Associate Editor Erica Tyler is in charge of identifying 20 Ordinary Heroes in the Community this fall. At the end of the summer the Editor-in-Chief stumbled upon a league of such in West Los Angeles.
Would you like to know one of them? She works on the team of Saving Innocence as an Intake and Volunteer Coordinator.
Saving Innocence is a Los Angeles-based nonprofit that works directly with American victims of child sex trafficking. SmartyGirlLeadership (SGL) readers want to know how Stuntwoman Emily Hopkins uses her subject matter expertise in stunts for her new job in aftercare for American girls rescued from child sex trafficking.
SmartyFellas and SmartyGirls include fans of Breaking Bad. Emily, are you a Breaking Bad fan? Can you speak about stunt drug lookalikes used on such sets?
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| Photo Credit: Breaking Bad Meme via Pinterest |
“I did work on a few sets that involved drug lookalikes during my time in the film industry. There’s a lot of skill and artistry involved in making them look authentic! I was always so impressed with the people in charge of props and set dressing. They really are artists!
Am I a fan of Breaking Bad? My husband is! He’s seen every episode and I think he’s going to go through all five stages of grief after the series ends this year. Personally, I spend so much of my day dealing with the realities of gang culture that I had to stop watching the show just a few episodes in. Not many people realize that gangs today are finding it safer and more financially lucrative to sell girls instead of drugs and weapons. That’s why when I’m done with work for the day I’m more likely to unwind with a comedy.”
Can you tell us about your favorite thing to do as a stuntwomen?
“Rachet pulls were great! That’s essentially when you’re wearing a special ‘jerk vest’ that’s attached to a wire which is connected to a hydraulics system. Then you get pulled to make it look like you’ve been in an explosion or punched by someone with super strength!”
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| Photo Credit: Best Movie Explosions via Pinterest |
How is work as a stuntwoman on the set similar to your current responsibilities?
“Working in the stunt industry really taught me to work hard and be diligent. Sometimes you work with tough content or tough people, but you just learn to push through it no matter what. The stunt industry is full of the most hard working people I’ve ever met, and they taught me a lot about work ethic in my time there that translates into the rest of my life.”
Readers, would you like to know How to Spot 5 Signs of Child Sex Trafficking Victims in Schools? Check back for a post on SmartyGirlLeadership next Monday!