Creating The Action In "Mech-X4": An Interview With Stunt Coordinator Trevor Addie

Teens and stunts make a potent mix. Trevor Addie, stunt coordinator for Disney XD’s “Mech-X4”, was excited to join the live action family show, adjusting stunts created for adults to safely suit his young talent.  His first time on a regular series, Addie was intrigued by the challenge of defining the action choreography in an exciting adventure show that adhere to the rating requirements and Disney standards.

“I’ve had a lot to do for grown-ups so I was really excited to reinvent stunts for kids,” said Addie. “It’s a family show that’s not about violence; it is exciting and adventurous.”

“Mech-X4” follows Ryan Walker (Nathaniel Potvin), who, when within the head of a giant robot accompanied by his sidekicks Spyder (Pearce Joza), Harris (Kamran Lucas) and older brother Mark (Raymond Alexander Cham Jr.), uses his own physical movements to control the robot’s actions. The teens find themselves battling monsters and other giant robots to protect their home town.  With each episode, the teens have increasing strength and ability, an important factor in the stunts that Addie designs.  His process begins first by looking at the script and accessing the needs for the episode.  While he’s constantly inspired by the stories presented, the lack of nailed down locations sometimes result in the need for modifications.

“If a character needs to fly but we can’t get a crane (into the set), we’ll have to go in a different direction,” said Addie.

Conversely, Addie may note a way to safely enhance a scene. He’ll discuss any modifications with executive producer Zach Lipovsky and the episode’s directors who’ve maintained an open and encouraging dialogue.  Once Addie begins to formulate a concept for the action, he works with professional stuntmen first.  The action gets performed and recorded on an iPhone, allowing Addie to share the concept fully orchestrated with the producers and directors.   Once the action is approved, he breaks down the sequence so he can train the young actors on every move.   The sequences are designed to capitalize on each young actor’s strength; running, kicking, falling, etc.  When there is an activity that is outside the actor’s wheelhouse, stunt doubles fill in to ensure maximum safety for everyone involved.

Always keeping safety as his top priority, Addie has found he often has to hold his young cast members back. Being teenagers, he states, “Boy do they want to do it all.”   He is careful to make sure they know each stage of the physical movement by taking them through it step by step.  He starts with “mat tackles” where the young actors drop onto the mats, as if they are falling into bed.  This gentle fall allows them to remain in control of their movements as they slowly build out each stage of the stunt.  While every episode has stunt work in the story line, not every hour of production has a stunt or specialized choreographed movement involved.  Because long periods of time can occur between each stunt, Addie engages the cast members in warm ups each time stunt work is required, ensuring their muscles and limbs are limber and less susceptible to injuries.

Addie’s consistently maintained the role of stunt performer through the years; a position he treasures.

“Actors don’t get to do these (high level stunts); they are just a lot of fun to me and there is such a great comradery on set (between the stunt performers),” said Addie. “You learn so much from the coordinators you are working under.”

Addie’s particularly enjoyed the work that has taken him overseas, where he’s experienced how productions are handled in a different culture. This past year saw him performing stunts in HBO’s “Game of Thrones” including the ground-breaking battle sequence in the episode entitled “Battle of the Bastards.”   The attention to detail and time taken to ensure each actor was fully prepared was a concept Addie brought with him to “Mech-X4.”

“It was so planned, and so prepped. We really knew what we were doing,” said Addie.  “To get so much information when I was just swinging a sword really gave me something to strive for on ‘Mech-X4’.  I try to give everyone as much information as I can.”

Check out a clip from "Mech-X4 - The Jaquasaur is Back!" here to get a sense of the stunt work Addie creates with his young actors.  To learn more about "Mech-X4" please visit:  http://disneychannel.disney.com/mech-x4