Behind the Scenes - Baywatch Damo LeRoy Kiting Sequence
 

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Damo LeRoy opened the newly released Baywatch Movie $68M feature with its first scene and title shot. All kiters should checkout the movie and strange humor throughout. Best to leave the young kids at home for this R-Rated movie however due to some bizarre adult bro-humor.


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The movie is described on IMBd as "Devoted lifeguard Mitch Buchanan butts heads with a brash new recruit. Together, they uncover a local criminal plot that threatens the future of the Bay." The cast includes: Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson - Mitch Buchannon, Zac Efron - Matt Brody, Priyanka Chopra - Victoria Leeds, Alexandra Daddario - Summer Quinn, Kelly Rohrbach - CJ Parker, dozens of other talents and of course, Damien LeRoy - Kite Surfer. More at: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1469304/fullcredits/

Anyway, what went on in the kiting scene? The concept is that a kiter is riding when powerful wind spike and direction change go off, lofting him and carrying him a good distance towards shore. The Rock is alerted by the sudden change in weather in his stand and goes into action/rescue mode. I think they were looking for a massive boost and spectacular wipeout nearshore, devastating injury, associated blood and mayhem and larger than life rescue executed by The Rock. You'll have to see the movie for yourself for the details and full impact. Well enough, cue tons of production staff, stunt consultants, water craft, a detailed stunt plan and our hero, Damo.


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The shoot and slam-in area. I was kiting by the inlet about a week ago and happened to grab these shots.


At the shoot, "Hey there is only a 8 mph breeze, where's the wind?!" As good as Damo is, he won't be boosting huge in that gnat sneeze breeze. So, time for some Hollywood magic or more accurately a well staged, planned and executed tow-up stunt, at least 30 of them! Damo is the consummate pro riding for Cabrinha for many years as an Athlete and Sales Representative along with GoPro and other important concerns. (more at http://www.damienleroy.com/ ) . He is well practiced at performing at a high level in demanding conditions. Tow-ups are dangerous, for anyone, but carefully approached as a well funded and planned movie stunt with pros, the risks can be reduced.


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You will get a closer look at and appreciation for this jetty in the movie.


This was far from a light undertaking but a well planned and carefully executed stunt for the big cameras on the surface and GoPro's aloft with Damo. Shots were garnered from Hawaii to Georgia to Boca Raton to Deerfield Beach for this sequence alone, Hollywood at work.


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Damo convincingly acts the part of a totally freaked out kiter about to hit something really hard from on high at light speed.


Damo rigged a 13 m Cabrinha Velocity for the stunt, carefully preflighted all his gear before each tow-up, with new heavy duty lines, etc.. He wanted a kite with a lot of float but still fast. He towed up to around 100 ft. with a team of stuntmen on three wave runners, his brother Ray LeRoy and a lot of other production staff. There were at least 30 takes of the tow-up, apparently "out of control plummet" to the water, just missing the jetties on a convenient outrushing tide. He did a combination of kite loops to increase the drama of the sequence and to control speed, drift and ultimately where he chose to pull the plug and appear to wildly slam-in, cartwheeling and screaming bloody murder. He actually dropped the kite precisely between the jetties each time to be washed out into the ocean to cue the next take.


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Damo is into deserving causes as well as being an amazing waterman, well known athlete and product representative.


Damo is a low key, mellow guy by nature as folks who know him will tell you. Even when it hits the fan, we're talking a "nuke" hitting the fan from 150 ft. up hammering into land, he can stay astoundingly calm. See clip below of a paramotor accident and GoPro imagery of his calm manner in a life-threatening crisis. The accident happened not too long after the shoot for Baywatch. So, this movie sequence called for a lot of acting the part of the freaked out, "I'm gonna die" kiter response. He credibly pulled this off in true flying thespian tradition. Damo has some "Rock-Steady" traits himself, which is a good thing. He had a rough rehab following his free fall injuries but drove himself through in a fairly short time for a remarkable recovery.


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Great job Damo and to the Baywatch Movie team.

See you at the movies!


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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KwdMT3JwWN0


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