10 Outrageous Ways Movie Directors Got Performances Out Of Actors
1. Jan De Bont Did The Stunts To Convince Keanu Reeves They Were Safe - Speed
He may sit as one of the most game action stars the film industry currently boasts at this current moment in time, but back when Keanu Reeves was making his first few waves as an action star in 1994's Speed, this actor wasn't in too much of a rush to commit to performing some of his own stunts, as it goes.
As Jan de Bont would reveal during a recent sit-down with Yahoo! Movies, the eventual John Wick and The Matrix icon had to be convinced by the director to take part in some of the action sequences seen in the thrilling bus ride of a flick.
How? By de Bont himself demonstrating the stunts first, of course!
Sure enough, on the back of seeing de Bont throw himself into the thick of some of the action Reeves wasn't all too sure about, the Officer Jack Traven actor felt safe enough to continue, with the director later wisely noting, "You’re totally in control about whether you’re afraid or not."
So, the next time you witness a young Reeves impressively hang out the side of a speeding vehicle or slide out of said bus on a rickety board in the mid-90s picture, just know that a fearless Jan de Bont likely pulled off the daring feat first on the day.