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Scott Hastings-- Robot 'movement consultant'

posted 20 years ago by elycia-1
7 replies | jump to latest

In the news...

Paul Mercurio the official "movement consultant" for all robots

If you thought Will Smith's mechanical foes in I, Robot seemed particularly jiggy with it, there's a good reason: Australian actor-dancer Paul Mercurio, a.k.a. Strictly Ballroom's rebellious hoofer Scott Hastings, was I, Robot's "movement consultant." Not only did Mercurio -- who's been acting in small films and on Australian TV since his 1993 breakout in Baz Luhrmann's flick -- devise a library of movements for the film's CGI creations (which he demonstrated in a motion-capture suit), he also spent five months training actors and stuntmen to make like robots. "It was quite weird to fly halfway across the world to teach people how to walk," admits the former Sydney Dance Company member. Step one? "Listen to the rhythm."

[–] Steplight 19 years ago

I wondered what happened to Paul Mercurio. Any idea how Strictly Ballroom did when it was released way back then? I just thought about this movie for the first time in a long while. Don't know why, actually. I enjoyed it's oringinal plot and quirky characters. Still do.

[–] OGblue 19 years ago

I saw that credit on his IMDB page. That is cool to have that article - thanks!

[–] marismi 19 years ago

go to "www.paulmercurio.net" - it´s very interesting, think it´ll give answers for (to?) your questions ...

cheers

m.

ALL LIFE IS EQUAL

[–] Steplight 19 years ago

Thank you for the link, marismi. I enjoyed the read.
(That's an interesting signature you've got there.)

[–] marismi 19 years ago

the part i like the best is july 2002, after suicide from (of) russell page: the returns and thoughts about death + suicide are touching, some are wise (is that the right word?)- there´s a very special, not only sad, mood in it.

ciau

m.

ALL LIFE IS EQUAL
(That's an interesting signature you've got there.)

do you mean that above? (smile) it´s my philosophy of life.

wave

m.

[–] Val-El 12 years ago

Paul Mercurio was a shooting star who received a really "bad rap" for his part in the movie "East of Eden".
I saw that particular movie and thought that he did really well in it but the movie was totally panned by most film critics.
Paul never seemed to fully recover from that effort.

PS. LOVED Strictly Ballroom!

[–] marismi 12 years ago

i, too, saw that film (not only one time; i own the video) and think that he does a really good job in it (the others do too).
it´s just a rather nice crime- comedy in an unusual frame(work?) (is that the right word?) and with more sex and nudity than usual (and probably too much for too much people...).
there are really funny moments in it, i think (((g))). (my fav is rosie o´donnel´s poledance)

somewhere on his site paul tells about the work for that film: how suddenly and surprising his mother, his wife and his children appeared there; very funny.

friendly wave

m.

ALL LIFE IS EQUAL