Whatevas - Eli Olson E-mail

introeli.jpgWho? Him? Me? Me? Him?

Hawai‘i surfers have been doubling as stuntmen and even actors since Duke Kahanamoku rode a nine-year Hollywood wave beginning in 1926. Many have followed in his footsteps: Gerry Lopez, Laird Hamilton and Mike Latronic worked on North Shore, Derrick Doerner wiped out at Waimea Bay for Point Break and Kala Alexander, Megan Abubo and Rochelle Ballard killed it in Blue Crush. The latest movie to hit the outdoor set of the North Shore, a Stephen King eco-carnage flick, has enlisted the help of the talented grom Eli Olson.    

 

Eli took a shot behind the lens staring in a Toyota commercial that aired in Japan. He appeared in animated form in Drewtoonz official North Shore Lifeguard movie, his likeness brought to life by his real voice. And now he’s pairing up with a latex dummy of himself for his latest role, getting blasted apart at Three Tables by a huge wave. Eli took several lips to the back, which is nothing compared to what’s going to happen to the dummy. —Kevin Whitton



You’re starting to make a name for yourself in the movie business. Are you going to keep trying to get acting gigs?
Maybe, I’m not sure yet.

You just finished filming a Stephen King movie. What character do you play?
I’m doing a stunt in the water. My character gets caught on the rocks in some big waves. He’s drowning, then climbs up on the rocks, then a wave comes and knocks him off. He gets back on the rock again and another wave knocks him off. He dies in the beginning of the movie. It’s called The Ocean.

EliOlson2.jpgWhere did you do the stunts?
It was down at Three Tables on like a 10-foot day. It was fun, sick. I paddled up on a table and when a wave would break I’d wait for the splash to hit me and then jump off, acting like I got hit by a big wave.

Did you sustain any injuries during the takes?
No. I hit the bottom a couple times, but it was minor.

So you might actually play the role as the boy in the movie as well, in addition to the stunt.
Yeah, I’m excited. Filming starts this winter, this year.

Would you rather do stunts or act?
I’d rather do stunts than acting, because I don’t really like being behind the camera.

What do you think about the dummy, does he really look like you?
Yeah, he’s got the same nose and the exact same height as me. It’s sick.

If you walked into a room and saw the dummy sitting there, would you think its real?
It was funny because the first time I did see it my dad told me it was my brother. It was really late and I just got back from Maui and the dummy was on the floor. He said, “Oh yeah, your brother died.” I freaked out and ran up to it, but it was the dummy and then my dad started laughing. It was funny.
 
 
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