film & tv archives
This was the front logo for the Stunt Team T shirts (2008), Franklin Henson, Stunt Coordinator
Jude Law enters the fray as Watson 2 weeks prior to filming and he dove into rehearsals with us...
At this point, Robert had been training with me for five years and was good to go... First up, was the Crypt Fight from the opening sequence.
Laying out the Crypt Fight in a 1000 year old church...
Training with RDJ in between takes, outside of St. Paul's in London
The Game's afoot...
Rehearsals begin for the Bareknuckle/"Punchbowl Pub" Fight (Dave Garrick as "McMurdo")
Doubling RDJ for the Crypt Fight
Filming the Crypt Fight
With this sequence, the objective was three fold: 1) Show how Sherlock uses his powers of perception to analyze an opponent. 2) Show full contact hits in a way that had never been seen before at the time, and 3) To reveal how Holmes uses these fights as a form of self punishment (see the restaurant scene just before the fight...)
After training Dave and RDJ separately, we finally came together on day one of the filming of the Punchbowl Fight...
We had to adapt to two different kinds of film fighting techniques: one for the normal camera and one for the high speed (slow motion) camera needed to capture the real contact being made (my hats off to Dave G..!)
Former SAS turned stuntman, Dave took real contact blows for two, very long days...
Prepping for the contact with Dave G.
After a grueling 48 hours, we emerged having completed the sequence... From left to right: Richard Ryan (Fight Coordinator), me, RDJ, Guy Ritchie, Dave Garrick, and Franklin Henson
Next up, were the Reordan's Lab Fight/Slipway fights... (The 7' Robert Maillet as "Dredger" )
Fighting back to back with Watson in Reordan's Lab (East London). The location of the lab was directly over an alley that one of Jack the Ripper's victims was found...
In this sequence, RDJ wanted to ride the line between spontaneity and a polished, well choreographed fight. One on camera experiment sent him to the hospital to stitch up the inside of his mouth - but not before we got the take!
Filming of the Sewer Fight completed!
Filming the Sewer Fight with "Big Robert" and Rachel McAdams (as "Irene Adler")
The Sewer Fight: As "The Mandarin" - a role I was given one day notice for, then we choreographed and filmed the fight the next day. The location was a haunted, underground former prison in Central London
Filming the Tower Bridge fight - with stuntman Michael Yahn as "Blackwood"
Rehearsing the Tower Bridge Fight (on a Naval Base in New York City). Swordmaster Richard Ryan was a pleasure to watch and assist...
Mark Strong ("Blackwood") threw himself into the mix and was quickly up to speed with the duel...
That's a wrap!
Wing Chun Easter Egg: Our design for Sherlock's "Wooden Dummy." It stood in the living room during all of the interior 221B Baker St. scenes.
Doubling RDJ, on location in Central London
Design for the Stunt Team T Shirts (front), Franklin Henson, Stunt Coordinator
And the design for the back
First fight up: Market Fight (vs. Multiple Opponents). For this scene, we used a different kind of camera and story idea than the first film to take us into Sherlock's mind (follow the apple...). I co-choreographed the fight with Markos Rounthwaite and doubled RDJ in the sequence
Next up: The Shush Club Fight (Stuntman Marcus Shakeshef as "The Russian Assasin")
Due to a barrage of story, location and budget changes, we created nearly 30 different versions of what became a 5 minute sequence in the film
With my family on the set of The Shush Club, London
We survived Bourne Wood, UK! Doubling RDJ in the Forest Fight. It was intensely cold, and by the time we finished the sequence, I could no longer feel my feet... The location was the same woods where "Gladiator" was filmed.
Then everything changed, and I wound up on a pony! It still makes me laugh to see "Sherlock" bouncing up and down on the pony in the film...
Prepping to double Robert for the big ride across the French countryside. Though I grew up around horses, I trained as much as possible to be ready to handle the long rides and multiple takes needed for the shots...
Running from the cannons, as it appears in the film
Noomi Rapace ("Sim"), RDJ and Jude run from the cannons...
Balcony Fight complete. As Holmes, with Jared Harris
Richard Ryan and I as "The Ruffians."
Rehearsing the Balcony Fight (Holmes vs. Moriarty) with Richard Ryan and C.C. Smiff. We used the opposite effect from the Punchbowl Fight (SH1) - here, we made actual contact, but at a super slow speed. We then sped the action up to make the impact appear realistic. This required a style of film fighting unlike anything I've ever done.
Setting up a shot for the Balcony Fight with Director Guy Ritchie, London
THE END?
Turning 42... Just another day in the Trenches!