NO PAIN, NO GAIN
How you can turn hard work into health benefits
By Diana McKeon Charkalis
Lifestyle Editor
The first day Danielle Burgio reported to the set of the 1998 film "John Carpenter's Vampires," 13 tiny explosives were planted on her body and set off to simulate gunshots. A pneumatic device powered by 350 pounds of air pressure catapulted her skyward. She was attached to a line and violently jerked about through the use of hydrolics.
After being shot, wrenched and hurled, she was hooked. Thus, this dancer turned actress, who describes her childhood identity as "more ballerina than tomboy," began a career as a professional stuntwoman. The Sherman Oaks resident has accrued numerous stunt credits in TV and film, including the role of stunt double for actress Carrie-Anne Moss in "Matrix Reloaded" and "Matrix Revolutions." She also performs scary feats in the new feature film "When a Stranger Calls."
"My first 48 hours doing stunts were like Mr. Toad's Wild Ride." says Burgio, 29, of her "Vampires" trial by fire. "I was pumping adrenalin for probably about six months after that film. And it was really a blessing because it was such an exciting experience and it took my life in a different direction."
She has worked on many TV series, including "Crossing Jordan," where executive producer/director Allan Arkush credits her with intelligence, strength and an "astonishing" tolerance for pain. "She's pretty tough," he says, citing one instance when she had to jump the gap between two buildings repeatedly, slamming into the wall with full force each time.
"She's very focused on her work, and she's very savvy. She knows how to play things for the camera and give character to a fight scene."
This year, she has returned to her acting roots with nonstunt parts, including a three-episode stint on the Fox drama "24," which begins airing Feb. 26. Although her is to take on more straight acting roles, she says the health and fitness lessons she's learned doing stunts continue to serve her well both on and off the set. She has included many of them in her recent book, "The Stuntwoman's Workout: Get Your Body Read for Anything" (Quirk; $19.95).
Here are some of her top tips:
PURSUE YOUR PASSION:
When Burgio fell in love with stunt work, she stopped taking acting lessons and threw herself into martial arts and gymnastics training. She went from zero gym time when she first started, to working out five to six times a week, sometimes twice a day, in preparation for her "Matrix" audition.
From this, Burgio learned that if you pursue an activity you love, you're more likely to make time for it and become a better athlete - whether it's tennis, dancing or even hiking with friends. "If you're passionate about what you're doing, it doesn't feel like working out. Then you're feeding your soul while you're strengthening your body."
THE THRILL ISN'T GONE:
If you're looking for an adventure, it can be found right outside your door, Burgio says. Consider exploring new activities to shake things up a bit if you feel like you're in a rut.
"I think what the stunts taught me is that there is a world of adventure for everybody. A lot of the things that I've been fortunate to learn to do, like the rock climbing and skydiving, are there for everybody. Everyday people go out and do it all the time."
SLEEP MAKES YOU SMARTER:
There are many skills to master on the set when you're a stunt person. And a solid night's sleep after learning a new skill - be it physical or mental - is essential for retention, Burgio says. She adds that sleep has been shown to affect the levels of the growth hormone cortisol. Too much of it can cause depression, anxiety and fatigue, while the proper levels can help build a lean body mass and burn fat. In addition to getting seven to eight hourse per night, Burgio is also a fan of the 20-minute snooze.
"It got to the point where I would lay down and take a nap in my trailer until they knocked on my door to say, 'It's time to get hit by a car.' Then I'd just roll out of bed and do it."
FIRST-AID FAVORITE:
No pain, no gain is also true of stunt work, and Burgion has had her share of injuries. She broke a rib on the "Matrix" sequel set getting thrown through a wall, and gashed her chin on a rooftop as Jennifer Garner's double in "Daredevil." (The scene didn't even make the final cut, she laments.) She's also sustained more concussions and contusions than she'd care to count doing stunts known as "thumpers." They include situations like the stair falls, which sometimes must be agonizingly re-enacted 10 times or more in an effort to get it right.
To counteract common injuries and ailments, here are some of her medicine-cabinet staples, excerpted from her book:
ARNICA:
For bruising and soreness. It improves circulation andcomes in pill, gel, cream and oil forms. For muscle soreness after a hard workout, or if she has injured herself and knows a bruise will be forming, she takes it orally. For a full-blown bruise, she uses it topically.
BIOFREEZE:
An anti-inflammatory gel with a soothing analgesic effect. It works like the ice for anything that's swollen.
CHINESE REMEDIES:
Dit da jow is a liquid antiseptic that she uses for treating strains, sprains, swelling and bruising. Ching Wan Hung is a soothing balm she applies to burns.
EMERGER-C PACKETS:
Powdered packet high in vitamin C and electrolytes. She pops it into her water bottle before working out.
TEGADERM:
A real favorite of Burgio's, this is bandage seals a wound and allows the body to quickly heal itself. She's found it to be a good preventative against scarring. It's available over the counter, but sometimes pharmacies keep it behind the counter. Just ask.
FIGHT FEAR WITH FOCUS:
Burgio has found herself in plenty of terrifying situations. She's taken a crash course in skydiving for a role, scaled a high-rise building using suction cups and crashed through countless windows.
Instead of focusing on the danger, she concentrates on the preparation, making sure her equipment is secure. Then she sets her mind on physically accomplishing the task at hand.
"You train yourself to push the fear aside, because you don't have time to deal with it. You don't want to fill your brain with negativity. A lot of people think stunts are for crazy people who just want to go off and do something insance. But it's not. It's like being an extreme athlete."
To prepare, she uses breathing exercises and yoga to help her gain clarity.
STRENGTH IN NUMBERS:
Seek out others with similar interests.
"In any activity that you want to get involved in, there are other people that do it and love it and will teach you and help you and welcome you in. I've been fortunate enough to have that with my family and the stunt community."
