Double Dare (documentary)

infobox film
name = Double Dare


caption =
director = Amanda Micheli
producer = Karen Johnson
Danielle Renfrew
starring = Zoë Bell
Jeannie Epper
music = Marco D'Ambrosio
editing = Purcell Carson
distributor =
released = April 15 2004
runtime = 81 min
country = USA
language = English
budget =
gross =
website = http://www.doubledarethemovie.com/
amg_id =
imdb_id = 0365135

"Double Dare" is a documentary film about stuntwomen, specifically Jeannie Epper and Zoë Bell, directed by Amanda Micheli. The documentary follows Epper and Bell over several years, Epper from 1997 and Bell from the end of in 2001, to 2003. [http://www.pbs.org/independentlens/doubledare/qa.html]

Overview

The film begins with Bell finishing her work on "Xena" and Epper searching for continuing work in Hollywood despite her age, even considering liposuction before forgoing cosmetic surgery. "Xena" ends its run and Bell struggles with what to do next in her career. Meanwhile, Epper negotiates to have a women's category included in the World Stunt Awards (also called the Taurus Awards) [http://www.worldstuntawards.com/] . Bell is invited to the United States for a "Xena" convention. There she meets Epper and, obtaining a ticket with the help of the documentary crew, attends the stunt awards. Though initially receiving an offer to work on a series starring Victoria Pratt, Bell ultimately does not get the job and returns home to New Zealand.

The film resumes one year later with Bell still training, though unemployed, and planning a move to America. She stays with Epper, who is attempting to get a job working on 2 Fast 2 Furious with Terry Leonard. Epper helps Bell assemble the necessary elements for her to start her career in America, such as a CV and head shots. She also warns Bell about the deceptive nature of Hollywood, instructing her to list her weight as 130 lbs when Bell actually judges herself to be 145. Epper takes her to a training session, where they encounter Quentin Tarantino's stunt scout Kenny Lesco, who is looking for someone to double Uma Thurman in "Kill Bill". Lesco arranges for an audition on the same day as the training session. Epper and Bell drive to Tarantino's Culver City training center for the audition, there meeting Tarantino himself as he evaluates Bell. Much to her delight, she earns the job doubling Thurman and is sent to train in Beijing with Yuen Wo Ping.

Eventually Bell begins filming for "Kill Bill, Part 1"; the documentary shows her working on the fight between Beatrix Kiddo (Thurman) and O-Ren Ishii (Lucy Liu) and her bodyguards, as well as several other fight scenes. The film ends with Epper being honored by the Stuntmen's Association and Bell speaking optimistically about her future as an adult.

Reception

Awards

* 2003 AFI Audience Award - Best Documentary

* San Francisco International Film Festival - Audience Award

* Woodstock Film Festival - Best Documentary and Best Editing

* Independent Film Festival of Boston - Jury and Audience Award

* Sonoma Film Festival - Audience Award [http://www.doubledarethemovie.com/]