‘Belfast’ Stunt Coordinator Talks Being ‘An Action Designer’ For Films
variety.comStuart Miller James O’Donnell’s stuntman resume includes many of the biggest names in action: James Bond, Jason Bourne, “Game of Thrones,” “The Dark Knight,” “Harry Potter,” Marvel.
As a stunt coordinator he’s overseen movies from “Kick Ass” to “The 355” but he also revels in more story-driven projects like “Stan & Ollie,” “Rocketman” and “Bohemian Rhapsody” and, most recently, Kenneth Branagh’s autobiographical “Belfast,” which was nominated for seven Oscars, including best picture.For O’Donnell, who also worked on Branagh’s “Death on the Nile” and “Murder on the Orient Express,” “Belfast” feels personal.
While he was raised in England, his mother is Protestant from Northern Ireland while his father is Catholic. “My Nana didn’t go to my mom’s wedding and some close cousins returned the invitations writing, ‘The curse of a mixed marriage’ and ‘Don’t do it,’” recalls O’Donnell. “Later, during the Troubles, I had relatives still in Northern Ireland and I remember my mom saying, ‘Your aunt had a bomb outside her house’ or ‘There was a shooting down the road.’”This interview has been edited for length and clarity.Is your job different on a movie like “Belfast” than an action movie?I’m listed as a stunt coordinator but what I am is an action designer.
My job is to interpret the script and the spirit of what the director wants, whether it’s a big action movie where we’re blowing stuff up or on a movie like this.
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