The real Jack Sparrow

Tony Angelotti is not only one of the winners of the Taurus World Stunt Awards but is also Johnny Depp’s double in the current “Pirates Of The Caribbean” movie. In an interview he disclosed what goes through a stuntman’s head while on the job, how his serious accident on the set of “Pirates Of The Caribbean 2” occurred – and why he’d really like to double Indiana Jones.

Congratulations on your Taurus World Stunt Award for “Best Fight.” What does this award mean to you?

Just to be nominated is an incredible honor! To have won it was icing on the cake! All the months of rehearsals and filming of the fight sequences combined with the blood, sweat and tears makes this award all the more special. It not only has a special place in my home but will also have a special place in my heart forever.

What tricks are used to make a film fight particularly realistic? And actually how ‘real’ are the scenes that we see on the screen?

With sword fighting, there really aren’t any tricks. You’re actually fighting blade-to-blade, making contact with every blow. When it comes to fighting “hand-to-hand,” you aren’t actually hitting your fellow stunt performer or actor in the face. They’re strategic misses set up with the camera angles to give the illusion you’re actually hitting your partner. It’s then up to your partner to “sell it” with the proper reaction to make it look as if he or she has been hit. With car hits, stair falls or “ground pounders” this isn’t possible. Stunt coordinators know these are real and try to get them in one or two takes.

While filming “Pirates Of The Caribbean 2 – Dead Man’s Chest,” which you received the award for, you had to deal with more than just a few punches; you were seriously injured in an almost fatal accident. When exactly did you realize that the “roll down” stunt as a “human yo-yo” was going wrong – and what can you remember about the ensuing seconds?

Starting at 80 feet in the air. I knew something went wrong on the “roll down” the second my quick release was pulled and I didn’t unravel like a yo-yo. I went into a “free fall” and in those two seconds of falling 35 feet, all I could think about was trying to start my unravel. I tried to do this by initiating the spin with my arms. The brakes were then hit on the descender and I was whipped into my unravel so incredibly fast that between the centrifugal force and inertia, my body cracked like a bull whip, nearly snapping me in half. I felt things rip apart internally and the pain was so intense I thought I’d been ripped in two.

In the two-and-a-half weeks after the accident you underwent three operations – and afterwards had to learn to walk all over again. Were you already thinking about returning to work as a stuntman during this phase?

I knew I had an incredibly long road ahead of me and that I was very lucky to be alive. I had set my goal to return the first day I was in the emergency room. I thought, “Just fix me so I can start my recovery.” I was determined to return to “Pirates” and finish my job. I do believe I was overly optimistic in that I thought I would be back in six months. But I’ve always set my goals and standards very high, and I returned to the filming of “Pirates 3 – At World’s End” to finish my job – 369 days after the accident.

What does a stuntman feel before a particularly dangerous stunt? Do you go to the set the way someone else goes to the office? Or is every successful stunt also something like a very personal victory over yourself?

I can only speak for myself because everyone feels and thinks differently. I go through the stunt visually in my mind over and over so it becomes second nature. I visualize myself doing it perfectly every time. About going to the office: The set is my office. And what I love so much about my office is that it’s always changing. One day I could be on a sound stage at a studio, the next on the streets of downtown LA and the next in the Caribbean sword fighting on the beach! Regarding every successful stunt, I don’t view it as a personal victory. I see it as my job and doing my job well. When I see the stunt coordinator and director smiling and clapping with a big thumbs up, that’s all the victory I need. It gives me a personal high to know I did a great job.

In “Pirates Of The Caribbean 3 – At World’s End” you celebrated your comeback. Can you explain what it’s like to work with Johnny Depp?

Johnny is such a talented, passionate actor. He’s an excellent swordsman and is quite comfortable with the blade. In addition, he’s always in tune with the stunts I do as his double and has expressed to me his complete confidence in my work and my choices as Captain Jack Sparrow.

From your point of view, which scene in the current “Pirates Of The Caribbean” film should we pay particular attention to?

Well, the entire movie of course! But I think the final battle scenes between the Black Pearl and the Flying Dutchman are special – absolutely filled with all sorts of major stunts. You can see some of my work in the fight sequence between Davey Jones and Captain Jack Sparrow up on the yardarm of the Dutchman. Fun fight but was quite difficult to film!

And, of all your stunts in general which one are you the most proud of?

Wow! That’s a hard one. I’ve been so lucky to have had amazing opportunities to work on spectacular films. I’d have to say that I’m most proud of the work we did in the fight sequences in “Pirates 2 – Dead Man’s Chest.” From the beach fight (we did three takes on the “master shot” of this sequence – the entire fight was “on-the-run” and travelled well over 100 yards with non-stop sword fighting!) to the church ruin to the 18’ mill wheel sequence. It was an honor to have worked with two of the most talented stuntmen in the business on these fights: Thomas DuPont and Mark Wagner!

Finally, please disclose to us what you secretly wish for from Hollywood’s film producers: Which actor or character would you like to double and in what type of stunt?

Another hard question! I’ve always been a huge fan of all of the Indiana Jones movies. I think Harrison Ford is brilliant. These movies have always had incredible and amazing stunts full of mystery and adventure! For me it would be a dream to double Indiana Jones!