“I wouldn’t say that. I’m not wearing any padding, so it’s certainly not the most comfortable.”
Andy chuckles knowingly.
“So you just take hits like that all day long,” Christine says.
I shrug. “That’s the job. I actually land on my shoulders and my toes. The main thing is to protect the spine and tailbone. It’s not as bad as it looks.”
I expect a quip, but Christine just has an open, earnest expression as she asks, “Could you teach me how to fall like that?”
I look over at Andy. “I don’t see why not.”
Andy nods, eyes crinkling as he gives a warm smile. “But later. Not enough time now.”
“Back to it,” I say, taking up my mark again.
We practice until the sky turns blazing red, and dusk closes in from the forest.
Christine and I stride out onto the beach to drink some water and catch our breaths as Andy and Pauli work out the last few adjustments to the camera.
The sun settles over the ocean, turning all the water scarlet. Massive waves crest and crash, frothing into white foam on the black sand. It stretches out on either side, tracing the contours of an alien world that seems to at once warn and welcome us.
“Good work today,” I say.
“Thanks.”
“We might actually be able to pull this off. Another week or two would be great, though…”
“I know, I know,” Christine says lightly. “Amateur.”
I glance over. Since she’s still being a real person, I’ll cut her some slack. “I meant for me.”
She quirks a brow. “Really? You already look like you were born on that thing.”
I shake my head. “There’s so many things I could push further, sell harder… We could do some absolutely crazy moves in a rig like this. I have a thousand ideas.”
“You should talk to Andy about it.”
“Nah. Andy’s making the right call keeping it grounded, scrappy. That’s what we can pull off with this amount of time. It’ll look great, but… man, that thing’s fun to climb around.”
Christine glances over at me. “How’d you get into stunt work? You’ve always liked climbing on things?”
“Partly. I got into gymnastics and martial arts young. Joined the parkour club in college, and that’s where I met someone from a stunt family. They helped me train and got me my first couple gigs in LA. Rest is history.”
“You ever wanted to do anything else?”
“Yes and no. Out here on shoots? Nowhere I’d rather be. Killing time and picking up odd jobs in between, trying to make rent and wondering if I’ll ever get another gig? Not as fun.”
“What would you do if work dried up?”
I shrug. “I dunno; I’m not really good at anything else. You think about it, with dry spells, injuries…”
“Alanna seemed optimistic she was going to bounce back,” Christine offers.
“Yeah. We always seem that way.”
Christine is quiet, and the rush of the waves flows over us.
“Sometimes you bounce back,” I add. “Sometimes you don’t. Sometimes you’re lucky to live. Sometimes someone isn’t so lucky. But if you work with a good team, don’t do anything stupid, that last one doesn’t happen too often.”
