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MI6 talked to Kai Martin, one of the stuntmen on
Casino Royale who doubled for Daniel Craig as James
Bond when the action ramped up...
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Doubling For James Bond - Kai Martin Interview
11th November 2006
With just over a week of filming left before
Casino Royale wrapped principal photography, MI6 visited the
filming on location at Dunsfold Aerodrome, UK, and caught up
with Kai Martin to talk about his work as Bond's
stunt double in the movie.
How many of you are there doubling for Bond
in Casino Royale?
There are three – Adam Curley, Ben Cook
and myself. We all share the duties of doubling for Bond.
How does it feel to be James Bond’s double?
It has its
moments, for all of us. It’s something we’ve
always wanted to do. And it terms of stunts, it’s something
we’ve always wanted to do.
Can you describe for us the stunt
you have just performed?
It’s in the airport sequence, when Bond and the bad-guy are having the
fight on a tanker. Bond has been kicked out of the door, and looses the door
and his head is probably six inches from the ‘floor’. That’s
just what we did.
Where there many risks?
Not really, no. You’ve done all the safety checks – you know what
you’re doing. There’s plenty of boys around you to look after you,
so, it’s fine.
How long have you been a stunt man?
I started in 2002, so four years. |
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Above: In a crucial scene, Bond attempts to prevent Carlos
carrying out a terrorist attack |
How did you get into it – what makes
you like the feeling of danger?
I don’t really know. Why does anyone want to do what they
want to do? It’s really been one of my ambitions since
I was young and so I just followed it up.
You don’t look much like Daniel Craig, does that matter
too much?
No. It’s based on body shape, not so much facial expression.
If you are a good facial double than that’s great, and
it helps, but everything goes so quickly, you don’t often
see the double.
Above: 170 feet up in the air,
Bond tackles Mollaka (Sebastien Foucan) head on |
Can you tell us about any of the other major sequences you have
been involved with?
There’s a great scene, shot in the Bahamas,
where Bond is chasing the bad guy, who’s a bomber, through
a construction site. We use everything around us – from
running up cranes to jumping on girders. We have a fight, 140
feet up, where Bond
is thrown of and jumps from crane to crane. There’s a lot
of action in the film and we’ve all done our fare bit.
What was your most frightening experience as a stuntman?
There’s been a few moments – but
not that I can recall right now. You tend to forget about it
and move on. The
only way is forward!
Are you a Bond fan yourself?
I suppose I should say yes. But
not really, I mean, I’ve
seen all the films and everything, but I wouldn’t say I
was a Bond geek – I don’t own any memorabilia!
How well do you get on with Daniel Craig – being his
stunt double?
We work quite closely Daniel, especially on the main unit.
The double over there, Ben, is responsible for finished what
might
have been started or talking Daniel through a stunt. You’ve
got to make sure he doesn’t get hurt. So yes, you have
to work quite closely.
Above: Daniel Craig gets the
sole credit for playing James Bond, but three stunt
doubles performed action as 007 in Casino Royale |
Is he quite easy going?
Daniel’s a lovely guy. Very down to earth, very humble,
but he’s going to be a great Bond – defiantly.
What kind of tips do you provide him with for doing his own
stunts?
Just whatever the action may be – you’d
give advice specific to the stunt at hand. It’s too difficult
to say as every bit of action is different.
Is he really up to performing many of his own stunts?
Yes. That’s for sure. He’s up for everything – fights – everything.
He’s full on.
Is he going to make a good Bond?
A great Bond!
Produced by Michael G. Wilson and
Barbara Broccoli (Eon Productions) and directed by Martin
Campbell, CASINO ROYALE is scheduled for release on November
16, 2006 in the UK. Principal photography started on January
30th 2006, with locations in the UK, Czech Republic (Prague),
Italy, and the Bahamas. It will be British actor Daniel Craig’s
first outing as James Bond. He is the sixth actor to play
the 007 role in the franchise.
The film also stars Judi Dench, Eva Green, Mads
Mikkelsen, Jeffrey Wright, Giancarlo Giannini, Caterina Murino,
Simon Abkarian, Tobias Menzies, Ivana Milicevic, Clemens Schik,
Ludger Pistor, Claudio Santamaria and Isaach de Bankole.
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Thanks to Sophie Davison
