I remember my first day as a stunt double for a movie called “Spy Bait.” I was so excited that morning I forgot to bring my wet suit for the boat scene. The suit was very important. I had to jump out of a jet with a parachute, land in the ocean, and swim 200 feet down to a dark treasure chest. The water was supposed to be very cold and the suit would help me keep warm. Luckily, Kate the costume designer found another wet suit that fit me well.
Because I was an athlete my entire life, I was able to pull off the stunt in the first take. The director, Robert, was grateful because I just saved him millions of dollars. If I did the scene wrong, he would have to rent the jet again and pay the pilot for another day.
I could not wait to leave the water because I was so cold. During the break, I poured myself a tall cup of hot chocolate and took a glazed doughnut from the snack table. The actor who I was a stunt double for approached me and said that he would have never been able to do the stunt because he was afraid of heights. He even told Robert that I deserved a raise. When I told both of them that the stunt was no big deal, they thought I was just being modest.
For the next scene, I had to pretend to fight one of the bad guys while riding a jet ski. Medical technicians were on a boat close to the scene in case I got hurt, but I was not worried. I think I was made to be a stunt double.