Episode 9: Marvin Campbell

Cunning Stunts, A Podcast Series

Marvin Campbell was an Olympic Gymnast and has gone on to be an accomplished Stuntman. In his interview he talks about this unexpected transition and some of his most exciting stunts, including working on the crane to crane jump on Casino Royale, and why you should always pack your pads when someone tells you “It’s a simple job”!
We also talk about something we haven’t discussed on the podcast before: Race. Marvin gives some insight into what it’s like to work as a black performer in an industry that is still overwhelmingly white.
At the time we release this interview there are approximately 442 members on the British stunt register, and only around 6% are black men or women, a percentage that obviously does not represent the diversity we need to be aiming for in the industry.
We also touch on a practice known within the industry as “blacking up”, where white stuntmen are made up to double black actors. Although this practice is much less common than it once was, it does still happen, and we believe it is valuable to talk about why that is the case. During this moment where every industry in the world is examining itself and its relationship to racism, we think it’s a good conversation for people to hear. We hope you enjoy.
Please note: Interview with Marvin recorded in April 2019

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