Episode 60 - Rocky Taylor

Episode 60 - Rocky Taylor

Author: Ben Johnson September 7, 2020 Duration: 1:15:32

At 75, Rocky Taylor is known as Britain's oldest stunt performer. A day before this podcast was recorded, he was doing doughnut spins in his car and setting himself on fire. In the last year alone, his stunt credits include Spider-Man: Far from Home and Angel Has Fallen. Rocky has sustained his long career (six decades and counting) by being something of an all-rounder: high-falls, horses, cars, sword fights and punch-ups. He has doubled for some of the biggest names in British film and television, from Patrick Macnee in the hit 1960s TV show, The Avengers, to Sean Connery and Roger Moore. His credits include work in the Bond franchise, Titanic, Evita (as stunt coordinator), and the Harry Potter series. As a judo expert from a young age, it was the martial arts which would provide Rocky with his first big break in the movies: training the singer Cliff Richard for the 1961 musical film, The Young Ones. Performing at a time when safety on film sets was less rigorous than it is today, Rocky has narrowly avoided death on numerous occasions; the most serious of which being an accident on the set of Death Wish 3 in 1985. This life-changing event inspired the title of his memoir, Jump Rocky Jump, co-authored by Jon Auty, which is available now from Amazon. The injuries Rocky sustained has not deterred him and he continues to enjoy a prolific and varied career, including work as a second unit director and stunt coordinator. It's a career he says he, quite literally, fell into - which may well be true - but its one he has managed to sustain through skill, hard work, and a lot of hard knocks. Long may it continue. This episode of the podcast was recorded in person in March 2020 before a lockdown imposed by the UK government following the coronavirus outbreak.


LINKS

Buy 'Jump Rocky Jump' on Amazon: https://www.amazon.co.uk/Jump-Rocky-Taylor/dp/1910903248

Rocky Taylor on IMDb: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0853092/

Rocky Taylor on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stuntmanrocky

Rocky Taylor on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rockytaylorstuntman/

Jon Auty on Twitter: https://twitter.com/stuntcentral

Behind the Stunts on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/behindthestunts


Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.


There's a particular magic in the stories behind the fights, the philosophy woven into the choreography, and the sheer dedication it takes to create martial arts cinema. The Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast is built on those stories, offering a backstage pass to the world of Hong Kong action, classic Shaw Brothers epics, and modern martial arts filmmaking. Host Ben Johnson, who created the extensive kungfumovieguide.com resource, sits down for detailed conversations with the very people who bring these films to life. Each episode features an unscripted, in-depth interview with actors who threw the punches, stunt performers who designed the falls, directors who framed the shots, and choreographers who turned violence into poetry. You'll hear about their career paths, the challenges on set, and the deep, personal passion that fuels their work. This isn't just a surface-level recap of famous movies; it's about the craft, the history, and the human effort behind every iconic scene. For anyone who has ever wondered about the artistry behind a perfectly executed fight sequence or the legacy of a genre that spans decades, this podcast provides a rich, engaging listen. Tune in for genuine insights from the heart of martial arts cinema.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Episode 98 - Best of Directors [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:52
With financing and shooting schedules shrinking, how hard is it to make a decent action movie on a low budget? How can you make your lead actor look like an action hero if they refuse to train? And is there scope in the…
Episode 97 - End of Year Show 2023 with Mike Fury: Part Two [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:17:17
In Part Two of our annual End of Year Show - featuring the author of 'Life of Action' Vol 1 and 2, the action movie expert Mike Fury - we discuss our favourite fight-centric action films of 2023. Which film will be crown…
Episode 96 - End of Year Show 2023 with Mike Fury: Part One [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:10:26
Ho ho ho and happy Christmas to all the Fu followers around the world! Welcome to Part One of our annual End of Year Show, featuring the author of 'Life of Action' Vol. 1 and 2, Mike Fury. In Part One, we discuss the mar…
Episode 95 - Marko Zaror [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:52
From Chile to Mexico to Hollywood - and back again - Marko Zaror's incredible rise in the action world reached a new crescendo in 2023. Known as the 'Latin Dragon', Marko's scene-stealing performance as the main heavy, C…
Episode 94 - Ric Meyers [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:05:58
It has been over a decade since we last spoke in-depth to the author and kung fu movie expert, Ric Meyers - the man responsible for introducing much of America to the classics of martial arts cinema over a writing career…
Episode 93 - Vincent Lyn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:21:20
Vincent Lyn's short career in Hong Kong action movies may only span a few years, but his good looks, martial arts abilities and acting skills saw him work with some of the biggest names in the industry, operating at the…
Episode 92 - Vi-Dan Tran / Lorenz Hideyoshi [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:34:04
Over the last decade, Germany has become a hotbed of aspiring young martial arts talent who have seen their careers grow from DIY short films on YouTube to massive Hollywood productions. Cologne-born Vi-Dan Tran is a wus…
Episode 91 - Froukje Tan / Areel Abu Bakar [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:07:07
We have a directors double bill on this episode of the Kung Fu Movie Guide Podcast, featuring conversations with two filmmakers who have both released independent martial arts movies in 2023.Froukje Tan is a Dutch filmma…
Episode 90 - Eric Lee [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 56:11
The martial artist, instructor, writer, actor, painter, fight choreographer, singer and all-round entertainer Eric Lee got his nickname - the 'King of Kata' - after winning a string of trophies throughout the 1960s, 70s…
Episode 89 - Stuntwomen special: Alyma Dorsey / April Wright [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:53
Women have been performing stunts in movies since the advent of cinema, but over the decades, their voice and influence in the industry has become marginalised. From fears of being overlooked, undermined or replaced, to…