Hi everybody, a short contribution to our newest challenge (it is a challenge, isn’t it?). Lou by the way is the stuntman in the alien-costume in the teaser of “The Illusion”.

Please tell me if you find typos or anything like that.

“Action!”

Now concentrate. Everything goes smoothly so far. This is really a long shot - the director seems to have an aversion against cutting. Was he a director of photography before becoming director? Well, it is not my concern. Get your head to the task at hand. Although, what great things do I have to do except threaten that girl, making a few steps (although it is easier thought than done in this suit!) and being thrown out of the window? Well, there are worse things to make a living.

Phew, it really IS hot in here. And I cannot see clearly, not mentioning hearing. Not that the scene is cluttered with dialogue I’d have to hear, naw, that would only spoil a horror-sci/fi-flick.

Attention! The door explodes and here I go. I feel like the Michelin manikin, can’t move very well. Okay, she moves, I turn left and “brace for impact”. I hope the suit is well padded for the nails, otherwise …

It is. Now backwards it goes, through the window and down it … ugh!

“Cut!! …. Cut, damn it!!”

Uff, what's happened now? I am hanging between heaven and earth. And I cannot even control my own limbs because of this motor. Good, Rollie has turned it off. It's a peculiar feeling, being unable to master one's limbs. Well, now I could control them, but I am still hanging there. I can imagine a beetle on its back must feel the same. I can’t do anything without help.

Ugh, it is hot in here. Lets get that thing off my head - aahh, fresh air (sort of). Much better now.

Hm, Rollie says something was wrong with the winch. Swell. But he wants to free me soon. Okay with me, but he doesn’t have to hurry, I kind of like it up here - when it doesn’t take too long.

Rollie and Angie are discussing the failure. I like working with them. They know a lot of their job - and of mine, too. No wonder, since Rollie has been in the same line of work years ago. You can always tell if somebody has first hand experience or is just blabbing.

They really are keen on security as well. But not like this bureaucrat-security-types who only go by the rulebook. With Tyler FX you can see they care about people. I know that some people consider the words “stuntmen” and “security” as an oxymoron, but they know nothing. We like risks, that’s right, but calculated risks.

Oh, the shot will be resumed this evening? Fine with me, now I can go home and get a couple of hours’ sleep. Perhaps I can play a bit with the kids as well.

How did I end up here? And I don’t mean the defect winch. In high school, I thought I would become a football-player. Well, a lot of boys think that. But there is a difference in playing ball at school for fun (although you didn’t even dare to think of mentioning that! It was a deadly serious business) and doing it for a living. The first can do quite a lot of people, but not the latter. I was in the first category.

Becoming a stuntman was accidental, though. I always was good in falling without getting hurt - a useful skill in my sport. Then I went as an extra on this movie set with a friend of mine. We just wanted to have fun and earn a couple of dollars. As destiny runs they looked for someone who could do a little falling. Nothing serious of course. And the rest “is history”, so to say.

Oh, I am lowered down. I am not too sorry to get out of this costume, although it has a certain something to it. Pity nobody will recognize me under those layers of latex. Well, me and David Prowse! But I don’t want my face being splashed all around the country; I like my little niche here, doing what I can do best. And going home at night (or at morning) to see my kids.