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did the actors really skydive in point break

by Bobbie Haag DDS Published 3 years ago Updated 3 years ago

Long story short: This sequence in Point Break

Point Break

In Los Angeles, California, a gang of bank robbers call themselves The Ex-Presidents. commit their crimes while wearing masks of ex-Presidents Reagan, Carter, Nixon, and Johnson. The F.B.I. believes that the members of the gang could be surfers, and send young Agent Johnny Utah unde…

combines an actual skydiving jump by Patrick Swayze, stunt doubles, and close-up insert shots of Swayze and Keanu Reeves filmed on a skydiving simulation rig. Long story long: The best way to appreciate Point Break ’s sans-parachute skydiving scene is to move through it (relatively) shot-by-shot.

The ins and outs of that skydiving scene were recently explored in extraordinary detail by Film School Rejects, and at the risk spoiling any grand illusions about Keanu Reeves' dedication to his craft, it seems the beloved action star didn't do any real skydiving for "Point Break." Rather, the pulse-pounding scene was ...Apr 26, 2022

Full Answer

Is the skydiving scene in Point Break real?

This sequence in Point Break combines an actual skydiving jump by Patrick Swayze, stunt doubles, and close-up insert shots of Swayze and Keanu Reeves filmed on a skydiving simulation rig. The best way to appreciate Point Break ’s sans-parachute skydiving scene is to move through it (relatively) shot-by-shot.

Did Keanu Reeves really go skydiving for'Point Break'?

The ins and outs of that skydiving scene were recently explored in extraordinary detail by Film School Rejects, and at the risk spoiling any grand illusions about Keanu Reeves' dedication to his craft, it seems the beloved action star didn't do any real skydiving for "Point Break."

Did Patrick Swayze go skydiving in'Point Break'?

As noted in the FSR piece, in a behind-the-scenes "Point Break" featurette, Swayze claims he battled with the films producers (who were understandably worried about insurance issues) to do those jumps himself, "I had to battle insurance companies to get to do the skydiving in the movie."

How old was Dave Donnelly when he skydived in Point Break?

Dave Donnelly (son of Kevin) was only 16 years old skydiving virgin when he worked on Point Break as a parachute packer and gopher (as in: go f’er coffee ). As Donnelly relays in an interview with Skydive Perris, the Mexico-set sequence was actually shot at the Cal City Parachute Center in the Mojave desert.

Who actually skydive in Point Break?

Patrick SwayzePatrick Swayze was an accomplished skydiver, and took part in the big skydiving scene. He made fifty-five jumps in total. The film was originally called "Johnny Utah" when Keanu Reeves was cast in the title role.

How did they do the skydiving scene in Point Break?

Shots of Reeves' stunt double doing a real jump are intercut with closeups of Reeves himself seemingly plummeting through the air. To achieve close-ups of the core actors during both skydiving sequences, the production built a special crane rig that held the actors in the air, approximately 10 feet off the ground.

Where did they skydive over in Point Break?

There were two skydiving scenes, one was shot at California City Parachute Center using Perris's King Air and the other scene was shot at Lake Powell using Perris' King Air.

Did Keanu Reeves really learn to surf for Point Break?

Keanu Reeves spent two months learning to surf in preparation for filming Point Break. Did Keanu Reeves learn to surf for "Point Break"? The answer is yes! Much like his character, Johnny Utah, had to learn to surf to chase down leads, Reeves had to learn to surf in order to make the film.

Did Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves really skydive in Point Break?

The ins and outs of that skydiving scene were recently explored in extraordinary detail by Film School Rejects, and at the risk spoiling any grand illusions about Keanu Reeves' dedication to his craft, it seems the beloved action star didn't do any real skydiving for "Point Break." Rather, the pulse-pounding scene was ...

Does Keanu Reeves have a stuntman?

Chad Stahelski, Keanu Reeves' Neo stuntman, on returning to The Matrix | EW.com.

Did Patrick Swayze do his own stunts?

Patrick Swayze was kind of a real life Bodhi. Hot stud Swayze did most of his own stunts, and a lot of skydiving. He was a person who loved to jump out of planes, completing more than 55 dives for the movie.

Is Point Break Based on a true story?

As awesome as that would be, neither the original nor the remake were based on an actual story. Sorry, folks. According to Mental Floss, Rick King was the mastermind behind the story of the original Point Break.

How old was Patrick Swayze in Point Break?

Added Swayze, then 39, "It makes a statement about our society, in the United States, of giving up on yourself and becoming part of a system rather than staying an individual."

Did Keanu Reeves and Patrick Swayze really surf?

3. THE SURFING SCENES WERE REAL, BUT WEREN'T THE REAL ACTORS. Though cast members took surfing lessons to appear in some of the less technically complex surfing shots, many of the more dangerous shots utilized pro-surfer stunt doubles.

Where did they film the surfing in Point Break?

The beach scenes were filmed at Leo Carrillo State Beach, 35000 West Pacific Coast Highway, in Malibu, though more spectacular waves for the surfing sequences were found in Hawaii, at the legendary surfers' paradise locations of Pipeline Beach, Sunset Beach and Waimea Bay, on the north shore of Oahu.

Did Lori Petty learn to surf for Point Break?

Given that the bulk of the central characters in Point Break are surfers, the cast naturally needed to know how to do this themselves. To this end Keanu Reeves, Patrick Swayze and Lori Petty all trained with former world-class professional surfer Dennis Jarvis in Hawaii before they began shooting the movie.

Where was the movie Point Break filmed?

What portion of the movie was filmed at Perris? There were two skydiving scenes, one was shot at California City Parachute Center using Perris's King Air and the other scene was shot at Lake Powell using Perris' King Air. did Bodhi die in Point Break?

Who was the bassist on Point Break?

Point Break isn't the only time Reeves shared the screen with a member of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. Reeves appeared in My Own Private Idaho (also released in 1991) with RHCP's bassist, Flea.

How many jumps did Patrick Swayze do?

Patrick Swayze was an accomplished skydiver, and took part in the big skydiving scene. He made fifty-five jumps in total. Johnny Utah became a F.B.I. Agent after a knee injury ended his football career.

Did Bodhi die in Point Break?

Subsequently, question is, did Bodhi die in Point Break? Bigelow's then-husband and collaborator on the film (they rewrote the end together) James Cameron said in his Terminator 2: Judgment Day commentary that Bodhi killed himself at the end of Point Break.

Where was Point Break filmed?

What was the location where most of the Point Break skydiving footage was shot? What portion of the movie was filmed at Perris? There were two skydiving scenes, one was shot at California City Parachute Center using Perris’ s King Air and the other scene was shot at Lake Powell using Perris’ ...

Who is the photographer for Point Break?

Point Break is not only an iconic adventure-seeking movie from the 90’s, it’s also a movie that re-shaped the sport of skydiving! We recently caught up with accomplished skydiving photographer, Tom Sanders, who is the man responsible for capturing those aerial skydiving scenes that now live in our memories forever.

Why did the helicopter peel over the Twin Otter?

It turns out that the helicopter was supposed to peel over the Twin Otter as the jumpers exited to get a nice angle and turn so the cameraman could also keep the jumpers in frame. The helicopter pilot underestimated the height of the tail and hit the vertical stabilizer with the rotor.

Was skydiving before GoPros?

It was long before GoPros so exposure to skydiving was pretty limited; long before the Internet, Facebook, etc. Back then was just the beginning of many decades of good skydiving exposure with commercials, TV shows and the occasional feature film. Skydiving photographer Tom Sanders working on a film in Hawaii.

Did Frank Holgate have an emergency parachute?

However, they made it down very slowly and safely. After that Frank Holgate always had an emergency parachute in the chopper I recall. The other pilot declared an emergency and landed at nearby Mojave where they had the ability to foam the runway, firetrucks etc. He was such a skilled pilot.

Did they see helicopter parts fall past them?

They actually saw helicopter parts fall past them. In the plane were the real stunt doubles and unfortunately some people that were not skydivers such as a hair and make-up artists and David Donnelly (Kevin’s son).

Did the otter pilot tell everyone to get out of the plane?

I do know that the otter pilot told everyone to get out of the plane, including the non-jumpers [wearing emergency parachutes]. I recall Jim Wallace offered to help David Donnelly and he said, ‘I got it,’ and jumped out and deployed the emergency parachute system all on his own. He was the son of a legendary skydiver but I don’t recall him having any jumps or any desire to follow in his dad’s footsteps back then. He went on to become a very accomplished skydiver, quite a first jump if what I recall is true.

How many skydiving scenes are there in Point Break?

There are not one but two skydiving scenes in Point Break. In the first, Utah (who rightfully suspects his cover is blown) is whisked away on an early morning jump with the boys. His paranoia quickly shifts to joining hands in the middle of the sky, setting aside all differences to enjoy the rush of freefall.

Who did the skydiving jump in Point Break?

This sequence in Point Break combines an actual skydiving jump by Patrick Swayze, stunt doubles, and close-up insert shots of Swayze and Keanu Reeves filmed on a skydiving simulation rig.

What happens to Bodhi and Utah in Freefall?

In freefall, the pair enter into a standoff: Bodhi refuses to release their now shared parachute, but to pull the cord himself, Utah will have to drop his gun.

How to appreciate Point Break without parachutes?

The best way to appreciate Point Break ’s sans-parachute skydiving scene is to move through it (relatively) shot-by-shot.

Where was Point Break filmed?

As Donnelly relays in an interview with Skydive Perris, the Mexico-set sequence was actually shot at the Cal City Parachute Center in the Mojave desert.

Who plays Johnny Utah in Point Break?

The film follows Johnny Utah ( Keanu Reeves ), a newly-minted FBI agent assigned to infiltrate an outlaw surfer gang led by the guru-like Bodhi ( Patrick Swayze ). Utah’s straightlaced ethics fray as Bodhi sways him with the adrenaline-seeking lifestyle, a spiritual pursuit that opens Utah’s eyes to the possibility that there might be more to life than following orders. Utah is pulled into a world and lifestyle in diametric opposition to his own, just as the film’s presumed cops-and-robbers plot is forced to contend with the contagious good vibes of the surf and the sky. As director Kathryn Bigelow relays in a 1991 interview with The Guardian ’s Mark Salisbury, Point Break ’s power (narrative and otherwise) rests on the ideological tension between its two leads: “when your good guy—your hero—is seduced by the darkness inside him and your villain is no villain whatsoever.”

Why did the float rig work in Make or Break?

Wilder puts it in “It’s Make or Break”: “the secret was to also float the camera…we had it so that we could turn and oscillate, and it worked out very well.” The rig enabled the actors to say their lines while the camera shot them from below and to the side to give the illusion of floating while skydiving.

Who is the actor who plays Bodhi in Point Break?

In fact, it consistently tops the list for Best Skydiving Movie. Who can forget the scene where Johnny (Keanu Reeves) and Bodhi (Patrick Swayze) perform a series of skydive stunts, including skydiving solo with zero instruction, free falling for 90 seconds from 4,000 feet, talking during free fall, and more?

How high did the myth busters drop a dummy?

The Myth Busters' Build Team dropped a dummy from a plane at a height of 4,000 feet (1,200 m) and measured the amount of time it took for it to hit the ground. They timed the total free fall time at just 31 seconds, which would make the ninety second free fall scene in the movie impossible. MYTH BUSTED

How did the crane rig work in Skydiving?

To get close-ups of the actors during the skydiving sequences, a crane rig with a telescoping arm was built for each actor. The rigs enabled the cast to say their lines while the camera shot them from below to achieve the sense of floating while skydiving.

Who wrote the script for Point Break?

King recruited screenwriter W. Peter Iliff to pen the script for only $6000. Since the pay was paltry, Iliff had to wait tables at a restaurant during the day before going home to write the script for Point Break at night.

Why did Glenn Wilder hold fight training sessions for the cast on weekends?

Second unit director and stunt coordinator Glenn Wilder held fight training sessions for the cast on weekends because Bigelow wanted the actors to do their own fights onscreen without stuntmen. Kiedis was allegedly the only cast member to miss this training, so Wilder had his character knocked out with one punch during the first fight sequence in the movie.

What is the name of the movie that was originally supposed to be called Johnny Utah?

The movie was originally supposed to be titled “Johnny Utah,” the name of the character eventually played by Keanu Reeves. It was renamed “ Riders on the Storm ” during the first half of production, but was changed to Point Break —a surfing term for a wave that hits a piece of land extended from the coastline—before production wrapped.

Did Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves work together?

Point Break isn’t the first time Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves worked together . They previously starred in the 1986 hockey drama Youngblood, which was Reeves’ first studio movie appearance.

Who played Johnny Utah in the movie?

4. KEANU REEVES WASN’T THE FIRST CHOICE TO PLAY JOHNNY UTAH. The producers of the movie wanted Charlie Sheen or Johnny Depp for the role, but director Kathryn Bigelow demanded that Reeves be given the part. In fact, Patrick Swayze originally auditioned for the part of Utah before eventually landing the role of Bodhi.

Did Johnny make it past being a quarterback in Point Break?

Though Johnny never made it past being a quarterback at Ohio State in the movie, screenwriter W. Peter Iliff based the character’s name on NFL quarterback Joe Montana. 6. BODHI AND JOHNNY HAD A HISTORY. Point Break isn’t the first time Patrick Swayze and Keanu Reeves worked together.

Where was Point Break filmed?

The final sequence of "Point Break" was not shot at Bells Beach, Australia, but at a surf break located in Oregon; 18.

How much did Point Break make?

The 122-minute movie made $83 million at the box office and, by the late 1990s, it had already become an instant classic. Take a look at a few interesting facts about the original "Point Break": 1. Rick King, the co-producer of "Point Break," came up with the idea for the movie after taking a surf lesson in Malibu; 2.

Where is the beach where Bodhi and the Ex-Presidents surfed?

Latigo Beach, the spot where Bodhi and the Ex-Presidents surfed, is located in Malibu, California; 9. Patrick Swayze broke four ribs filming the surfing scenes for "Point Break"; 10. The youngest member of the surf gang was nicknamed "Grommet," an expression used in surf slang; 11.

What is the best surf movie?

For many movie fans, " Point Break " is one of the best surf-inspired flicks of all time. The film had it all; an irresistible blend of FBI agents and a surf gang hidden behind masks of former US Presidents;

What was the first point break movie?

Things you didn't know about the original "Point Break". Surfing. It's a cult movie and one of the first Hollywood productions to feature big wave surfing. The original "Point Break" was released in 1991, but it stood the test of time.

Where did Johnny Utah buy his surfboard?

20. In the movie, Johnny Utah buys his first surfboard at Manhattan Beach Pier, California;

How much did Point Break make?

While Point Break is the technically Bigelow’s worst movie (according to critical movie people and conspirators), it made $80 million in the year it was released. 7. Johnny Utah was almost played by Ferris Bueller. It just doesn’t have the same charm.

How much did the original Point Break movie cost?

The original screenplay sold for $6,000 . Co-producer Rick King came up with the idea for Point Break while chilling on the beach reading an LA Weekly article about bank robberies in Los Angeles. King paid screenwriter W. Peter Iliff a whopping six grand for the screenplay.

How many dives did Hot Stud Swayze do?

Hot stud Swayze did most of his own stunts, and a lot of skydiving. He was a person who loved to jump out of planes, completing more than 55 dives for the movie.

Who broke four ribs in the movie?

Everybody else learned to surf for the movie. Keanu Reeves loved it so much that he still charges on a regular basis. Patrick Swayze broke four ribs on set catching waves. Lower billed surf posse guys Bojesse Christopher and John Philbin were actual pro surfers who acted on the side.

Who is Tone in Point Break?

Red Hot Chili Pepper frontman is surf gang member Tone in Point Break. Kiedis has a few acting credits. When he started appearing on the big screen he went by the name Cole Dammett (taking after his father, who went by the name Blackie Dammett in pics such as 1987’s Lethal Weapon ). Cool.

Who killed himself in Terminator 2?

Bigelow’s then-husband and collaborator on the film (they rewrote the end together) James Cameron said in his Terminator 2: Judgment Day commentary that Bodhi killed himself at the end of Point Break. In case you were unsure…

Who was supposed to be in the movie Saved by the Bell?

9. Jessie from Saved by the Bell was supposed to in the movie.

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