Lionsgate
There’s making an action movie — and then there’s making a John Wick movie, which is an entirely different level of craftsmanship and filmmaking, as the franchise has proven over the course of its four films (plus the solid Ballerina spin-off) that it’s simply operating on a higher plane than its contemporaries.
Even for a Hollywood legend like Halle Berry — who has seen it all during her decades-long Oscar-winning career — there was plenty to be learned while making 2019’s John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum, especially when it comes to directing.
Speaking to BroBible ahead of the release of her new film Crime 101, Berry detailed what she took from the singular experience of making a John Wick movie, as she absorbed valuable lessons in both acting and directing. The biggest, though? She’s never going to let a stunt double do her action again — as long as insurance allows it, of course.
Halle Berry says she will never let someone else do her stunts or action work after the experience of making John Wick 3
ERIC ITALIANO, BROBIBLE: You come from the — I mean, you have a long career, so I’m sure you’ve learned a lot along the way — but specifically, you come from the school of John Wick. I’m curious how that changed your approach to filmmaking — whether that’s how efficiently a set can be run, or your own prep for a role.
HALLE BERRY: I prepped for John Wick for almost 1.5 to 2 years — working on my jiu-jitsu, movie fighting, Muay Thai, kickboxing, and gun training. That was basically my full-time job for about two years. What I learned — especially as a director — is when actors choose to do action and really do the work, it gives the director so much freedom to put the camera wherever he wants.
Chris [Hemsworth] experienced this in Crime 101 — doing all of his driving himself gave [director Bart Layton] so much freedom to shoot any way he wanted, because he didn’t have to put in a double and then set up a shot to mask the double’s face so it’s believable.
When we can do the work, and we put in the time, it makes the process more believable and easier. Talk about efficiency: nothing is more efficient than when performers invest the time to do it themselves. The films are so much better for that. I learned that from John Wick. And I will never allow anybody to do my stunts or my action again — as long as the insurance company will insure me, I’m going to be doing it myself.
Berry will next be seen starring alongside Chris Hemsworth — who we spoke with about Thor’s long and winding arc in the Marvel Cinematic Universe and what about the character’s development he’s most proud of — in Crime 101, which hits theaters on Friday, February 13. Alongside Berry and Hemsworth, the film also stars Mark Ruffalo, Barry Keoghan, Monica Barbaro, Corey Hawkins, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Nick Nolte.
You can check out the official trailer for Crime 101, via Amazon MGM Studios, below.