Steve Truglia News & Blog

Reuters News Feature for Space Jump

Here's a great news feature which was filmed by Reuters and distributed internationally.

Click here to watch the Reuters News Video

NEWSFLASH: World Record Attempt This July 2008

Newsflash: Team Space Jump can reveal that the High Altitude Parachute Jump World Record has been brought forward to THIS JULY 2008.
Training is going very well and a gas balloon system has been sourced, along with two full pressure space suits.
The current schedule is as follows:

June 2008, Steve Truglia to perform a 52,000 feet High Altitude Parachute Jump from a gas balloon which Steve will pilot himself, wearing a full pressure spacesuit.

July 2008, providing a successful test flight in June, Steve will attempt to break the High Altitude Parachute Jump World Record by jumping from over 125,000 feet. Both jumps will take place in the USA and will be ratified by the FAI (Federation Aeronautique Internationale).

ITV News at Ten and CNN News Story on Space Jump

Here's a link to the News story about the High Altitude Parachute Jump Record which was shown on ITV regional news, ITV News at 10, and CNN News. Many thanks to ITV News team and reporter Nina Nannar.

CLICK HERE TO WATCH ITV & CNN NEWS STORY VIDEO

Video of Spacesuit Training Jumps

Here's a video of my first jumps in the spacesuit. It's a Russian high altitude Mig pilot's suit. The jumps were done at Hinton Parachute Centre in the UK. My thanks to Dougie, Geoff and Eammon for their help in making this happen. Also big thanks to Dave and Matt at Point Zero Rigging for their help, advice and modifications to the kit to make it jumpable.

The great difficulty in this suit is to keep the helmet from lifting up in freefall. After a foam inner chin pad that Dave made me it became a bit easier but still meant pressing my chin into the front of the helmet to keep in from moving. A strap was fitted to hold it down, as originally designed on this helmet. The original retainer strap was a skydiving hazard wih spring clips behind the helmet just waiting to catch stray rigging lines... so we cut it off. The new system means the helmet is attached to my waist belt making it very difficult to arch properly and relax in freefall.

This is exactly the kind of training and kit shake down that I'll be doing from now on to ensure the maximum possible preparation for the high altitude jumps.

Big thanks to one of the world's leading skydiving cameramen Andy Ford for shooting this great footage. Find out more about Andy Ford here www.infiniteskydiving.com

Channel 5 and ITV News cover Space Jump Project

The press frenzy continued throughout this week as Channel 5 News, ITV News, Kerrang Radio, LBC Radio and a host of other media took an interst in the High Altitude Parachute Jump Project.

ITV News were keen for some skydiving footage of me in the pressure suit. Fortunately I had already flown the suit and helmet in the Airkix indoor skydiving tunnel at Milton Keynes on Monday for Channel 5 News. The great value of the tunnel is the ability to test equipment in a safe environment. Over 30 minutes of flying the suit, many of the problems were solved. One overiding issue was the fact that I cannot get my head back or arch my body in this suit. This makes skydiving very difficult. The body position, combined with the difficulty trying to arch properly, makes for a slightly unstable freefall with my body rocking slightly. More modifications to the kit and tunnel testing should iron out these niggles.

It is becoming increasingly clear that a small drogue chute may be needed on the big jumps for stability.

  Master skydiving cameraman, wingsuit expert and freeflying champion Andy Ford has joined the SpaceJump team with his extensive expertese as a freefall cameraman. His amazing video of my jumps today were shown on ITV's 6.30 and award winning News at 10 programme. The ITV production team were blown away by the skill and sheer quality of Andy's camera work.

These incredible pics were taken by Andy while he was shooting video at the same time...awesome!

Andy teaches complete beginners to advanced skydivers, from first time jumpers to freefly teams. Find out more about his services here www.infiniteskydiving.com

Watch this space...video clip coming soon...

Steve Truglia interview on Nuts TV

I had a fantastic time doing an interview on Nuts TV. The highlight was being interviewed by Steve and Dan (Of Big Chef Little Chef and Crash Test Dummies fame). I had the great pleasure of working with these two loonies on Sky's Crash Test Dummies series as their Stunt Coordinator. That job, thanks mainly to these guys and the great crew from Granada Manchester, stands out as one of my favourites.

I'll post a video link of the interview as soon as it becomes available.

Hollyoaks Stunt Fight Arranging

This week and next week I'll be arranging some fighting scenes on UK Channel 4's Hollyoaks up in Liverpool.

I have been performing and coordinating stunts for the show since 2004. We've done everything from huge high falls, car knockdowns, blowing up The Dog pub, car stunts and abseiling gorrilas (don't ask).
Unlike many UK soaps, Hollyoaks like the fights to look realistic, whether it's a girlie slap or a full on punch up. Proper fight arranging allows us to work with the artists, allowing them to perform a lot of the fight themselves in safety.
I am convinced that it's worth the effort when you see the finished scene. I love working with one of the friendliest crews in British television.

Steve Truglia's biggest car stunt yet on Channel Five's Fifth Gear

A couple of weeks ago I performed a massive car stunt for Channel Five's Fifth Gear car show, where I've been the resident stunt driver since 2004.

It's another in our series, 'How Hollywood Works', where the viewer gets to see behind the scenes, and exactly how we perform some of the movie worlds biggest car stunts. You'll see how we switch stunt performer with artist for the final scene.

The repeat of Monday night's show is on Saturday 2nd Feb 08 on UK Channel 5 at 11.00. It's the biggest car stunt we've done yet on the show so be sure to tune in.

Read about the stunt at Fifth Gear's website here: http://fifthgear.five.tv/jsp/5gmain.jsp?lnk=401&featureid=1042&show=s13e2&section=On%20test

Sponsorship deal agreed with Esporta Health Clubs

I'm delighted that my local Esporta Club is to sponsor me in my Space Jump project. I'm currently training at their premier Repton Park Club in Woodford near Chigwell Essex around 4 times a week. The European Record High Altitude Parachute Jump will require me to be at an absolute peak of fitness, strength and flexibility, which I am working towards with the help of this fabulous club.

Apart from the great gym equipment, which is brand new, the club  has the finest spa and pool of any health club I've ever used, as it's situated in a former chapel, absolutely stunning.

Esporta Health Club and Spa
Repton Park, Manor Road, Woodford Bridge, Essex IG8 8GN

Tel: 020 8506 6300

Steve Truglia performs Guinness World Record Abseil Stunt

I was asked to perform the opening stunt for the Guinness World Records 50th anniversary television special which went out on Saturday 11th Sept 2004 on ITV1 with 8 million viewers.

The producers asked me if I would abseil into the studio from the lighting grid LIVE and be interviewed by presenter Jamie Theakston before the VT of the stunt abseil was shown. Performing the abseil live on prime time TV posed many challenges; the rope had to be dropped as I entered the studio as it was central to the set. If, as often happens, the rope had knotted, I'd be left dangling in mid air. I planned a get out for this scenario which fortunately didn't happen.

The video is now in the public domain so you can watch it here:

The Stunts and Space Jump Shop is now open

The online Stunt Shop and Space Jump Shop is now open with a great range of products. The Stunt Shop offers Prostunts official Stunt Crew clothing. In the Space Jump store there are a number of price ranges for those who want to just buy a T shirt or mug, and for those who want to donate to the project.
Corporate sponsors should visit the sponsorship link on the Project Space Jump Site.

From Stunt Double to Antony Cotton's 'Glamorous Assistant'

I've played a wonderful array of roles as a 'stunt double' over the years.

But I don't think I've ever been anyone's 'Glamorous Assistant' -  until recently that is...

I was invited to be Antony Cotton's special guest 'Glamorous Assistant' on That Antony Cotton Show

As well as abseiling into the studio, I arranged a 'western style' bar brawl with Antony and two volunteers from the audience.  Great fun!

Teenage kicks: stunt driving and skateboarding stunts

I've been busy in August doing, amongst others, some stunts with a teenage twist.

I stunt co-ordinated and did the stunt driving for a road safety commercial entitled "2Fast 2soon". The scene involved a brutally graphic high speed crash as a teenage driver loses control of his vehicle.

Hope it gets the message home.

I also stunt co-ordinated a series of skateboarding stunts for the children's TV series Grange Hill.

The Hanging of Dick Turpin - Revealed

No hanging around on TV sets for me... (sorry, couldn't resist)

I've been stunt co-ordinating a reconstruction of the hanging of Dick Turpin. 

The stunt was for 'The Real Dick Turpin - Revealed' for The Discovery Channel.  I was involved in co-ordinating, rigging and yes, performing the hanging stunt.

I did another 'hanging' job back in February (pictured).  That time, I coordinated and performed a live medieval hanging for premiere tourist attraction The London Dungeon as a PR stunt to promote the Dungeon's new Extremis drop ride to hell.

High speed car stunts with The Bill

I've been performing some more high speed car stunts for ITV's "The Bill". 

Police car chases are always good entertainment - and as one of the UK's leading stunt drivers I'm always looking to make the stunts look interesting and exciting for the viewer.

This episode was no different.

Other TV and film stunt work that's been keeping me busy this summer: 

I've been doing the stunt co-ordination for a new Discovery programme 'Science Changed My Life'... oh and filming in Brighton and London for a new feature film called 'Dummy'.  I'm co-ordinating the stunts for the film. More on those to follow.

Hollyoaks: who pushed her off the balcony?

I've just stunt co-ordinated another 'disaster' stunt for Hollyoaks.

I had to 'fight direct' a number of clashes in the show - leading to the dramatic high point (literally!) when Clare, played by actress Gemma Bissix is pushed off a balcony.

But who did it?  You'll have to watch the show to find out!

Hollyoaks is a fantastic show. Great cast and crew and, perhaps more importantly from a Stunt Coordinator's point of view, great writing and storylines. Check out this feature about the biggest physical stunt ever performed on a British Soap: A 100ft high fall backwards which I did for the show back in 2003.

Here I doubled 'Toby Mills' (actor Henry Luxemburg). 'Toby' is run over by a speeding car, jumps 15ft between two 75ft roof tops and then falls 100ft backwards off a Liverpool building.

 

Lorry movie stunt: Fifth Gear

In my role as their Resident Stuntman, I've just done what must be my most dangerous car stunt yet, for Channel 5's Fifth Gear.

Vikki Butler-Henderson and I were getting to grips with the finer point of high end car stunts - including the 'lorry movie stunt'. 

This stunt involves driving a car under a moving lorry - without being decapitated!

Like this:

See how the stunt works out; follow this link to the Fifth Gear site where there's 2 pages of great shots.