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FILMING AND DIRECTING THE ACTION
To make an obvious understatement, not every film-goer enjoys action films. It is a niche genre with an audience as stereotyped as the actors and films themselves. Straight drama, comedy, romantic comedy and experimental art films all have their niche and every film-goer has a right to choose where to spend their money. However, action films (including sci-fi and horror) are more complex, more difficult to film and more difficult to act. They are dramas within a drama.
Taking the Bond films away from the storyline for a moment, the action is its own drama on several levels. The writers are challenged to concoct plights that can be devised, choreographed, acted and filmed safely, i.e., without getting any actors or stunt doubles killed or maimed. Failure is catastrophic as can be attested to by everyone who worked on "Spiderman 1" when one of Tobey Maguire's doubles was killed during production.
The director then has to envision the sequences in his mind, on storyboards and with the help of the casting director and stunt coordinators. Taking it to the sets is another drama. Which scenes are live? Which include miniatures? Which incorporate CGI? How much fits into the budget? Are the actors capable of doing any or all of this? Once that is all worked out, there are sets to build, locations to be chosen, lighting and sound considerations and camera-placement issues. Safety standards have to be met and emergency personnel have to be consulted.
The actual filming is even more stressful and each director for each Bond film had a multitude of headaches to deal with. Fire stunts, water stunts, chases on foot, in cars and boats, on planes and trains, in crowded public places with children and seniors present. Stunts using animals, a wide variety of weapons, explosives and the famous Bond gadgets and props. The list goes on and on but the point is made. Not every director is capable of envisioning, staging and filming such demanding and dangerous sequences.
All the 'Bonds' sustained injuries during filming. Brosnan and Connery hurt their backs and ankles. Craig lost a finger tip. Some of the Bond girls took hits as well. Hallie Berry nearly lost an eye. It's not easy to cast actors who are willing and capable of putting that much on the line for a role. All the Bond directors were very lucky and very good at getting some of the most complex stunts and chases on film. Their ability to do so is what fed the fantasy that is Bond.
Very few films are shot in sequence. Some directors film the stunt sequences first, some save them for last. Martin Campbell, John Glen and Guy Hamilton were among those directors who wanted to be onset to 'see' the action up close. It's ultra-important that certain sequences be filmed in one take due to the insane costs of rebuilding and resetting everything for a second take.
Bringing the actors, director and storyline back together, the actors are in essence doing a double role-the action actor and the non-action actor. Whatever fears they have can be incorporated intor their performance but the lead actors can't show any fear. No one pays to see James Bond quivering in a corner. Acting is demanding enough and adding fire and/or large amounts of water makes it harder still. (Ask any of the cast of "Titanic"). Other challenges include adding animals, children, seniors and/or physical handicaps such as a leg cast, wheel-chair, being handcuffed, etc. Roger Moore had to fight a man with iron teeth. Richard Kiel had to wear iron teeth in two films and fight Roger Moore ("The Spy Who Loved Me" & "Moonraker").
Insurance companies are becoming increasingly adament that stunt doubles be used but the creative side of many actors takes over. All the 'Bonds' wanted to do as many of their stunts as possible. Craig quit smoking and worked out to build himself up to be in shape for the stuntwork. Naturally, CGI makes a lot of this safer but there is still running, jumping, falling, rolling, etc.
Anyone who claims that action films do not contain 'real' acting is disconnected from reality. Dramatic acting is a pre-requisite for being a believable action figure. (Yes, even Gov. Arnold). If the viewer cannot believe in and identify with the actor, these films fail. All six of these men succeeded because they are fine dramatic actors. Their filmographies attest to that. That said, a special thank you and high praise goes to the list of stunt performers who take the risks to feed the fantasy. Without them, James Bond would never have made it onto the big screen.
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