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Daredevil risks all to bring thrills to movie screens
By Lu Xiaofeng and Xu Wei |
August 30, 2010, Monday
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Print Edition
Print Edition
MANY people are familiar with popular action-packed films such as "Rambo II," "Casino Royale," and "Blade II," but they may not know the role Petr Hnetkovsky has played bringing thrills and spills to the silver screen.
Earlier this month, Hnetkovsky, a native Czech, and his stunt performance team took part in the China National Truck Race in Changsha, Hunan Province, and a stunt competition in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Through his son Michal, who lives in Anting Town in the Jiading District, we caught up with Hnetkovsky, who agreed to sit down for an exclusive interview discussing his life and career.
Hnetkovsky, 57, didn't start out as a daredevil. In fact, he was a simple auto and motorcycle repairmen until he took up stunt work in 1982.
But his love of wheels began when he was 17 and a friend introduced him to the thrills of motorcycle riding. Within a year, Hnetkovsky bought his first motorcycle.
In 1982, after progressing up the line of motorcycle power, he had finally reached a vehicle with the most powerful engine in the world. In that same year, he contacted a stunt company and said he would like to work for it. The company agreed, and after extensive training, Hnetkovsky's career as a stunt man was launched.
He was good at what he did and his skills, plus a bit of luck, finally landed him a job with a Hollywood stunt team.
He made his film debut in 1990.
"I remember that there was close-up of me in the movie," he recalls. "It was my first close encounter with the cinema."
It was tough getting used to performing in front of cameras. He had to learn to conquer his anxiety and self-consciousness. But by his third film, he had learned to ignore the cameras all together.
So far, Hnetkovsky has more than 200 movies to his credit. His only regret is missing out on the chance to appear in the blockbuster "Titanic," an opportunity he passed up because he was concerned at the time about his sick dog.
Injury is always a haunting nightmare for stuntmen. Hnetkovsky is no exception.
In 2003, when he was working on the Hong Kong film "Enter the Phoenix" as a stuntman, his nightmare turned to reality.
The script called for the exterior of a car to catch on fire, with Hnetkovsky inside. But the fire spread more viciously than planned and Hnetkovsky couldn't open the door to escape. Though he was quickly rescued by his colleagues, he suffered burns from the incident.
When he was shooting the film "Doom," he was hit in the head by a fish tank because of film staff carelessness.
At a live speed performance in Russia, Hnetkovsky almost lost his life. He was standing on the trunk of a car that was supposed to shoot over flames. But the car didn't reach the appropriate speed and instead of jumping over the flames, it drove straight into them. Hnetkovsky was thrown 10 meters out onto the pavement and suffered a severe spinal injury and fractured hand.
At that time, Hnetkovsky's stunt team was touring Russia. After 10 days in hospital, Hnetkovsky returned to the performance. To support his spine, he made a wooden cross and wore it on his back every day. Today he still stoops when he walks.
All up, Hnetkovsky reckons he has received more than 70 stitches for the injuries suffered for stunt work. But that doesn't deter him.
"I have never thought of giving it up," he says. "As a stuntman, risks exist all the time. But stunt work has its unique charm."
His career has certainly played havoc with his personal life as well. He's had three wives leave him because of his long absences from home and their anxieties over the risks his work entailed. His fourth wife, he says, is more understanding. Then again, she does stunt work, too.
Hnetkovsky and his stunt team perform several times a year in China. His son Michal and Michal's Chinese girl friend operate a Western-style restaurant in Anting.
"I hope that the Shanghai International Circuit will host more speed stunt performances so that I can come over with more amazing shows," Hnetkovsky said.
Earlier this month, Hnetkovsky, a native Czech, and his stunt performance team took part in the China National Truck Race in Changsha, Hunan Province, and a stunt competition in Yinchuan, Ningxia Hui Autonomous Region.
Through his son Michal, who lives in Anting Town in the Jiading District, we caught up with Hnetkovsky, who agreed to sit down for an exclusive interview discussing his life and career.
Hnetkovsky, 57, didn't start out as a daredevil. In fact, he was a simple auto and motorcycle repairmen until he took up stunt work in 1982.
But his love of wheels began when he was 17 and a friend introduced him to the thrills of motorcycle riding. Within a year, Hnetkovsky bought his first motorcycle.
In 1982, after progressing up the line of motorcycle power, he had finally reached a vehicle with the most powerful engine in the world. In that same year, he contacted a stunt company and said he would like to work for it. The company agreed, and after extensive training, Hnetkovsky's career as a stunt man was launched.
He was good at what he did and his skills, plus a bit of luck, finally landed him a job with a Hollywood stunt team.
He made his film debut in 1990.
"I remember that there was close-up of me in the movie," he recalls. "It was my first close encounter with the cinema."
It was tough getting used to performing in front of cameras. He had to learn to conquer his anxiety and self-consciousness. But by his third film, he had learned to ignore the cameras all together.
So far, Hnetkovsky has more than 200 movies to his credit. His only regret is missing out on the chance to appear in the blockbuster "Titanic," an opportunity he passed up because he was concerned at the time about his sick dog.
Injury is always a haunting nightmare for stuntmen. Hnetkovsky is no exception.
In 2003, when he was working on the Hong Kong film "Enter the Phoenix" as a stuntman, his nightmare turned to reality.
The script called for the exterior of a car to catch on fire, with Hnetkovsky inside. But the fire spread more viciously than planned and Hnetkovsky couldn't open the door to escape. Though he was quickly rescued by his colleagues, he suffered burns from the incident.
When he was shooting the film "Doom," he was hit in the head by a fish tank because of film staff carelessness.
At a live speed performance in Russia, Hnetkovsky almost lost his life. He was standing on the trunk of a car that was supposed to shoot over flames. But the car didn't reach the appropriate speed and instead of jumping over the flames, it drove straight into them. Hnetkovsky was thrown 10 meters out onto the pavement and suffered a severe spinal injury and fractured hand.
At that time, Hnetkovsky's stunt team was touring Russia. After 10 days in hospital, Hnetkovsky returned to the performance. To support his spine, he made a wooden cross and wore it on his back every day. Today he still stoops when he walks.
All up, Hnetkovsky reckons he has received more than 70 stitches for the injuries suffered for stunt work. But that doesn't deter him.
"I have never thought of giving it up," he says. "As a stuntman, risks exist all the time. But stunt work has its unique charm."
His career has certainly played havoc with his personal life as well. He's had three wives leave him because of his long absences from home and their anxieties over the risks his work entailed. His fourth wife, he says, is more understanding. Then again, she does stunt work, too.
Hnetkovsky and his stunt team perform several times a year in China. His son Michal and Michal's Chinese girl friend operate a Western-style restaurant in Anting.
"I hope that the Shanghai International Circuit will host more speed stunt performances so that I can come over with more amazing shows," Hnetkovsky said.
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