JOKER STAND-IN BLOG

I recently had the opportunity to work as a stand-in for the Joker on one of the most anticipated movies of all time, The Dark Knight. As a stand-in, I was on set for all of Heath Ledger’s scenes and got to see first hand how he created his character. It was a truly amazing experience.

This is the story of what it took to get there and what has happened since.

The Dark Knight Stand-In Blog is still going strong! Follow me on Twitter at http://twitter.com/jokerstandin or subscribe via RSS feed.

My name is Matt, and I’m a stand-in for the Joker.

A stand-in is an actor who stands in for another actor during the filming of a movie. In my case, I stood in for Jared Leto during the scenes that he wasn’t actually in. This allowed them to set up lighting, shoot rehearsals with other actors, and so on.

Prior to my job as a stand-in, I had never acted before in any capacity. I was a fan of Christopher Nolan’s Batman movies and I loved Heath Ledger’s portrayal of the Joker. And after seeing pictures of Jared Leto’s Joker online, I was really excited about seeing him in the role too.

I got the job as a stand-in through an agency called Central Casting that specializes in background work and extras. After filling out some paperwork (and getting fitted for clothes), they sent me to Fox Studios to meet with what was then known as Suicide Squad 2.0 (the production code name later changed to Bravo 14).

My name is Wes, and I am a stand-in for the Joker. I’ll be posting about my experience in this blog from time to time, and also uploading some of my own photos to the gallery. I hope you enjoy them.

My role as the Joker’s stand-in is only one small part of a very large project, but it was an exciting journey that began with an email from my agent. When I first got the call I was like “The Joker … did you say the Joker? Are you sure?” After reading the script and meeting with the director, I became even more excited. I immediately began preparing for the role by watching The Dark Knight and also by talking with Heath Ledger’s make-up artist and costume designer. My biggest challenge may have been getting used to wearing all that make-up – it takes about an hour and a half each morning!

I hope that if you are reading this, it means you have seen The Dark Knight Rises (or maybe you are just curious about the movie). Whether or not this film makes it into your collection of Batman movies will depend on many factors, but one thing is certain: no other film has ever attempted what we have done here. We have pushed ourselves as actors and as

Interview with Joker Stand-In

This week we are sitting down with Michael, who recently played a stand-in for the Joker.

Michael, what is a stand-in?

A stand-in is someone who is used to “stand in” and block out where the actor will be so that they can set up lights and other technical equipment. It’s also used to keep the actor fresh so the director can get more takes without taking a break.

Where was your “Joker” stand-in experience?

It was at my university, in our film program. We had to shoot a scene from The Dark Knight and I volunteered to play the Joker as I have always loved acting and wanted to get more experience on camera.

How did you prepare for this part?

I watched some of Heath Ledger’s scenes from The Dark Knight, but I didn’t want to try and copy him exactly, because then it would just be boring. So instead, I thought about how I would act if I were the Joker and came up with my own version of him. Then all I had to do was practice over and over until it felt natural.

I have been a stand-in for the Joker for three years now, and it has been one heck of a ride. I’ve worked on six films as both a stand-in and as an extra (The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Inception, Man of Steel, and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice). The Joker is an iconic character that everyone knows and loves. When people ask me how I became the stand-in for the Joker, I tell them it was pure luck.

I am originally from Chicago but moved to Los Angeles in 2008 to pursue acting. I didn’t know anyone in L.A. or how things worked when it came to getting acting jobs. On my first day in L.A., I went to Hollywood Boulevard to see about getting an acting job. I asked around and was told to wait outside Mann’s Chinese Theater because they had auditions there all the time. After waiting outside for hours, no one had shown up to cast a movie or anything like that. Then out of nowhere, a man walked up to me, pointed at me and said “You! You’re perfect.” He then handed me his card and walked away without saying another word! I looked down at the card and it said “Christopher

The Joker is one of the most iconic and recognizable characters in the history of comic books, graphic novels, and film. He is also one of my favorite DC villains. I mean, who wouldn’t love this guy?

Recently, I was asked to step in as a stand-in on the set of The Dark Knight Rises. The requirements were simple: 6’2”, skinny, hungry. I fit the bill and was brought on board. Little did I know I would become an important part of a movie that became one of the biggest blockbusters in history!

I worked as a stand-in for about two weeks out at Astoria Studios (now Kaufman Astoria Studios). My first day was spent just learning how to walk like him. His walk is very particular and requires a lot of practice to get it down pat.

I am currently a stand-in for Heath Ledger in the new Batman movie. I would like to use this blog to share my experiences as a stand-in and what it is like to work on a blockbuster film set. I have been working on the movie since January and have had some wonderful experiences so far.

As a stand-in I work closely with the Director of Photography (DP) and the Gaffer to recreate the lighting conditions so that when Heath comes onto set he will be lit exactly the same way as he was during our rehearsals.

I cannot wait to see Heath’s performance, particularly because this is such a departure from his usual roles. However, I am not looking forward to seeing the make up…