Soldier: The Return with Jean-Claude Van Damme, a sci-fi combat and action martial arts movie.
To stay in shape for his role, he put himself on a strict diet of only protein and three gallons of water a day. He worked out on the set when he wasn’t shooting a scene.
He refined his martial arts skills and avoided weightlifting. He felt that using weights made the body weight heavier, not lighter. He needed to keep his body trim and agile.
Enthralling Movie Roles
White starred in The Dark Knight, playing Gambol opposite the late Heath Ledger’s Joker.
White played Mike Tyson in the movie Tyson. He received positive feedback.
In another movie, he played a unique superhero in Spawn, a supernatural being who can kick some evil booty.
He even kicked some booty in Exit Wounds with Steven Seagal.
Black Belt Certification
White maintains his persona in these action movies because he trained with several well-known Black Belt Hall of Famers. They all hold a Black Belt in Six Sigma. That means they are leaders, teachers, and mentors of martial arts.
White flourishes on film and in life by learning and applying martial arts, and believes that tying on a white belt rather than a black belt is a way of “looking forward to learning something new.”
White’s Spiritual Journey
White identifies the spiritual journey of his body as it reaches maturity. As a martial artist, he is willing to confront the philosophical aspect of being himself. White has discussed with interviewers the notion of taking the bait of just looking good as a disservice to himself. As a martial artist, he explained that he intends to be the best he can be, no matter what else is happening in his life. It is this philosophy that has guided him and contributed to his success.
White looks good in the reruns of For Better or For Worse. It will be interesting to see his next move in the industry. According to his IMDb profile, he stars in several movies. They are either in pre-production or post-production.
On his Facebook page, he posted, “I have some cool things planned… and an announcement of the first Jaigantic feature.” Jaigantic looks like it’s his own production company, making action movies. All in all, he still has a lot of kicks and jabs left in him.
We all know that actors perform on stage and in front of the cameras rather than behind the scenes. However, some professional actors have transitioned into writers, producers, directors, and other roles.
It has become increasingly common for actors to take on multiple roles in the film industry. They are behind and in front of the camera. Some notable examples include Tom Cruise, Tom Hanks, Leonardo DiCaprio, Brad Pitt, Angelina Jolie, Charlize Theron, Tina Fey, and Jodie Foster.
However, we must never forget that actors are also professional liars. They bring the unimaginable to the front and make it real.
However, we must never forget that actors are also professional liars. They bring the unimaginable to the front and make it real.
Prime examples of these “Renaissance people” include Johnny Depp, John Travolta, Mila Kunis, Natalie Portman, Emma Stone, Jennifer Lawrence, George Clooney, and Ryan Gosling.
Actors entertain and communicate with the audience through their interpretation of dramatic roles.
“The actor creates his own universe, then peoples it — a giant puppet master. The trick is to make the audience feel that they are observing reality, and this isn’t easy, because to convey the work that has been placed in your mouth to a great number of people you have to exaggerate subtly, ever so slightly highlight. Lead the audience the nose to the thought.”— Laurence Olivier,
Movie Extras to Movie Stars
Only a small number of actors achieve tremendous recognition in motion pictures. Some actors start as “extras” (people in the background of the film) with no lines, while others are cast in supporting roles or as walk-ons. A “feature extra” may be used for the same movie over and over, with no lines but plenty of camera time.
Stunt people take on the more dangerous work, performing such stunts as driving cars in chase scenes, falling from buildings and other high places, or “fighting” instead of the principal actors.
A stunt actor is a professional stunt person hired to play the role of an actor in a scene that requires a full camera shot. They receive higher compensation and are listed in the film credits as a character in the movie.
How Much Money They Make
Agents for Actors
It would be helpful if you built your resume before a decent agent sees it and considers representing you. That is the problem of breaking into the film business. But keep working on your craft, because the upside is that an agent will see you.
Most acting jobs come through an agent. Beginners and lesser-known actors and actresses who are not union members can register with several casting directors for a small fee. These directors invite them to auditions, which can lead to acting roles.
Later in the article, I will tell you how to build your resume and land jobs based on your talent and previous work.
Acting in Feature Films
Although a few actors and actresses find parts in feature films straight out of drama school, most spend many years supporting themselves by working at jobs inside or outside the industry.
To learn the ropes, some actors and actresses have gotten jobs at talent agencies or casting companies. Here, they understand the process of setting up auditions and casting for commercials, film, and television.
Collider
Acting Classes
Taking any old acting class is not the way to do it. It would help if you did your homework, asked around for opinions you could trust, and checked the teacher’s working student ratio. How many of their students get paid work? The class is complete, but two out of ten students are making a living as actors. Five out of ten students working is a better ratio.
Ensure you feel comfortable with the teacher and are confident that they will support your career. Make sure you attend classes and do your homework so the teacher knows you are serious about becoming a successful actor and will work with you earnestly.
Be a Competent Actor
Success, for the most part, does not happen overnight. “Being discovered” is a fantasy that happened for a few movie stars over the centuries of theater and film. Still, they proved themselves, took classes and maintained professionalism.
Being a professional is where you start. There is a valuable booklet titled “The Way to Happiness.” The booklet contains 21 precepts that help people lead a happy life by following them. One principle that applies to professionalism is “Be Competent.” The common-sense guide explains how to succeed in what you do. I tell my students and friends to follow this guide.
They read it, follow the advice, and achieve their desired goals. That is my final advice to you: be competent as an actor, and you will succeed.
Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton made a great creative team. | Source
Friendship With Benefits
Steven Spielberg and Michael Crichton developed motion pictures and television programs, notably the Jurassic Park franchise and the long-running ER series. The two men, who were dear friends working together, are a fascinating story of success.
Dinosaurs from “Jurassic Park”
An acquaintance, a high school teacher, told me about a time he showed his students the movie Jurassic Park. At the end of the film, some of his students thought dinosaurs were still alive on our planet. Not that the students were stupid. The movie was realistic enough to make the dinosaurs appear real in their minds’ eyes.
The movie’s detailed and realistic images of various dinosaurs, along with its story, acting, and sound, created a realistic world based on Crichton’s bestselling novel.
The original movie focuses on a devastating effort to produce and clone dinosaurs for an innovative theme park.
The franchise began in 1990 when Spielberg grabbed the rights to the unpublished book. Universal Pictures and Amblin Entertainment purchased the rights to the novel.
After four sequels, the franchise flourished, with the first two based on Crichton’s books, and it spawned tons of video games, comic books, and theme parks.
The franchise resurrected Richard Attenborough’s career and bolstered the careers of Jeff Goldblum, Sam Neill, Lauren Dern, Chris Pratt, and Bryce Dallas Howard.
Jurassic Park’s motion picture franchise includes a water excursion at Universal Studios theme parks.
The franchise movies alone have grossed close to $ 5 billion worldwide.
Crichton and Spielberg Winning Team
The success of the Jurassic Park franchise indicates that Crichton and Spielberg made a winning team. They invested their good fortune in an American medical television series that proved just as fruitful as the dinosaur movies.
Under the umbrella of Amblin Television, Crichton and Spielberg’s team created the medical drama ER. The show lasted 15 years and won several prestigious awards, bringing together famed talents that I will mention later in the article.
If anything, ER is a lesson in producing an award-winning television show and practically keeping it on the air for years. I am sure students of film and television classrooms study this series in its entirety. They identify and highlight the factors that contributed to the show’s high ratings and large worldwide audience.
Endless drama in an Emergency Room kept viewers glued to the TV.
Emmy Award Winners
The show won multiple Emmy Awards, with 124 nominations and 22 wins, reflecting the caliber of work that stood behind and in front of the camera, launching the stellar careers of George Clooney, along with Anthony Edwards, Noah Wyle, Julianna Margulies, and Maria Bello.
“ER”
Although I never watched the series as a whole, but as clips from different shows, I tend to shy away from medical shows. ER taps into the intimate workings of an urban training hospital and the critical issues faced by the dedicated physicians and staff of its vigilant emergency room.
Every week, fans glued themselves to the television and watched quirky and unique medical professionals save lives in a place where nothing is taken for granted or guaranteed. The emergency room doors open, and another distraught person or persons gets placed in their hands, life or death, within an hour’s worth of television programming.
The series lasted as long as it did because of the talented writers, as evidenced by the final season, particularly in the show’s ending. The arc ties into the earlier seasons, including Noah Wyle’s professional choices and personal life.
Now, Wyle is starring in HBO’s Emmy-winning The Pitt, very similar to ER, but set over one day in an emergency room in Pittsburgh.
Curtain Call
The final season is a curtain call for all the show’s lead characters. They returned one way or another, including those who died on the show.
One point of view about the medical drama is the large cast of major actors who left due to injury, death, firing, or disappearance. Like most long-running shows, I understand that cast members go in hopes of bigger and better careers.
The final season includes movie stars Angela Bassett and Courtney B. Vance. The main arc centers on Catherine Banfield, the ER’s medical director, played by Basset, and her husband, Russell Banfield, played by Vance. Both are intense and effectively support their respective sides of the issue.
The series ends well, and that is what matters to the fans. The finale is rewarding to those who faithfully followed the multiple storylines.
George Clooney
I am sure you’ll appreciate watching the episodes, knowing that you can watch them again and again since you own the DVD. The cast changing through the years might throw you off, but it is graced with guest appearances from Clooney and other original cast members.
If you still need an emergency room fix on television, there are similar shows that follow ER’s formula, which validates the series even more, such as Grey’s Anatomy, a long-running show as well.
A successful film career starts with you knowing as much as you can about the film business, which begins with reading the trade publications.
Source: Variety
Variety and Hollywood Reporter
Industry Trade Papers — You’ve Got To Read Them
No matter what part of the film business you are interested in as a career, you will most likely start as a production assistant. That is not a bad start because you can work your way up with a solid film business plan.
In all, and no matter what, you must read the trade papers. If you don’t, you are at a significant professional disadvantage because the trades tell you what is going on in the industry. As a production assistant, you need to know what is happening now and what is ahead.
With the trades, you find out what the studios, producers, directors, production designers, art designers, and more are doing. This information is invaluable. You also need to know where the movies are in production.
If you don’t know what is happening in the industry, you will not succeed in the film business.
So, face up to the fact that you should subscribe to both of the trades, Daily Variety and the Hollywood Reporter.
Keep reading the trades and learning the business, and you will learn more about the industry.
If you can’t afford both and they are expensive, subscribe to at least one of them, because they’re lifelines for the business—the who, what, and where of the film industry are at your fingertips.
Advantages of Reading the Trades
As in every industry, there are advantages to reading trade papers. First, as noted above, they help you stay up to date on what’s happening in the industry. Second, by reading them, you’ll be able to identify the industry’s prominent people, the ones who are making the decisions. Third, they provide you with the latest news in your chosen industry. Fourth, because everyone reads them, information published in the trades is frequently referred to, and when people talk, you want to know what they are talking about
Finally, although the best jobs usually don’t show up in the “Help Wanted” sections of the trades, those sections, along with production listings, will provide you with a starting point for seeing what kinds of film business jobs are available.
While it’s unnecessary to read the trades from cover to cover, you should certainly read the main articles and the popular columns and scan everything else. You never know when something you read in the trades will turn out to help build your career, and you never want to pass up an opportunity like that.
How the Trades Help Your Career
Let’s take a look at what it means to be a production assistant who reads the trades.
When a producer comes on the set, they don’t always wear a suit, and you don’t recognize them sometimes. Reading the trades helps you identify influential people in the industry, which benefits you.
One time, a producer came on the set, and he looked like a regular Joe. Because I knew of him, Barry Levinson, I was on top of it and made sure the director and other crew members knew he was on the set. It helped improve the situation, and the crew appreciated my due diligence.
Another example is that a friend worked on the same production that I did, directed by Joe Dante. My friend read the trades and was very familiar with Dante’s work, which made the gig fun because Dante talked to him about his comic book career. He even autographed some of his comic books.
It would help if you acted like a professional before you were a professional. When directors and producers recognize your quality, you gain a positive impression. They make a mental note and are likely to hire you again. Avoid being overly flattering or fawning toward the director or producer; work hard and do your job well.
The most relevant career advice I can give you is to study the trades. Trades help you learn the business of making a career in the film industry.
Film Trades on the Internet
Another cool thing about using the trades is looking for production notices that are hiring. The trade publications are now available online, allowing you to subscribe to Variety, Hollywood Reporter, or both. Please get to know them as an invaluable online source for future work.
Once you are familiar with each trade’s website, you are more likely to get a job in production because you have more knowledge, and knowledge is power. You need to be persistent and never give up looking. Work is out there, and the trades will help you find it.
Production Assistant’s Handbook
There is a book called the Production Assistant’s Handbook, and I recommend it not only for wannabes but also for PAs who have worked on a couple of sets. I work in the business, read it, and learned about talking on two-way radios. I discovered significant insights into working on a film set.
The filmmaker must hire a competent line producer dedicated to keeping the production within budget.
A line producer leader knows how to coordinate easily with the crew and cast. And keeps the production on a budget. Source: Fox
As the project moves into production, it will take on a life of its own. You must safeguard your creative vision while avoiding getting lost in budget misfortunes. That is where the line producer comes in and manages the overall production flow.
Manages the Physical Aspects of Production
As a filmmaker, you must hire a line producer or take on this role for blood at the beginning of the film’s planning stage. A line producer is an essential member of the production team for the success of the overall production. In general, a line producer manages the film’s budget. Hire the line producer to manage the physical aspects of the film production, as they know the budget and what’s possible. Though rare, Line producers can offer creative feedback on the film and receive co-producer credit.
Since line producers work on location, they work on only one film at a time, unlike other producers. A line producer usually hires essential crew members and collaborates with vendors. They function as head of production, though Line producers are not directly involved in the project’s development. They can play an important role in estimating output and in building investor confidence in the project.
Keeping the production moving forward indicates that you have a reliable line producer.Source: Lê Minh
As soon as all the funds are in place, the line producer supervises the film’s budget planning and the day-to-day preparation and management. Line Producers are not employees but freelance contract workers. The job requires long hours, and the filmmaker must compensate for the hard work. Successful line producers are in high demand because of their experience and reputation. Hiring a competent line producer guarantees successful production.
The line producer handles all the business aspects of the film’s production. The film industry calls them line producers because they cannot start work on the budget until they know what the “line” is between the “above-the-line” expenses, including writers, producers, directors and cast, and the “below-the-line” expenses. It includes everything else, such as development costs, crew salaries, set design, equipment rentals, locations, insurance, construction and so forth.
Line Producer Has Excellent Communication Skills
A filmmaker needs to bring on the line producer as soon as possible, ideally joining the production team at some point in the later stages of development. Based on the script, the filmmaker asks the line producer to appraise the expected production expenses fully. This process includes an extensive breakdown of the screenplay into a solid schedule. The schedule is a timetable for the film shoot showing how long each scene will take to shoot. Starting with the schedule, the line producer can accurately assess the cost of each day of shooting. In the example, a line producer might calculate a 10-hour day for a one-week location shoot as a six-day week and then calculate the same shoot as a 12-hour shoot day. Just taking two hours off each day can save a sizable sum. From there, he prepares and summarizes a budget that estimates the total funding required for a successful production. Based on the line producer’s hard figures, the filmmaker, producer, and executive producers have a set amount of funds to raise to begin pre-production.
Line producers are invaluable because their hard work during pre-production saves the filmmaker time and money. They work diligently for the filmmaker, coordinating with the director, first assistant director, production manager, art director and other heads of department to plan the production schedule and budget and to set the starting shoot date.
Once the film goes into production, the line producer delivers the final budget to the production accountant and transfers day-to-day production office operations to the production manager and production coordinator. Then again, the line producer is still responsible for overseeing all aspects of the production. That way, they ensure they complete the production on time and within budget. The line producer operates a failsafe financial monitoring system to pull this off. The system regulates production spending, materials, and progress. The line producer usually sets aside a 10% contingency in the budget to cover unexpected situations. While at the same time, they spend much of their time coping with figures and resources. They even oversee specific health and safety procedures and sort out and expedite insurance claims. At the end of the last shot, the line producer plans the “wrap,” or the shutdown, of the production.
Indie Producer’s Handbook: Creative Producing from A to Z
The “Indie Producer’s Handbook: Creative Producing from A to Z,” written by a film producer, Myrl A. Schreibman, describes the line producer as the person who assists the team. I use this book during all my film productions. It’s my bible.
Another reason line producers are so invaluable is that they possess an in-depth knowledge of scheduling and budgeting a production. They will manage the whole physical and technical processes of filmmaking. Successful people know everybody in the industry and command respect from the production crew. They are people with incomparable communication skills, such as sound judgment in balancing the creative needs of the director, creative personnel and artists with the available financial means. They are ready for anything, plan for the worst, and offer inspiration for others to do exceptionally well in their work. Like producers, line producers are not liable for complying with health and safety regulations or for setting up health and safety measures. Still, they are required to perform risk assessments in accordance with regulatory requirements. For that reason, they must know how to identify hazards in the production environment, determine the risk level, recommend actions, and review their assessment. Line Producers must also be certified through health and safety courses.
Line producer is responsible for above-the-line and below-the-line costs. Source: David Peterson
Successful line producers have considerable experience in the film industry. Nothing can prepare someone for such a demanding job but working for many years in the profession and gaining the tried and true expertise. When hiring a line producer, a filmmaker needs to understand that the individual advanced to the position by working hard for many years through various jobs, from production assistant to location manager to assistant director. Many start their careers as office workers or errand runners.
Write thrillers, mysteries, and other related crime dramas and avoid writing cliches by following these rules.
Joe Friday: “Just the facts, Ma’am”
Dragnet
Don’t use “Let’s take him downtown for questioning.” Roth writes that real cops never say that.
What is Attempted Murder?
The Crime Writer’s Reference Guide, 1001 Tips for Writing the Perfect Murder by the late Martin Roth, is not a book that you read for pleasure on a rainy Sunday afternoon.
When writing a story that requires an accurate portrayal of a crime, you reach for it and use it to describe blood. You’ll need to read it, though, so you know why you write with accuracy and detail a fictional crime story.
Of course, you don’t want to be as dry as a crime report, but you want to write real-life drama.
When you are writing a story that needs an accurate portrait of anything that deals with a crime, you reach for this book and use it for blood.
How to Become a Serial Killer
Take a story about a serial killer. You need to create a profile and look up serial murder in the book’s glossary. Turn to the designated pages and discover that there is not just one type of serial killer, but four. You read the passage in the book, “studies reveal that most serial killers are white males between the ages of twenty-five and thirty-five and are usually products of working- or lower-middle-class families.”
Your profile takes shape, and you read on, “Many serial killers are charming, selfish, impulsive, and ambitious. Many come from broken homes or homes where they were abused. Few serial killers express any feelings of guilt or remorse for their crimes.” A brilliant start for a classic character study. Now that I think about it, most of the crime stories I have read or seen in movies fit this profile.
Turn to the designated pages and discover that there is not just one type of serial killer but four.
Writing Crime Dialogue
I enjoyed the chapter on language. It is an essential tool for any crime writer, with terms such as “throwaway,” which refers to guns or clothes the mugger wears and discards to avoid pursuit.
How about “pigeon,” which means victim. This chapter supplies enough dialogue ideas to keep you writing dialogue for twelve CSI spin-offs. Wait, CSI spin-offs are close to twelve and counting.
All kidding aside, you need this book dog-eared and well-used if you write about crime.
How to Write a List of Character Traits
Reading the book filled my head with straightforward ideas for stories and ample characters. What also fascinated me was the character description of cops, including what their lives are like and what they are not like, which sparked a range of ideas. My fingers were itching to click the keys on my keyboard and start writing.
Roth’s book gives you all the information you need to create a crime. You can start with the criminal act, the crime scene investigation, the prosecution of the criminal, and conclude with a life sentence in prison. He offers numerous examples of television shows that accurately portray crime stories.
As an exercise, you can watch a few crime shows and see if the production company followed Roth’s standards.
Listen to the Police Dialogue
Mark Wahlberg stars in Mile 22, a drama about a secret special forces unit within the government. I recommend you listen to the dialogue in this movie. You will hear crime jargon, such as “motive” and “driven.”
Director Peter Berg shoots scenes with a handheld camera that follows agents, police, and special forces as they meet and collaborate to solve the crime.
Although it is a dramatization, you get the idea of what it’s like within a collaborative meeting between police forces.
Humphrey Bogart as Sam Spade
Humphrey Bogart
“He said: “I’m going to send you over. The chances are you’ll get off with life. That means you’ll be out again in twenty years. You’re an angel. I’ll wait for you.” He cleared his throat. “If they hang you, I’ll always remember you.”— Dashiell Hammett, “The Maltese Falcon”
Finally, if the chapter you are reading isn’t enough to fill your creative imagination, which is hard to believe, there is a section called “Where do you go from here.” This chapter includes a list of other books on the same subject. You can head to the library and create a new pastime of reading how-to-write crime stories instruction books. “The Crime Writer’s Reference Guide, 1001 Tips for Writing the Perfect Murder” is the reference book for any writer about to write a story centered on crime. Even if you have it written, you can use this book to cross-check your accuracy. “Just the facts, Ma’am.”
Before he left us and flew away to new adventures, Oscar starred in many movies, television shows, and print ads. This article shares his story.
Oscar the Parrot
Animal actors are amazing creatures because they possess hidden talents that few of us are aware of. We try to tap into their psyche, but the animals evade us. We wonder how the director gets those animals, like Oscar, to do those cute antics.
The animal trainers work with the director and animal actors. Together, the animal trainers have the gift and help animal actors shine.
Oscar, the parrot, was one of those animal actors. His talent stole scenes from other actors, and his personality caught people’s attention. He passed away, but his recorded performances keep his memory alive.
Talented and Gifted Bird
The film industry lost one of its most talented parrots. It is with great sadness that we report the passing of the star of several movies.
The bird’s last movie is appropriately called A Bird of the Air. Oscar the Parrot had a glorious career and an unprecedented career-spanning live theater, television with Fantasy Island, print advertising, and movies like Home Alone 3.
“A Bird in the Air” – Oscar’s Last Movie
In Oscar’s final movie, he plays a smart-alecky parrot who meets an unconventional librarian, played by Rachel Nichols. Somehow, they disrupt the life of a private man named Lyman, played by Jackson Hurst, who is not sociable. He works the graveyard shift as a security officer, patrolling around in his truck. He became an orphan at four years old when his parents died in a car wreck. He only knows his last name and estimates the year of his birth.
Oscar flies into his trailer and starts talking with words like ‘Shut up!’ and ‘I’m an eagle!” Lyman decides he must find the parrot’s owner. The quest leads him to the librarian named Fiona, played by Rachel Nichols. Over the years, her curiosity and attraction to Lyman from afar finally came to fruition. She offers her help to find the parrot’s owners, whether Lyman likes it or not.
Another animal comes into the story. Fiona’s basset hound makes the whole situation off-kilter. All four begin their search for Oscar’s owner. Fiona unravels the secrets of Lyman’s past and realizes that something about it needs clarification.
Fiona and Lyman go on his nightly security rounds together, and she sees a different man than the one she romanticizes. He has changed since he was a security officer, and she feels uncomfortable about it. As the movie draws to a close, Lyman reconciles with his past and breaks free from his murky lifestyle. They prepare a life together.
True Actor with Wings
Oscar lived beyond his sixtieth birthday, and he did not show his age in his final movie, A Bird of the Air. His fellow human actors adored him and spoke of his professionalism and kindness toward the crew on set. The indie romantic comedy includes some of the best moments for Oscar. His talent shines, and he will always be in our hearts.
“Paulie” the Movie
One of Oscar’s most famous movies is Paulie. The film is about a parrot, played by Oscar, being passed around from owner to owner.
The bird makes friends with a little girl, but they get separated. Eventually, a widow named Ivy buys Paulie. She and the parrot become fast friends, and they agree that she should help him find Marie, who moved to the West Coast. The widow decides to travel in her mobile home.
Slowly, Ivy loses her sight during their trip, and Paulie decides to stay and take care of her. Ivy eventually passes away, and Paulie learns to fly, continuing his journey to find his friend.
Talented Parrot
Oscar made so many movies and helped other animal actors break into the business. He leaves behind a legacy, and no other parrot can fill his feathers. It is a phenomenon of how Hollywood creates a story and adds a parrot, and the whole dynamic of the story shifts.
Oscar worked in the movies before animal trainers became a household word. Oscar helped so many animal trailers, too. He showed them how to guide animals through a scene, so they delivered what the director wanted.
Oscar flew off to find a new place to talk to parrots and entertain people. Rest in peace, Oscar. You are dearly loved.
Do you want to work in film but don’t know where to begin? Here is a way to get your first job in the film industry.
Creating a business plan gets you where you want to go in the film business.
Instant Internship
You may have heard about the old ironies and difficulties of breaking into the film business.
No film experience? You can’t get an interview.
No Interview? You can’t get the job.
No Job? You can’t get the experience.
You need experience to achieve the experience. Trying to break into the film business can go on and on—around and around. Despite all, people do break into the film business, and you can, too.
It takes a simple film business plan.
Film Business Plan
Film production companies look for people willing to work for free because they are new to the business and need experience. They’re called internships and are often part of a formal course of study at a four-year college.
The colleges and universities that offer such internship programs are UCLA, USC, San Francisco State University, the University of Texas, and New York University. If you are interested in pursuing this career path, contact the college’s admissions office for more information. Or, you can Google “film internships NYC” if you want to work in NYC.
Some in the business consider pursuing film production internships a noble move because it suggests you’re committed to the industry. You are intensely committed enough to work for free.
Though the fact is that many film industry jobs require training and a certain number of years of work experience. That is where the film production internships apply. Most professional jobs in the industry do not require a college degree. They need you to be an intern for a time to gain the technical, creative, and managerial skills necessary to function effectively in your chosen film career.
If you are considering an internship in the industry, it would be advisable to prepare for your specific area or areas of interest. If, for example, you’re thinking about interning as an editor, it would be a good idea to take a few editing classes at a film school. Such experience will make you more attractive as a candidate and more valuable once you’ve begun your internship training.
Film Business Jobs
Make sure you have business cards.
Sometimes people get lucky in the film business and fall into jobs, but it doesn’t happen very often. As a rule, if you want it, it will happen, and you will have to make it happen.
One way to make it happen is to arrange an internship with a production company connected to a film school. You can also approach other film organizations, like marketing, law, digital media, or social media. A film production internship is an unpaid position that helps you build your resume, gain experience, and develop industry contacts.
However, internships can be hard to find and nearly impossible to secure due to intense competition in the field.
Offer the production an internship for yourself. This technique works because film production companies are amenable to accepting free help during peak “rush” periods. Some gained employment and kick-started their careers by approaching a production company and asking for work.
Remember:
During such “unofficial” internships, the contacts you develop are invaluable to building your career.
Before you start approaching people in the film business for work, you have to have film business cards with reliable and up-to-date contact information.
Network while learning about working on a film set.
Contacts Lead to Contacts
There are several ways to arrange an internship. Sometimes, people approach film crews while in production and offer to help. While the offer gets refused, it doesn’t hurt to ask. If you’re persistent, the chances are they’ll eventually give in and let you do some work on the shoot. It may not be the kind of work you had in mind, but once you get on a set with a production company, you have the opportunity to meet people who can help you get a “real” job in the film business. And then, pass out your business cards.
Whatever tactic you choose, or try to use, to get your first job in the film business, make sure you keep at it with the right attitude. Odds are you will eventually run into someone who will take you up on your offer.
Once you get an internship, get to know as many people on the production team as you can.
Remember:
Contacts lead to contacts and, eventually, the job you want in the business.
In the film business, it’s all about networking, and the more people you get to know, the more likely you’ll find work in your chosen field.
People make it in the business because they asked, searched, persisted, and finally landed a job on the set.
Where Crews are Hired
In addition to full-time and freelance jobs, there’s a third way you can work in the film industry—for free. It doesn’t sound like a good idea and certainly not something you want—or be able—to do for too long, but it is a way to get a foot in the door.
In fact, there are film productions where crews are “hired” for no pay at all. In such instances, the producer may offer the crew shares in the film or some other form of deferred payment—the chance to make money if and when the movie itself turns a profit. If nothing else, the opportunity to share in the film’s profits serves as a considerable motivation for the crew to do its best and help maximize the film’s chances for success.
Although the arrangement appears exploitative, it benefits both the producer and the crew. How else can a filmmaker with little or no production budget get a team? How else can inexperienced crew members get experience? Ultimately—whether the film is a success or not—both sides get what they want: the filmmaker gets his movie made, and the new crew members gain valuable experience they can add to their resumes.
Working on the Film Set
Making a film career requires patience and perseverance. The production manager says, “No,” don’t take it personally. Keep working at it until you find a crack in the door, and you get your big break.
The history of James Bond movies is a fascinating topic for any conversation. This article reveals many amazing facts about James Bond, 007, for any fan of the genre.
“No Time to Die” is Daniel Craig’s fourth 007 movie.
When James Bond 25 premiered in theaters, the franchise set the record for the most movies ever produced by a single franchise.
James Bond Years
As we wait to discover who will star as James Bond in the next 007 movies, let’s look at some facts about James Bond.
With MGM’s permission, you will read, view photos, and watch video clips about the historical facts of the author, Ian Fleming, and the producers, directors, writers, and actors behind the creation of the ever-suave James Bond.
1. Longest-Produced Franchise
James Bond ranks among the most productive and longest-running franchises, with 24 films produced and the 25th, No Time to Die, set for release.
2. When Was Ian Fleming Born?
Ian Lancaster Fleming was born on May 28, 1908, and passed away on August 12, 1964. He left behind a genuine legacy of what it means to be a confident man—stylish, charming, suave, and debonair — as 007.
3. Fleming Worked in British Intelligence
Fleming’s life story is intriguing and full of flair, just like his fictional character. In 1942 in Jamaica, Fleming arrived to meet his American opposite from the Office of Naval Intelligence, where he stayed with fellow Eton College and childhood friend, Ivar Bryce.
Bryce’s second wife owned a house in Jamaica, and Fleming was impressed with the location. After visiting the island, Fleming assured Bryce that he would come back, construct a home, and live on the island when the war was over.
4. Fleming Designed and Built His Home in Jamaica
He returned to the island in 1946 and purchased an abandoned donkey racetrack overlooking the North Atlantic Ocean, near Ocho Rios and Oracabessa Bay.
He constructed his villa near the edge of a cliff with a view of his private beach. He named his villa “Goldeneye” and conceived and drew the plans himself, with the intent of being economical with space. He commented, “Who wants a big bedroom?” This economy of space encompassed his kitchen area, too.
He went without glass windows and favored the tropical breezes that drifted through the house. He designed conventional slatted louvers that folded back into the window frame’s border.
Author Ian Fleming on location in Jamaica with Sean Connery as James Bond while filming “Dr. No.”
5. How Did Fleming Come up with “Goldeneye”?
“Goldeneye” came from one of the campaigns Fleming worked on during World War II, and he, by coincidence, was reading Reflections in a Golden Eye by Carson McCullers. The first stages of Goldeneye, home in Jamaica, seemed barren and gloomy, but with lots of promise.
6. Playwright and Actor Noel Coward Was Goldeneye’s First Tenant
In 1948, playwright, director, and actor Noel Coward, Fleming’s friend, came to visit and subsequently became his first occupant at Goldeneye, paying a mere £50 a week.
7. Goldeneye Has a Private Beach
He positioned the main house near where he hiked down to the private beach to fish and swim. He hollowed out a large area at the top of the cliff, designed a sunken garden, and added a table and chairs under a sunshade. He finalized the beach area by building concrete and rock stairs to access the beach.
8. Violet Cummings Was His Housekeeper
Fleming hired Violet Cummings, who was a local from the north shore of Jamaica. She became his devoted housekeeper at Goldeneye for 17 years.
9. Fleming Married Lady Ann Rothermere
His wife, Lady Ann Rothermere, first visited Goldeneye in 1948. Fleming and Ann married about 18 miles from the villa in a small town called Port Maria in March 1952. Their only son, Caspar, arrived in London in August 1952, five months later.
10. “Casino Royale” Was the First James Bond Book
Fleming’s first James Bond novel, Casino Royale, was written at Goldeneye in 1952 and published in 1953. He penned every successive Bond book at Goldeneye.
In Jamaica, while filming of “Dr. No” in 1962, Sean Connery, Jacqueline, and Harry Saltzman, and Cubby and Dana Broccoli.
11. Origin of James Bond Name
Fleming chose the hero’s name from the author of his ‘Jamaican bible,’ A Field Guide to the Birds of the West Indies, by James Bond, an American ornithologist.
12. How Many Novels and Stories Fleming Write About James Bond, 007?
Fleming wrote 12 novels and two collections of short stories in Jamaica. All 14 stories were about James Bond.
13. Fleming Wrote on a Gold-Plated Typewriter
He rewarded himself for completing Casino Royale by purchasing a custom-made typewriter he had shipped from New York via the Royal Typewriter Company.
The typewriter was a distinctive gold-plated version of its Quiet de Luxe model, costing $174. Casino Royaleis by far his best James Bond book. If you plan to read a James Bond book, read Royale because Bond is vulnerable and genuinely falls in love.
14. Fleming’s Writing Routine Described in Playboy Magazine
His writing habits sounded manageable, as he described them in the 1964 Playboy article. His routine consisted of writing an average of 2000 words a day.
The majority of his writing occurred at 10 a.m. after he swam in the ocean, had breakfast, and had leisure time in the garden.
He wrote without stopping or looking over what he wrote. If he made a mistake, he would fix it when the book finished.
He spent the afternoon lounging with his wife, had a few drinks, took a nap, and ate dinner. When the sun went down, it was dark. He pounded out 500 more words, placing his seven pages neatly in a folder.
15. Second James Bond Novel Arrived in the Bookstores in 1954
Fleming’s second novel, Live and Let Die, arrived in bookstores on 5 April 1954. The story takes place in exotic locations in Jamaica, similar to the sixth novel he wrote and published in 1957, Dr. No.
16. Famous People Visited Goldeneye
Goldeneye honored famous visitors, including Noel Coward, Anthony Eden, Cecil Beaton, Truman Capote, Errol Flynn, Evelyn Waugh, and Lucian Freud.
17. Former Film Locations Manager owns Goldeneye
The villa changed ownership a couple of times and is currently owned and managed by Island Outpost, owned by Chris Blackwell, former movie locations manager and owner of Records.People come to Goldeneye for and vacation, promoted as a secluded location with ample privacy.
18. Who Produced the First James Bond Movie?
The first movie of the 007 films is Dr. No, produced by Harry Saltzman and Albert R Broccoli, based on Fleming’s sixth novel, starring Sean Connery.
Strolling on the Jamaican beach, Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman are deep in conversation about producing.
19. Who Directed “Dr. No?”
Terence Young directed Dr. No and From Russia With Love, the first two James Bond movies. The last Bond movie he directed was Thunderball.
Terence Young positioned under the camera, directing Sean Connery, Kitzmiller, Ursula Andress on location in Jamaica.
20. Jamaica Movie Location
Because Fleming’s second two novels were set in Jamaica, when the movies went into production, they shot both at various locations there.
21. How Many Jamaicans Worked on “Dr. No?”
The first Bond movie hired roughly 500 local Jamaican actors and crew. The Jamaican government supported the production from beginning to end.
Marguerite LeWars plays the photographer and fails to catch Bond on film.
22. “Dr. No” Went into Production
Dr. No went into production, and filming began on the topic island under a $1 million production budget. Reggie Carter, one of Jamaica’s leading theatre actors, played the maleficent chauffeur, and Miss Jamaica 1961 Marguerite LeWars played the Freelance Photographer.
23. Blackwell Represented Bob Marley
Fleming’s neighbor and friend, Chris Blackwell, became the location manager for all the Jamaican locations filmed for the movie. From his earnings, Blackwell founded Island Records. The record label that released reggae artists, including Bob Marley.
Chris Blackwell, as the location manager for “Dr. No,” listens to Terence Young.
24. Noel Coward Offered the Role of Dr. No
Producers Cubby Broccoli and Harry Saltzman wanted Noel Coward to play Dr. No, but when Fleming cabled his Jamaican neighbor with the offer, Coward responded, “…No…No…No! Thank you. Love, Noel.”
25. Ursula Andress White Bikini Scene
The costume designer for Dr. No was Tessa Prendergast, a Jamaican actress; Tessa Welborn was the fashion designer. She oversaw the costume designs for Dr. No. She assisted in creating the famous white bikini worn by Ursula Andress when she surfaced from the ocean. She won a Golden Globe for her role.
Ursula Andress is the most famous Bond girl in her white bikini for “Dr. No.”
26. Sean Connery Resided at Courleigh Manor Hotel
Sean Connery, stunt coordinator Bob Simmons, and Terence Young arrived on the island a week before the first day of filming. They booked rooms at the Courtleigh Manor Hotel. The remainder of the cast and crew arrived on 14 January.
27. Monty Norman Used Local Bands as Part of the Movie’s Music
The movie’s composer, Monty Norman, blended the Jamaican vibe into the score by working with Chris Blackwell, the location manager. He presented Norman with some local flavor, Byron Lee and the Dragonaires. The band appears in Pussfella’s bar scene. They play “Jump Up” to a bar full of island extras as Connery, who plays Bond, John Kitzmiller, who plays Quarrel, and Jack Lord, who plays Leiter, meet to discuss the disappearance of Strangways.
28. Norman’s Wife Sings “Under the Mango Tree”
The band included Jamaican jazz guitarist Ernest Ranglin, who backed Norman’s wife, Diana Coupland, singing ‘Under the Mango Tree’ in Dr. No.
29. Bunny Yeager Photographed Andress
Bunny Yeager, a former pin-up model and American glamour photographer, came on location to shoot promotional photos of Ursula Andress. In 1966, Yeager published Camera in Jamaica, which includes several photos taken on-site during the filming of Dr. No.
Honey Ryder and 007 are looking down at the beach in Jamaica.
30. The First Time Ian Fleming Came on a Bond Set
During the shooting of the famous Andress, as Honey Ryder walks out of the ocean in a white bikini on the island, director Terence Young recalled working on the scene. He saw some folks walking down the beach, ruining the shot. He screamed, “Lie down!” They lay down, and the film crew shot the iconic scene. It turned out to be Ian Fleming with his friends, Stephen Spender, Noel Coward, and Peter Cornell. It went down as the first time Fleming came on a Bond set.
31. “Dr. No” Final Location Shot in Jamaica
February 21, 1962, the final day of filming on location in Jamaica, was on the property of the Sans Souci Hotel, where the exterior shots of Miss Taro’s house were filmed.
Quarrel, Bond, and Honey are getting away from Dr. No’s guards.
32. Who directed “Live and Let Die?”
Live and Let Die was Guy Hamilton’s third Bond movie. He directed Goldfinger and Diamonds Are Forever before he took on Live and Let Die. His final Bond movie was The Man with the Golden Gun.
33. Did Sean Connery Star in “Live and Let Die”
Roger Moore played James Bond in Live and Let Die. It was his first Bond movie.
34. San Monique Became the Fictional Name of the Island of Jamaica
On November 14, 1972, the first day of filming on Live and Let Die was registered on location in Jamaica. The filming took place on the coast, a short distance past Reynolds Aluminium, on the road to Ocho Rios towards St. Anne’s Bay. The following locations for that day were the interior and exterior shots of the Hotel Reception and the Tarot Card Shop, using the Sans Souci Hotel in Ocho Rios.
On a crocodile farm, Bond, now played by Roger Moore, discovers that signs sometimes express what they say!
35. “Trespassers Will Be Eaten”
Syd Cain scouted locations on the island and came across “Trespassers Will Be Eaten.” His interest aroused, he took a tour of Kananga’s Swamp Safari with its owner. The location became part of the movie, with scenes added to the script, and the name was changed to “Jakata.”
36. Stunt Double in Crocodile Scene
The owner of the swamp, Ross Kananga, joined the movie crew as Bond’s body double for the crocodile stepping stone scene. He had to run over the backs of real crocodiles lined up for the shot.
On the third try, a crocodile whipped around and bit off the heel of his shoe. Ross concluded, “They’re expecting me.”
Guy Hamilton told Ross it was too dangerous to continue, but Ross wanted to get the shot. They tried again and got it.
“Live and Let Die” on the film set, Roger Moore seated on the top deck, on Sunday, December 10, 1972.
37. The Double-Decker Bus Chase Scene
The double-decker bus chase scene required a bus to be converted so the stunt could proceed without difficulty. The production built the bus in London and shipped it to a location in Johnson Town, Lucea, on the island.
Bond drove the bus beneath a low-lying bridge, using a sliding mechanism to enable the top deck to get a clean slice off when the bus hits the bridge.
Not only was the bus customized, but the bridge was as well. Syd Cain devised it, and Leon Davis oversaw the installation of the complete steel framework. All went well in the first take, and the effects looked both humorous and magnificent.
38. The Bus Driver Rehearsed for Six Weeks
Maurice Patchett, a bus instructor, drove the double-decker bus in the chase sequence practiced in Jamaica for six weeks before shooting the stunt.
39. “Live and Let Die” Last Day in Jamaica
The last day of filming in Jamaica was December 27, 1972, at the Jamaica Swamp Safari, Falmouth, with Ross Kananga.
40. Which Studio Produced the James Bond Movies?
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer or United Artists, its forerunner, produced all of the James Bond films in collaboration.
43. San Monique in “Live and Let Die” is Fictional
Jamaica as Live and Let Die filming location for the fictional San Monique island was not a shoo-in. Director Hamilton, Art Director Syd Cain, and Production Manager Claude Hudson spent three weeks scouting locations across the Caribbean before settling on Fleming’s homestead island.
44. Bond’s First Interacial Romance
On November 15, 1972, Roger Moore and Rosie Carver, as Gloria Hendry, perform their first romantic kiss at the picnic scene in a clearing located at Ruins, Ocho Rios. The scene marks the first interracial affair in a Bond movie.
45. Dereking Meddings Created Scarecrow Mannequins
Derek Meddings was recognized for his miniature work on Fireball XL5, Thunderbirds, and Stingray. Live And Let Die was his first attempt at a Bond movie. Meddings and Peter Briggs designed the scarecrow mannequins that frighten Rosie in the romantic scene with Bond.
46. Jaws
Richard Kiel played Jaws and wore his metal teeth for only 30 seconds per scene. The pyramid scene in The Spy Who Loved Me, where he bites through the chain, was designed out of licorice.
47. How Many Actors Have Played James Bond?
Which 007 is your favorite? Seven handsome actors played James Bond, including David Niven, Sean Connery, George Lazenby, Roger Moore, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Dalton, and Daniel Craig.
48. How Tall is James Bond?
Daniel Craig is the shortest James Bond to date, standing at 5’10”. The other Bonds reached 6’1″ to 6’2″.
49. James Bond Women
Bond has been intimate with over four dozen women on screen, with over 75 Bond Girls, and two-thirds of those lovers attempted to kill him. Ursula Andress was the first Bond Girl, creating a high standard for her successors.
50. James Bond is Scottish
When James Bond was 11 years old, his parents were killed in a mountain climbing accident. His father was Scottish, and his mother was Swiss.
51. How Many Times Has 007 Been Shot At?
After being shot at roughly 5,000 times as an agent for His Majesty’s Secret Service, Bond keeps saving the world.
52. Moore Needed Running Double
Roger Moore required a body double for all his movies because production was unsure of his awkward gait.
53. James Bond Vodka
James Bond’s drink of choice is a martini, shaken, not stirred. The favorite drink contains 130 calories, just enough to burn during a romantic tumble.
54. Weapons Training
During Skyfall filming, the cast and crew purchased 200,000 rounds of ammunition solely for weapons training.
55. Smoking in the Movies
James Bond smokes a cigarette in almost every scene, recorded to have smoked 70 cigarettes a day, painfully 3.5 packs a day. Bond stopped smoking in front of the camera after Die Another Day, though he smoked a cigar. Daniel Craig hasn’t lit up on camera yet.
56. James Bond MI16
The actuality of MI6, the agency 007 works for in the movies, was formally recognized by the British government in 1994.
The first James Bond car, the Sunbeam Alpine, is driven by Connery while being chased by The Three Blind Mice.
57. James Bond Car
Pierce Brosnan starred as 007 in Tomorrow Never Dies, where he destroyed more than 15 BMWs.
58. James Bond Card Game
Ian Fleming wrote in his books that James Bond enjoys playing baccarat. We see him playing the game in On Her Majesty’s Secret Service, Dr. No, Thunderball, Goldeneye, and Never Say Never Again.
59. How Many Books Mention 007?
007 appeared in 25 additional authorized books, bringing the total to 39 books if you include Ian Fleming’s 14 novels.
60. What Type of Gun Did Bond Use?
In the first five books, Bond used a Beretta 418: the sixth book, Nr. No, Fleming changed his gun to a Walther PPK. The shift occurred after Fleming corresponded with a veteran and gun collector. He advised Fleming to have Bond use the latter gun for speed and accuracy.
“No Time to Die” is the 25th 007 movie starring Daniel Craig and Léa Seydoux as the Bond Girl. They arrive in Matera, Italy, filming on location with director Cary Joji Fukunaga.Source: Franco Origlia
61. James Bond Villains
The villains in Fleming’s books make the stories so much fun to read and see on the big screen. Each villain is over-the-top entertainment and uniquely wicked, including Le Chiffre, Mr. Big, Sir Hugo Drax, Dr. Julius No, Auric Goldfinger, and Herr von Hammerstein.
62. Die Another Day
Starting with the first movie, Dr. No, to Quantum of Solace, 007 killed 352 people in the films.
63. Discovery of Sean Connery
Producer Cubby Broccoli saw Sean Connery in Darby O’Gill and the Little People and wanted to test his appeal to women. and took his wife to the movie, and she became impressed.
64. Aston-Martin and Gadgets
The first Bond film to feature gadgets and have him drive an Aston-Martin was Goldfinger. The movie was the first film ever to use a laser beam.
65. James Bond Opening Credits Figure
The figure in the opening credits, where the gun barrel opens, is Stuntman Bob Simmons. He played the iconic part in the first three movies.
Danny Way jumps the Great Wall of China with a skateboard. This article tells you how he did it.
Danny Way in front of the Great Wall of China
Great Wall of China Skateboard History
Most visitors seldom skateboard the ancient tourist attraction, let alone jump across it.
Let’s take a look at the Great Wall of China. It is unique as a structure and is one of the Seven Wonders of the World. For 4,500 miles, the ancient Wall meanders through the mountain ranges of China with more miles than the distance from New York to California. It is wide enough for two cars to drive on it – 25 feet tall and 25 – 30 feet wide.
The Ming Dynasty rebuilt the Great Wall from the many small walls that multiple Chinese emperors had constructed. The dynasty also developed elaborate battlements, cannons, and watchtowers to protect the people.
They used limestone, bricks, and tiles, and ancient records indicate that over 300,000 soldiers and 500,000 commoners worked on the Great Wall of China. They never saw the future or imagined a young, talented skateboarder would be gliding and careening down the center of the Wall.
“To a certain extent, I’m not trying to evolve out of this world of physical pain into a world of mental stress and anguish. But I do have a bit of the business bug. I’m aware I have to try to mediate it to a certain point so I don’t become soaked down to the point where it’s hard to escape.” Danny Way
The location of the Great Wall of China is outlined in red.
Great Wall of China
The Great Wall of China is wide enough for two cars to drive on it—25 feet tall and 25 to 30 feet wide.
Danny Way: Skater of the Year Twice
Daniel Way is from Portland, Oregon, and was born in 1974. He won Thrasher magazine’s “Skater of the Year” award twice.
He thinks outside the box when it comes to skateboarding stunts. Watching him skateboard is priceless. He is a talent worth watching to understand skateboarding.
“Obviously, it’s not in my nature to walk away from something, but there’s got to be a fine line of what is possible and what’s so . . . dangerous that you gotta go, ‘OK, that’s all that’s possible, here.” Danny Way
What is a Professional Skateboarder?
Being a pro skateboarder takes a strong soul to conquer the board —from frequenting local skate parks to winning regional competitions and, eventually, taking on national and international competitions, including product endorsements and wild video shots. Being on a skateboard means performing tricks like flip, daydream flip, plasma spin, sex change, gingersnap, and at least 100 other tricks.
Skateboarding Tricks and Stunts
I wrote a piece on the top skateboard movies, focusing on the intriguing grit and audacity as these brave souls perform on their boards.
Living on the Edge
Like Danny Way, a few others are bold and defy gravity, like the rock climber Alex Honnold, who climbed El Capitan at Yosemite without a rope, which became an Oscar-winning documentary. Or the inspirational story of the parachutist who broke the record in free-falling.
Waiting for Lightningfollows skateboarder Danny Way, known for performing over-the-top feats, similarly with a parachute. Most skateboarders call him a visionary for his extraordinary achievements and performances throughout his career. Samuel Goldwyn Films released the film on Blu-ray, DVD, or online streaming.
Danny Way Skateboards Jumps Wall of China
Interviews with Top Skateboarders
The documentary explores the amount of abuse the body can sustain. It touches on how passionately one must accept challenges that defy survival. Danny Way has proven himself to be an incredibly talented skateboarder and the sport’s top innovator.
The documentary features incredible skateboarding tricks and stunts, along with interviews with the best in the sport. We hear from big players like Travis Pastrana, Laird Hamilton, Rodney Mullen, Mat Hoffman, Ken Block, and Tony Hawk, to name a few.
The story begins with an inspirational account of visionary skateboarder Danny Way, following the journey of a young boy from a broken home in Southern California. He has a deep passion for skateboarding, which has brought him fame and a lifetime of accomplishments.
“That was the scariest … thing I’ve ever done in my life. I’m lucky I’m alive.” Danny White
China’s Great Wall Master by Inspiration
Way’s drive is an inspiration. He has no limits to what he can do. The documentary showcases his creations as they are captured on screen. To jump China’s Great Wall on a skateboard, we see the ramp of Herculean and dangerous proportions.
Overall, I highly recommend this documentary. The video below gives you a glimpse of someone who could pull off such feats.
Danny May is Skateboarder #5 with his Great Wall Jump
