Tell about yourself and your background! *
I started my martial arts journey as a boxer. Like many Filipinos, I grew up with stories of Flash Elorde and seeing Manny Pacquiao fight. I had a passing interest in theatre, but I certainly never thought of any avenue of entertainment as a career. My boxing instructor compelled me to take up dance to improve my footwork. I didn't realize how much I would love performance until my first dance upon a stage. Then I was hooked. From high school onward I branched out to other martial arts (TKD, Muay Boran, Krabi-krabong, and Kali most prominently), while concurrently training in dance (Swing family - East Coast, Lindy Hop, Balboa, Charleston, and Blues). It wasn't until after undergrad that I pursued acting more seriously, with training in Meisner, Stanislavsky, and Practical Aesthetics.
What inspired you to become a stunt performer?
I was not in a good place after my last deployment. Having to abruptly and unexpectedly say goodbye to some of the most influential people in a person's life will do that to anyone, no matter how strong they are. I wasn't any different. The theatre community gave me a home when I was lost. They helped me find a way to channel all that raw emotion into something productive - my performances. I had never thought of applying my martial background to theatre or film, but a mentor of mine pointed out a few organizations where I could get my start. After a while of working in theatre as a fight choreographer, I started building up contacts that worked more in the film world. From there, it was just a matter of doing what felt right.
What is your greatest skill as a stunt performer, is there a stunt behind it?
Having worked so many different sides of film has been a huge boon: understanding how the camera will move, how the lens affects the feel of what will be captured, how a fight would sound vs. how an audience expects a fight to sound, how to adapt to any space on the fly, etc. Adaptability and versatility is the name of the game, and having a good understanding of multiple film disciplines really helps me ensure that I deliver what a crew is needing, just as my training as an actor helps me deliver what my partner(s) will need for a scene.
What is the best part about being a stunt performer?
I get paid to practice disciplines that I already have fun doing...what's not to love? On top of that, I get to connect with so many people throughout the journey. My Fight Family comes from far and wide, and working together is it's own slice of heaven.
Tell your all-time favorite stunt story!
We were working on a short film called "Gauntlet Run: Origins," and in the climactic brawl I got to have a baseball bat broken over my chest. These were balsa wood breakaways, and our tests went well over my protection. What we hadn't counted on was the humidity that seeped into the bat from the location, which made it more difficult to break the bat. After way more takes than my chest would have liked, the bat finally broke...and part of it went flying back at my partner Jessi and hit her in the face. The cameras kept rolling and we played it through, but we definitely died laughing when they called "cut."
What advice would you give other stunt performers?
The journey is longer than you'd like but shorter than you'd think. Be patient, but seek those opportunities. Adapt to overcome, but know your limits. Understand your body and respect when it's telling you to take a break.
Anything else you'd like to tell the community about?
Fight Family is forever. I wouldn't have gotten this far without so many people in my corner. Salamat sa iyong suporta. Mabuhay.
Please share your social media handles and how we can follow you!
Instagram: @thelegendarysix
Facebook: Six Carolino
Youtube: Six Carolino
Please include any links to stunt reels or videos you'd like to share!
Fight Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BcY8euW7aR0
Acting Reel: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pyWV2zKBjZ4D&D
Fight Practice: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PMzWelCLZ5w
