I feel like I need to write something. Even though nothing new has really come up for me as far as stunts work goes. There are a lot of things pending, and a lot of things coming up. I'll start there, then who knows, maybe I'll get philosophical.

We are coming up on the last few months of school, which means...THESIS! It's a big deal for a film student. The entire time you spend in school leads up to this one short moment. You get to direct a short student film that encompasses everything you've learned. Yep, careers have been launched because of student thesis films. While a good film can start a career, I doubt a bad one could kill one. Because you have an excuse, "I was young, what did I really know about making a movie?"
But if you do one well, you're instantly a visionary. Which is of course what every one wants, to BE that visionary film maker right off the bat; the next George Lucas. But not every one can be that, and trying to force yourself into that mold can hurt your film.
Breaking the rules before you fully understand them is detrimental to any art form. Picaso didn't start off drawing his special brand of art. He learned the classical way, and then found it in himself to do things differently.

But all this is coming from a guy who isn't directing a thesis film. The truth of it is, that I didn't want to deal with all the business that comes with producing a short. The hours and hours spent negotiating deals with rental houses, getting location permits, finding affordable catering, searching for funding, having SAG contracts to do. This is why I couldn't be a producer. As far as directing goes, in a few years of being on set, and working with actors, I think I would have my chops. But right now, I don't want the producing side of the house's hassle.
I'm not lazy, it's just not a head ache that I want right now. Maybe when I've matured as a film maker. Stunt work and ADing works find for me now.

Tomorrow I'm also going back to Mike Cassidy's Stunt Kids class to help him out with the class. It's a class of falls and Russian swing. That's the one thing that I missed when I was in his class years and years ago. So now I get to learn it, and put it on my resume. It's like a giant swinging platform, with poles that attach to the A-Frame structure. You power the platform like a swing in a play ground. When you reach the right height, you launch yourself off (like on the playground), to simulate explosions and being throw around.
I haven't seen many behind the scenes of action films using these swings.I think they are kind of dated. There are newer more efficient devices like air rams. Mike dosn't teach air rams, because they are expensive and dangerous. I hope I can play with them one day.

It's late and I need to get some sleep before the class tomorrow. So wish me luck, in thesis month. I'll be working on about 8 separate films in one capacity or another. I'll be busy.

Stay tuned and stay sharp

So close and yet so far

In my past, before I joined the US Army, I was trained in and pursued a career in stunt work. Unfortunately, I never actually got a gig. Every time I was offered a job, something would come up that would take precedence. I would be out of town and physically not able to make it, or had no way to get to the location. It was very frustrating, and seemed as if the fates were conspiring to keep me out of the industry. I don't believe in fate, but for lack of a better phrase, that's how I think of it.

So this weekend, I was brought onto another thesis film for school, as the armorer. I wound up as one of the military advisers as well, which was fun. The set was run very professionally, and I really enjoyed working on it. The same set that Scenes from Iron Man and Transformers, which was so cool. I love working in this town. 

I was a little put off for one reason, which brings me back to my old stunt days. I was not brought on to be the stunt coordinator, that job went to the director's cousin. He had more experience than me, but was friendly. I introduced myself, and gave him my background, a expressed that I wanted to be a stuntman, and that I'd like to help him any way I could. 

When it came to the stunt work, which was only a fight, and a wire pull, he decided to go with the actor that I brought with me. Who is not really an actor, and not a stuntman. But he fit the physical profile of what the director wanted. I know that's how the game is played, and I accept that. BUT it's hard to swallow, when you're an aspiring stuntman, you get onto a set that has stunts that need to be done, and you aren't involved. It's just disheartening. I'll get there though, and I'll be do it right when I do. 

All in all it was still a great day. I made some good contacts, I got some screen time as a Taliban war fighter, and I did some good training for the actors playing Marines. Damn, we had those poor guys on edge, they were in character all day, and my other mil adviser would just screw with them and run them through scenarios. It was a very good exercise for me in working with actors. 

Though I didn't get much for my stunt reel, I still call the day a huge success. 

More to follow soon, 

Stay tuned, and stay sharp.

Thoughts late at night

It's late and I can't sleep. I have an appointment with my VA disability people in the morning. I guess I'll just be exhausted when I get there. I've got a zero calorie monster in the fridge so I'll be alright. By the way, those things are awesome! They really get me jacked in the morning! Like power thirst!!! I'll go fight a tiger...

Any way, through the VA folks at my school I got into a group for veterans in film and television. It's a very legit group that I think will be a real benefit to my career. However, something came of it, that I was not expecting, but should have.

I've let my ego get a little too big. For the last few months, I've had big fish in a little pond syndrome. Since I'm the only guy that I know of at my school that is interested in stunt work, I've had a lot of demand. I've started calling myself a stunt coordinator, for lack of a better term and it's gone to my head.

On my facebook, my occupation read stunt coordinator as well. When I signed up with this group for vets, I introduced myself as a stunt coordinator. Almost immediately I got a message from a real stunt coordinator that I actually know if and admire a great deal. He advised that I not call myself a stunt coordinator, because I will probably piss off the people who have devoted years and years to actually earn the credit of stunt coordinator. Especially when I have no real credits even as a stuntman. I immediately heeded his advice and amended the introduction and my profile; to aspiring stuntman.

It was a reminder that I really truly am starting at the bottom if the ladder. At 26 years old, I'm starting over at something. I thought six years ago that I would be at least decent at a job and be working my way to the top. It's a little disheartening to think about. But I guess there is no choice, since I don't want to go back to the Army. I'll just attack this new venture and make it my bitch.

I know that not any one can do anything. Those stories that parents tell their kids are a bunch if crap. You either don't have the intelligence, the genes, or the means. But stunts is something that I AM good at, and definitely see myself excelling at.

For a while I thought that I would make my living as a magician. But I never really saw myself doing that seriously. Maybe as a side job instead if waiting tables or tending bars, but not full time. If you see me bringing food to your table, I've hit Rock bottom. Bit that I'm hating on waiters, it's just not something I could do and smile. Unless I worked at a rude restaurant like Dicks. But they would just be too wearied to say I work in dicks, or I'm a dick waiter.

So until next time, stay tuned and stay sharp.

Head shots!

There it is! My head shot, that's going to be the money maker. The one below is nice, but doesn't give enough feeling, but it's still a nice picture.

A lot of things are going on now! Thesis month is coming up at school, and I've booked seven gigs. I'll be second unit directing a Vietnam battle scene, stunt coordinating for five, and being a 2nd AD for another. So April is going to be a very busy month for me. So I'll have a lot of material for my reel.

I also had a meeting with the leaders of "Urban Fist" stunt team. The team manager was a student at the same school as me, so I decided to drop them an email. We met in Santa Monica and talked about bringing me onto the team as a military consultant and armorer. They are a great group of guys, and I'm very excited to work with them. We are looking for a day to set up a small weapons manipulation course for the team, so I can show case my skills.Very exciting.
Also Check out my website www.danielrathaus.com and look at the new additions to the arsenal. I picked up two new AK 47s and a new chrome 1911.  They are going to be popular in he short films that I'm going to be involved with. Things are starting to pick up!

The roots of it all

Today was a great day, I got back in touch with my roots.
I helped my mentor teach his stunt class: www.stuntkids.com. Mike Cassidy is a great man, he taught me everything I know about performing stunts and how to get into the industry. I went through stunt kids in 1999, and have recalled bits and pieces of that training ever since, not necessarily while performing.

So today I went back to see Mike, to assist him while teaching a new class of stunt kids; today's class was falls. Mike has a tower set up in his yard, you climb the ladder, and jump into an airbag. These kids climb the tower, up to 28 feet and leap. Brave for some of these little ones. I did the class when I was 17, and it was scary. But then again, when I went through the class there were two higher levels, so I've jumped from 38 feet. which was quite exhilarating. Today I got to play around on the tower a little too.

It felt so good to touch base with Mike again, an added treat was seeing an old stunt kids class mate of mine, Matthew Kennedy. Matthew's been doing well while I've been gone. He just wrapped the new Spider Man movie on the stunt stunt team. He's making his living as a stunt man, and living the dream. I can't wait till I can pay the bills solely by performing.

I also was asked to coordinate a short shoot out for a thesis film for a Los Angeles Film School student. I do these thesis films for free, for several reasons. I'm still a student, and I would want some one to help me out if I were shooting a thesis, I still need the experience and things to add to my resume.

Finally, I saw my headshot. It looks great, it's getting re touched, and I should have the final product by Monday. I'll post it up here once I get it.


So stay tuned, and stay sharp.
Daniel

It has begun!

Today things got real. I had an appointment to get my first professional head shots done. It's official now, I am where I belong. 

Please allow myself to introduce myself (Austin Power's reference FTW). I am Daniel Rathaus, a stuntman, a stunt coordinator, a military consultant, an actor, an armorer, and film student. I think that's all I am... oh yea, AWESOME! 

I am a student at the Los Angeles Film School in Hollywood CA. I'm a California boy by nature, though I was born in New York city, I have adopted CA as my home. I served 6 1/2 years in the US Army as a communication Sergeant, collecting two combat deployments, and a handful of great experiences. 

Now that I'm out, I'm making my way through Hollywood, on my way to being a professional stuntman.

I am very fortunate that I have contacts in the film industry that do not come from my school. Being that I come from a film family, I'll be able to utilize the network that seems to have been tailored for me. My father is an feature film editor, mother is a story board artist, and my grandfather received an academy award in 1971 for his best picture "The French Connection." 

I know that just having connections is not enough. It takes hard work, determination, and skills. All of which I have!

So back to my day, I have about 400 pictures taken of my face, which I've never been too keen on staring at. And still, some came out really nice. Tonight they get touched up, and I'll get them tomorrow. Then I can start hustling and getting my face out there to coordinators. 

While I work on getting gigs, I'll continue to concentrate on working with my fellow students, as the stunt coordinator on their short films. So I have something to put on a reel and my resume. 

It's going to be a fun ride, and I'll keep you all updated as things develop. So stay tuned.