2007 Taurus Stuntman Awards Show

  What!?!  There are award ceremonies for stuntmen and woman?  I always thought all that high action stuff in the movies was done with computers...I didn't actually consider that real people were out there risking injury and death by being set on fire, sitting in exploding cars, or riding bikes at full speed into a driving cars in order to make sure some movie star maintains their dashing good looks.  I don't like to drive my car above 65 mph so anything slightly daredevilish I consider CRAZY!  Last night I watched the Stuntman Awards Show on the Paramount Studio Lot thanks to Tim's internship at a production company on Paramount where he got tickets for free.  At first, I wasn't too interested in attending (action adventure movies aren't exactly my favorite), but in the end I decided it might be fun to see what that part of the entertainment industry is all about...  And, maybe I'd see a cool explosion or two on stage! 

  Not only did I get to see explosions onstage but I saw tons of stuntmen and women dressed in their finest ballgowns and tuxedos (crutches and canes seemed to be a hot accessory!)...Dennis Hopper, Harrison Ford, Burt Reynolds, David Spade, The Rock give/receive awards...Stuntmen from Pirates of the Carribean come out in costume and re-enact a few sword fights for the crowd (btw, they won "Best Fight" in a movie)...and, I cringed when many stunt acrobatic men and women flew into the air and jumped off buildings and out of windows on the set.

  Then there was the post-show party.  I have to say it's one of the best I have been to...you wanna know why?  All food and drinks were free...and, it was GOOD food at that!  They had the party on the New York St- a location for filming all scenes in NY.  (ahhhh movie magic!)  They had a band playing with a lit up dance floor, tables upon tables of food, coffee stands, open bars, ice cream trucks (yes, it is a bit ridiculous how much money these studios have at their disposal, it makes me kinda sick!), motorcycle stuntmen performing tricks in a huge metal ball, light shows, and the good old mechanical bull that the guests could ride when they were all liquored up.  Tim, his coworker Harry, Vern and I thought it would be fun to ride the mechanical bull numerous times.  Bruised legs and a possible sprained wrist later I think I am now regretting that decision!

  If anyone is interested you can watch the 2007 Taurus Stuntman Awards Show on on AMC on Friday, May 25th at 10:30 p.m.  ummm...that's if you really have nothing better to do.