STUNT ABORT, RIP MR. CARRADINE, JUNE 4TH

When I went to get my physical done for this movie, about three weeks ago, David Carradine was in the waiting room.  He was dressed like his “Bill” character from Tarantino’s movie: worn leather jacket, open white button-down open to just below his chest, pendant necklace dangling, tight jeans, and cowboy boots.  He read a magazine, kept to himself.  So did I.

The doctor came out. “Mr. Carradine?”  

He rose slowly from his seat, without answer.

“How are you doing?” she smiled.

He sighed.  ”You know….I’m an actor.”

It was such a strange, melancholic reply, but I thought nothing of it until today.

“Well, you look good!” she countered pretty brightly.

And he did.  He looked bad-ass (as always).   Twenty minutes later, I got called in and so I headed down the narrow hall, lined with framed headshots, toward the examination room.  Carradine was there, standing next to a eleven year-old boy, pointing at some picture.  As I passed I made eye contact and I nodded with a smile.  He didn’t smile back but acknowledged me nonetheless.

I’m still kicking myself for not telling him what I wanted to say then: Mr. Carradine, I’m a big fan.  Thanks for the work.  I missed it.  It’s gone.  Lesson learned.  What sucks is that I knew that lesson already.  Say it when you can.  You may not get a do-over.

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Drove out to a small access road off I-25 here in Santa Fe.  We were supposed to flip a car today but we lost the light.  No go.  They called action and Simon, Nick, and I had our videos running…only to watch the sedan roll past where it was supposed to flip, then heard “Abort!  Abort!” from an AD’s bullhorn.  Still not sure what happened.  Tough first day, but better things (and stunts) ahead for sure.