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Staking out the Stunts with Jeff Pruitt
The OH!CAST podcast features an exclusive interview with Jeff Pruitt, the veteran stunt coordinator, fight choreographer, and director responsible for creating the legendary "Slayer Style" of combat on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This conversation is a deep dive into Pruitt’s decades-long career, his martial arts-driven approach to action, and the behind-the-scenes secrets of TV production.
Pruitt shares that his foundational inspiration came from Bruce Lee and samurai films, prompting him to focus specifically on martial arts choreography—a skillset that stood out in a Hollywood stunt scene dominated by car jumps and high falls in the 1980s. His ability to choreograph elaborate fights and direct the camera movement for editing quickly propelled him from stuntman to coordinator and second unit director.
While he is widely known for delivering the exaggerated, Japanese-Sentai style action on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Pruitt reveals the hilarious obstacle this success created: Buffy creator Joss Whedon initially hated the idea of hiring him, fearing the connection would make the show look like a children's program. It took an intervention from Sarah Michelle Gellar herself to get Whedon to watch a demo reel. Whedon was instantly convinced, identifying Pruitt’s dynamic, grounded style as the true "Slayer Style" for the show.
The Efficient Violence of Buffy: Secrets of the Stunts
Pruitt details the core philosophy behind the unique Buffy combat: a strategic blend of Eastern martial arts sophistication with a necessary "rough edge" of Western fighting—incorporating body slams and breaking objects to keep the action visceral and prevent it from looking too choreographed or "dancey".
He addresses the common misconception about Gellar's physical abilities, confirming the actress was not a trained martial artist and would often focus on learning her constantly changing dialogue while his double, Sophia, handled the rigorous physical stunts. He praises Gellar's acting for completely selling the illusion of a super-powered slayer. Furthermore, he discusses his role in making Angel a stronger, more equal fighter to Buffy, thereby fueling the series' central romance, and recounts the extreme generosity of Red Bull after a severe motorcycle-related back injury.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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By OH!CAST: Geek Insights & Pop CultureThe OH!CAST podcast features an exclusive interview with Jeff Pruitt, the veteran stunt coordinator, fight choreographer, and director responsible for creating the legendary "Slayer Style" of combat on Buffy the Vampire Slayer. This conversation is a deep dive into Pruitt’s decades-long career, his martial arts-driven approach to action, and the behind-the-scenes secrets of TV production.
Pruitt shares that his foundational inspiration came from Bruce Lee and samurai films, prompting him to focus specifically on martial arts choreography—a skillset that stood out in a Hollywood stunt scene dominated by car jumps and high falls in the 1980s. His ability to choreograph elaborate fights and direct the camera movement for editing quickly propelled him from stuntman to coordinator and second unit director.
While he is widely known for delivering the exaggerated, Japanese-Sentai style action on Mighty Morphin Power Rangers, Pruitt reveals the hilarious obstacle this success created: Buffy creator Joss Whedon initially hated the idea of hiring him, fearing the connection would make the show look like a children's program. It took an intervention from Sarah Michelle Gellar herself to get Whedon to watch a demo reel. Whedon was instantly convinced, identifying Pruitt’s dynamic, grounded style as the true "Slayer Style" for the show.
The Efficient Violence of Buffy: Secrets of the Stunts
Pruitt details the core philosophy behind the unique Buffy combat: a strategic blend of Eastern martial arts sophistication with a necessary "rough edge" of Western fighting—incorporating body slams and breaking objects to keep the action visceral and prevent it from looking too choreographed or "dancey".
He addresses the common misconception about Gellar's physical abilities, confirming the actress was not a trained martial artist and would often focus on learning her constantly changing dialogue while his double, Sophia, handled the rigorous physical stunts. He praises Gellar's acting for completely selling the illusion of a super-powered slayer. Furthermore, he discusses his role in making Angel a stronger, more equal fighter to Buffy, thereby fueling the series' central romance, and recounts the extreme generosity of Red Bull after a severe motorcycle-related back injury.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.