To mark the physical release of No Time to Die, Universal Studios gave us a special glimpse behind the magic of James Bond stunts.
“I’ve had so many good times over the years, especially on Bonds,” explains Chris Corbould. There are drones flying overhead and engines revving all around us as we speak, but he does not flinch. “All credit to Michael Wilson and Barbara Broccoli [long-time Bond producers]. They’ve always given me the resources and the encouragement to explore my craft, and let my team run riot with their dreams. We have a lot of fun. A lot of challenges, but a lot of fun.”
Just recently, these challenges have included a car chase across a frozen lake and the largest explosion in film history. But over a 47-year career in special effects, Corbould has become something of a master of his trade. He has now worked on 11 Bond films – spanning four different 007s – been instrumental to the Superman and Batman series, was nominated for an Oscar for his work on two of the newest Star Wars films, and won the Academy Award for the visual effects behind 2010’s Inception.
Chris Corbould attending the premier of No Time to Die
But names like Corbould’s do not appear in the opening credits. Such is the skill of modern technicians and modern technology, extraordinary scenes now arrive seamlessly in good action movies. But coordination and planning must be even more meticulous than ever, in order for people like Corbould continue to push the boundaries for special effects, while ensuring everyone’s safety.
To celebrate the DVD and Blu-ray release of No Time to Die, as well as the importance of special effects, Universal Studios invited us down to Jaguar Land Rover HQ at Fen End. They gave us a chance to meet Corbould, as well as a couple of other key figures behind James Bond’s stunts.
They also gave us a chance to take part…
ArrayThere were two components to the Bond stunt day: the Land Rover Experience – where we would get to drive the new 2021 Defender around an obstacle course – and a recreated car chase, this time, thankfully, with rally driver Mark Higgins behind the wheel.
The Land Rover Experience came first. The obstacle course was effectively a skate park for 4x4s, made up of metal ramps and rails which were supposedly traversable in this beast of a car. At seven o’clock in the morning, despite having not been behind the wheel of a car for two years, it was my turn. I tried to warn them.
I am pleased to report I completed the course without incident. There was one moment of brief panic, across an obstacle called the Witch’s Hat, but the impressive Defender stayed upright. The grip of the car meant that even while climbing a near vertical slope, looking up straight at the sky, one needed only to touch the gas and it would climb seamlessly. Likewise, when coming over the top, breaking was unnecessary as the Defender lowered you back down gently to earth. It was incredible fun, but I must admit my overarching emotion when getting out of the car was relief. My driving was done for the day and I had not crashed. Time to sit back and leave it to the pros.
Mark Higgins at the Universal Pictures Bond Stunt Day.
Mark Higgins was a rally driver for over 30 years, before moving into film and working as a stunt driver on the last four Bond films. He jokes that he’s now got a ‘proper job,’ but I would still place stunt driver for James Bond at the unconventional end of the careers spectrum.
I suppose, to some degree, Higgins might actually be the newest James Bond. He’s played him on screen, at least. Throughout No Time to Die, Higgins drove the Aston Martin and did all of Daniel Craig’s extreme driving. But, for today, instead of being chased by Defenders across Norway as he was in the film, he’ll be back in the Land Rover and driving me around during the recreation of a car chase.
You get into the car and you think you know what to expect. I was warned of motorbikes whizzing past and other defenders narrowly passing by. Yet rom the first corner, I’m thrust into speechlessness. It had rained overnight and the ground looks treacherous, but for all the mud flying around, Higgins has the car on rails. More importantly, he’s in perfect coordination with every other vehicle on the site.
It’s almost unnerving how safe you feel after the first 15 seconds. Of course, with the speed and proximity, I’m sure the margin for error is huge, but it never feels remotely close to the edge. Higgins is perfectly smooth and the entire operation is so well oiled that the adrenaline is almost sucked out of it. Not that that remotely detracts from the stunt. Rather, it’s a testament to their skill.
ArrayOnce I get out the car, I am greeted by Paul “Fast Eddy” Edmondson. He’s drenched in mud. Edmondson is a former professional motorcyclist, and four times the World Enduro Champion. More recently, he was a bike stunt double for Daniel Craig in No Time to Die. It was Edmondson on the bike in the famous scene in Matera, where the bike jumps over and onto a bridge.
“We just brought the buzz back from shooting No Time to Die, and now it’s recreating some bits,” Edmondson explains. There is a huge smile on his face and it’s clear just how much he relishes it. “It’s like a dream to be on a Bond movie, and doing some of the stunts we’re all doing. Enjoy it every time. We’re just a great team.”
Paul “Fast Eddy” Edmonson at the Universal Pictures Bond Stunt Day.
Though Edmondson and his team of motorcyclists were able to pick up where they left off on the No Time to Die, the film was shot over two years ago now. Covid famously delayed and delayed the release of the latest Bond, but typically, compared to other big budget movies, 007 films get a very short turnaround. Whereas most are given upwards of a year in post-production, Bonds usually turnaround in three or four months. This doesn’t inhibit the special effects team while filming – as the shoot can last 20-to-26-weeks – but it makes for far more pressure for post-production.
Fittingly, when marking the DVD launch of Daniel Craig’s final role as Bond, the first DVD I ever bought was Casino Royale, Craig’s debut as 007. I watched it at least 50 times, and later ask Corbould about the famous scene where Bond’s Aston Martin flips to avoid Vesper lying in the road.
“That was an interesting one, because the stunt guys were trying to do it for real. Just turning the car viciously and trying to get it over on the side. But the Aston had such a low centre of gravity we couldn’t do it. So, we put a very small nitrogen canon in the bottom that just flipped it up six inches, just giving them the momentum to go into the roll.”
No Time to Die will be Corbould’s last film as special effects supervisor, as he now moves into second unit directing. He would like to remain involved in special effects in a creative capacity, but “directing is his passion now.”
As Corbould walks away from special effects, he does so with the recognition he deserves. His filmography speaks for itself. As will his legacy, championing special effects to the point where we scarcely notice them in films. But that doesn’t mean we shouldn’t appreciate them.
