Standish913.com has been blessed to do an exclusive interview with...
"LESLIE HOFFMAN"!
Let's get into some exclusive questions...
HAILEY: So, in short, what's life like as a stunt coordinator/double?
It was wonderful to do all these jobs. There are many different types of jobs that stuntpeople do.
1) Nondescript stunt - where you are one of many stunt people in a group or just a few but you don’t have a name.
2) Stunt Double - where you are doing the stunt for an Actor.
3) Stunt Safety - where you are protecting another stuntperson or actor. 4) Then there is either an Assistant Stunt Coordinator or Stunt Coordinator - where you oversee breaking down a script, setting up the stunt, making sure you have the right stuntperson for the job and protecting not only the stunt performers and actors but the crew as well.
STANDISH: What are you most proud of in your career?
I was the first Stuntwoman elected to the Screen Actors
Guild (SAG) Board of Directors. I was the first stuntperson to represent stuntpeople in the Entertainment Union - American Federation of Television and Radio Artists (AFTRA). With SAG, it had always been stuntmen. AFTRA did not even have a category for Stuntpeople. With
the help of two other actors the category was created. I would then go on to be a Co-Chair for the Young Performer’s Committee and Chair of the Stunt Safety Committee, which would see me testify in the case of the “Twilight Zone” incident.
HAILEY: I'm sure you get asked this lots but Standish913 is curious how many bones you've broken in your career?
I have not broken any bones. A professional stuntperson
should only take stunts they are capable of performing safely.
STANDISH: What made you want to try stunts? Can you tell us about the most difficult stunt you did?
When I was young, I always knew I wanted to be an Actress. I was also always a physical child, I was in dance and gymnastics. After going to an acting school, I found that acting was all that I wanted to be. Then I discovered the career of being a stuntwoman. Not only could you act, but you could also do the physical action as well.
STANDISH: What is something you learned from the iconic Wes Craven?
I can’t say that I learned anything from Wes, other than there are Directors that truly care about their Actors. Wes was the nicest Director I ever worked for. He would explain what he wanted me to do and afterwards, he would come up to me a thank me for the job I did. Up until that point, I had never experienced that with a Director. He was a true legend of the industry.
HAILEY: Was there ever a stunt you couldn't complete? Or maybe didn't want to do?
I have turned down jobs that I didn’t feel I couldn’t complete. There is a difference between a daredevil and a Professional Stuntperson. If you get known as someone who take jobs that you can’t complete, it is unlikely that you will get hired again. I was asked to ride a motorcycle and lay it down. I am not a motorcycle rider, so I thanked them for the offer but gave them names of stuntwomen that I knew could get the job done.
STANDISH: What's a favorite set you've been on?
I am an original Trekkie, so working on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager were my favorite sets. I loved walking around the Promenade and the Planet Sound Stage was always fascinating because each episode different sets were built.
HAILEY: Can you tell us about your time on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine?
Working on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, not only was it a dream come true, but it was family. I loved the different Aliens that I got to be… besides Starfleet, I was a Romulan and a Cardassian.
STANDISH: How long did makeup take for Star Trek: Voyager?
For B’Elanna Torres, it was an hour and a half. When I was the Cardassian on DS9, it was three hours. This is not taking into account that it took about an hour and a half to have the prosthetics removed because the makeup department wanted to be able to use the prosthetics again.
HAILEY: To be apart of the Flintstones In Viva Rock Vegas is legendary! What did you enjoy the most?
It was fun to wear the costumes but what I enjoyed the most was a group of us were sitting around Harvey Korman and he was telling us different stories of his career.
STANDISH: What is your favourite genre of movie to work with?
I love all genre of movies, but I would say Horror and Sci-Fi are my favourite. I do love doing comedy stunts.
HAILEY: Did you enjoy "Scream 2' or "Nightmare on Elm Street" more?
I loved working for Wes Craven. In Scream 2, I did get to do a lot of stunts as the theatre stage keep falling all around me. Yet, Nightmare on Elm Street playing my own part was an amazing experience. Fans see me and recognize me from Nightmare on Elm Street and will say one of the three lines. “Where’s your pass?” “Screw your pass” or “Hey Nancy, no running in the hallway!”
STANDISH: If you could have dinner with three people...
I love Cinema History, so two of my choices would be Charlie Chaplin and Buster Keaton. They created camera effects that are still being used today. Besides the comedic
stunts that they did…. they were the first. The third person was a woman named Pancho Barnes. She flew airplanes at a time that women were basically not allowed to. Beside doing flying stunts, Pancho even was the founder of the first movie stunt pilots' union. I admire women in any industry that changes a Women’s place for the better.
HAILEY: Standish913 is firm on crafting the younger generation into giving opportunity, do you have any advice for younger people?
No matter what you might feel that the odds are against you, you should try to break into whatever career you desire. Know your craft before you try though. Throughout my life I have heard people say, “I could have been this, but I was afraid to try.” If you at least try you know that you took that chance.
STANDISH: Where is the coolest place you've traveled to for work?
I will include the Conventions and Personal Appearances in your question as well. So, my answer would be Northern Ireland. Beautiful scenario, just overall an amazing place. The people that I met were so friendly and kind to me. The Countryside was beautiful. Northern Ireland’s history is thousands of years old. I hope to go back there again
HAILEY: What are your social links?
I am on Instagram
Facebook
YouTube
Many of my stunt clips are on YouTube. If you put the name Leslie Hoffman in the search bar, it should bring up several of these clips.
STANDISH: Anything else you'd like to include?
I enjoyed my career as a stuntwoman. Now I am doing Horror and Star Trek Conventions. I love talking to Fans about my Career. If you know of a Convention that is looking for guests, please let the Promoter know about me. You can also get in touch with my manager, James Davidson at: james@davidsontalent.co.uk
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