JASON WHITE INTERVIEW
the day dressed as Patrick, filming the villain’s escape,” White describes. As time ticked away, he realised the complex fight he’d planned wouldn’t work in the allotted time. Thinking on his feet, he simplified the ending to a single punch. “I hid in the shadows as Patrick, only to be knocked out by Richard in one swift move.” In just four hours, White had doubled two principal actors, directed the sequence and managed to improvise under immense pressure. “It was chaotic and exhilarating,” White smiles. “It reminded me why I love this job – no two days are ever the same.” THE BIRTH OF SAM: SPECIAL ACTION MANIKIN His dedication to safety solidified after a serious accident left him out of action for eight years. It gave him time to explore other interests, but eventually stunt work called him back – albeit this time as a stunt coordinator. One idea for improving on-set safety came while working on the film Eight Minutes Idle . The director wanted an actress to fall through a ceiling, but with no budget for a stunt double, White took it upon himself to build a solution. This led to the prototype for his Special Action Manikin – dubbed SAM, or Samantha – a custom-built prop designed to safely mimic the fall and its impact. Allowing for realistic, high-risk scenes without putting actors in harm’s way, SAM proved so effective that it sparked a new chapter in White’s career. “It was an epiphany moment; I’d seen so many horrendous dummies in my career and I questioned why nobody had come up with something better.”
and the action is often scheduled for later on,” he states. “It should be first, when everybody’s fresh – not making people wait all day under a huge adrenaline rush and then putting them through a hugely stressful physical and mental strain.” White also believes that, despite gradual improvement, the industry still lacks robust training around health and safety. “There needs to be so much more education in film schools about this stuff, coming from people who know this side of the business. It’s frustrating.” The lack of data sharing around accidents is another source of frustration. “Why don’t we have detailed reports from each department when there’s an incident?” he asks. “We need this to learn from. If someone’s life is at risk, there should be accountability.” For aspiring stunt performers, White’s advice is simple: “Be an actor first,” he stresses. “Understand the actor’s mind, then focus on health and safety. Physical skills are important, but realism and respect for the craft take precedence.” Despite decades in the industry, White is far from finished. He’s currently co-writing Shackles – an 1830s-set drama he plans to direct – with his friend Edward Brett, a first AD. “It’s unique, and it’s never been done. I can’t say more, but the plan is for an eight-part series,” he teases. Reflecting on his career, White takes pride in his varied contributions and would like his story to serve as an inspiration for others who’ve struggled with dyslexia or ADHD. “I hope it can show them that they’re worthy,” he concludes.
UNDERSTAND the actor’s mind , AND THEN FOCUS ON health and safety ”
Over time, he perfected the design and interest in them grew. His manikins were soon deployed on high-profile projects including Peaky Blinders , where he worked as stunt coordinator and horse master. “Cillian Murphy thought it was great because it meant he could get carried away smashing someone’s head in without worrying about hurting another actor,” White grins. A SAFER INDUSTRY “I don’t want to blow my own trumpet, but I’ve always been very aware of health and safety – I think more so than others,” he adds. “I had this instinct of wanting to protect. I had a serious accident, and I’d heard about plenty of people getting severe injuries, even deaths. Accidents can happen, but a lot of the time they’re preventable – you need people looking after stunt performers.” White is candid about the challenges facing stunt professionals. “Time and money pressures often lead to rushing,
Find out more about the Special Action Manikins at actionmanikins.com
ACTION MAN White on-set for I Dreamed of Africa (left) and Bring the Drama (right). A SAM in use on The Peripheral (middle)
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