Soft White Underbelly - Stuntman/Daredevil interview-Crazy Mike
The interviewee, a stunt performer, recounts surviving a severe accident during a stunt for a movie promotion, where he overshot a lake and suffered multiple injuries. Despite the physical trauma, he only felt the burning sensation from being on fire. His passion for stunts began with backyard wrestling and was inspired by shows like 'Jackass.' He pursued a career in stunts, moving to Hollywood and creating content before content creation became mainstream.
He discusses his legal troubles, including being wrongfully accused of involvement in a bank robbery committed by his brother. He explains the stress and anxiety caused by the ongoing legal case and the impact on his family. Additionally, he shares personal challenges, such as limited access to his daughter due to a restraining order filed by her mother. Despite these challenges, he remains positive, focusing on his love for his daughter and his passion for stunts, which provide an escape from life's stresses.
Key Points:
- Survived a severe stunt accident with multiple injuries but only felt the burning sensation.
- Began career inspired by 'Jackass,' moved to Hollywood for stunts and content creation.
- Wrongfully accused of bank robbery; ongoing legal case causing stress and anxiety.
- Limited access to daughter due to restraining order; personal life challenges.
- Remains positive, focusing on stunts and love for daughter as motivation.
Details:
1. 🚀 Surviving the Unthinkable
1.1. Understanding Resilience
1.2. Strategies for Building Resilience
1.3. Case Studies and Examples
2. 🙏 Faith and Miracles
- The speaker survived a crash, attributing survival to divine intervention, marking a significant shift towards believing in God.
- This experience is identified as a pivotal moment leading to increased faith, personal transformation, and gratitude.
- Prior to this event, the speaker held different beliefs, but the crash catalyzed a profound change in perspective.
- The transformation process involved a deeper exploration of faith and recognition of divine presence in life.
3. 🔥 The Stunt Gone Wrong
- In April 2012, a promotional stunt for the DVD release of 'Ghost Rider 2: Spirit of Vengeance' went wrong, resulting in severe injuries.
- The stunt was intended to promote the DVD release and involved the performer being set on fire and jumping into a lake.
- The performer, dressed as Ghost Rider, overshot the lake and landed 100 feet away, resulting in multiple broken bones.
- The stunt was sponsored by Sony and executed by Break Media, although the performer was not part of the actual movie cast.
- After the incident, Sony and Break Media faced scrutiny over safety protocols and the planning process for such stunts.
- The mishap led to a reevaluation of safety measures in promotional activities involving stunts and heightened industry awareness.
- The performer's condition post-accident was critical, and legal implications were considered following the incident.
4. 🤼♂️ From Backyard Wrestling to Stunt Life
- The individual, born and raised in New Jersey, developed a fascination with wrestling through television at a young age.
- By age 12 or 13, they began engaging in backyard wrestling, using creative methods to replicate TV stunts, such as utilizing a trampoline in place of a professional ring.
- Their focus was particularly on the stunt aspect, performing daring acts like jumping off roofs onto tables, showcasing a preference for creativity over conventional wrestling techniques.
- These early experiences in backyard wrestling and stunts laid the foundation for a career focused on stunt performance, emphasizing their innovative and fearless approach.
5. 🎬 Inspirations and Career Beginnings
- The speaker identifies as a 100% adrenaline junkie, both in the past and present, indicating a long-standing preference for high-intensity activities.
- During high school, the speaker transitioned from wrestling to performing stunts, influenced by the popularity of 'Jackass' during the Myspace era.
- 'Jackass' is cited as a significant inspiration, considered 'pure genius' by the speaker for turning daring stunts into stardom.
- The speaker admires the courage and perceived genius of 'Jackass' performers, although acknowledges they weren't the first to attempt such acts.
6. 🚴♂️ Family and Risk-Taking
- The interviewee had a non-traditional upbringing, with parents who pursued unconventional careers: the mother worked with dogs and the father was a trucker, highlighting a family culture that values independence and unconventional choices.
- Despite a lack of parental support, the interviewee was determined to pursue their own path, indicating a strong sense of independence from a young age, possibly shaped by the family environment.
- The family had a deep-rooted connection to motorcycles, with both parents participating in motorcycle and dirt bike riding, embedding a culture of adventure and risk-taking within the family.
- The interviewee's childhood exposure to motorcycles and dirt bikes facilitated comfort with and a propensity for risk-taking activities, suggesting that the family culture significantly influenced their personal development and risk-taking behaviors.
7. 🎥 Early Career in Film and Content Creation
- Started film career at 18 by moving to LA and attending the Los Angeles Film Academy, gaining skills in editing and producing.
- Early monetization through Myspace with sponsorships, selling content before it was mainstream.
- Exploited a niche in content creation before smartphones, using home camcorders to capture rare and desirable footage.
- Provided content to clip shows like 'World's Dumbest Daredevils' and 'Ridiculousness', focusing on high-demand footage types like crashes and stunts, which generated significant income.
- Compiled extensive footage of extreme sports and other engaging activities, leveraging personal creative projects into a revenue stream.
8. 🤕 Recovery and Reflection
- The speaker experienced a near-death experience (NDE) and highlights both the physical and emotional aspects of recovery, indicating lasting impacts.
- Physical consequences include nerve damage and a permanently affected pinky, demonstrating the long-term impact of the incident on daily life.
- Emotionally, the speaker reflects on how the incident has changed their outlook on life, highlighting the importance of resilience and support systems.
- During the incident, the speaker attempted to brace for impact, showcasing a survival instinct and quick thinking, which plays a role in their reflections on the event.
- Coping mechanisms include seeking support from loved ones and focusing on personal growth, emphasizing the need for a strong support system in recovery.
9. 🌟 Hollywood Dreams and Challenges
- The speaker had a clear vision from an early age to pursue a career in Hollywood, demonstrating a strong commitment to this goal.
- The speaker moved to Hollywood with aspirations of fame, actively seeking opportunities by getting an agent and engaging in modeling.
- The speaker achieved success in booking commercials, indicating a level of accomplishment in the industry.
- They launched a web show in 2011, showcasing initiative and early adoption of digital media platforms.
10. 📸 Documenting Hollywood's Reality
- The speaker reflects on their past work documenting street life in Hollywood, describing it as exploitative.
- Although the work could have brought significant financial gain ($1,000 a week), the speaker would not engage in such work again due to ethical concerns.
- They recognize their previous actions as instigating harmful situations to capture sensational content, leading to negative ethical consequences.
- The speaker views their past approach as contributing to bad karma and expresses a shift in their perspective on ethical documentary practices.
11. ⚖️ Legal Troubles and Regrets
11.1. Legal Troubles
11.2. Personal Regrets and Changing Perspectives
12. 🏠 A New Chapter in New Jersey
- The speaker plans to address a bank robbery incident, indicating a significant upcoming discussion point.
- The speaker reflects on their early 20s spent in Hollywood, where they experienced a 'crash' leading to a significant life change and relocation.
- There's an implication of closure as the speaker mentions 'this might be my last visual story,' suggesting a transition or new beginning.
- The speaker's move from Hollywood after a 'crash' suggests a turning point that significantly influenced their current path.
13. 🎭 Pranks and Consequences
- Love to Create Studio was established in a New Jersey farmhouse, leveraging the space for set building and collaborations, which reflects a strategic use of location for creative activities.
- The studio successfully operated for several years, indicating effective management and utilization of resources.
- The prank inspired by 'Punk'd' involved a staged party and a backpack with 70 pill bottles, which highlights a creative but ultimately unsuccessful marketing or engagement attempt.
- The prank did not succeed as planned, suggesting the importance of thorough planning and understanding potential risks in unconventional marketing strategies.
14. 💼 Lawsuits and Settlements
14.1. Settlement Process
14.2. Parties Involved and Decisions
15. 🚐 Embracing Van Life
- The speaker transitioned to van life after finding traditional living in LA unfulfilling, using a $30,000 settlement to invest in a van instead of a house, enabling them to travel the country.
- They have maintained an on-and-off van life since the age of 26, focusing on personal fulfillment and exploration.
- Financial support was uniquely garnered through Snapchat, where followers contributed to the speaker's travel expenses.
- A unique practice called 'sprinkling love' involved sprinkling glitter on people, bringing joy and additional financial support from followers.
- The speaker regards these experiences as some of the most rewarding times of their life, emphasizing the fulfillment gained from living on the road.
16. 🌍 Exploring the Country
- The speaker experienced a significant personal growth period while living in a van, emphasizing spiritual development and exploration.
- They traveled extensively across the country, visiting nearly every state except Alaska, and appreciated the diverse landscapes and people.
- The speaker found value in not being confined to one place, suggesting a preference for mobility and exploration.
- They encountered a variety of lifestyles and cultures, enriching their perspective and contributing to a memorable life phase.
- A challenge occurred when their van caught fire, but they adapted by converting a school bus for continued travel.
17. 🚔 Arrests and Accusations
- Arrested in Mississippi for possession of pot and mushrooms, leading to six months in Madison County Jail. This incident highlights the severity of drug possession charges in certain states.
- Missed court date due to being in Vietnam resulted in bond revocation, demonstrating the importance of court appearances and the potential consequences of missing them.
- Accused of bank robbery, arrested on December 2nd, 2022, but released after 5 days under pre-trial conditions. This emphasizes the role of pre-trial conditions in the legal process and their impact on those accused.
18. 🔍 Bank Robbery Allegations
18.1. Bank Robbery Allegations - Factual Overview
18.2. Personal and Legal Impacts
19. 🧬 Thrill-Seeking DNA
- The subject and siblings exhibit a pattern of engaging in daring activities, indicating a possible genetic predisposition to thrill-seeking behavior.
- Despite engagement in high-risk activities, there is no substance abuse, suggesting the behavior is inherently driven.
- Anxiety management through medication may affect the subject's propensity for thrill-seeking, indicating the interplay between psychological factors and genetic predispositions.
- Research indicates that certain genetic markers are associated with thrill-seeking behaviors, providing a scientific basis for these observations.
- Psychological studies show that thrill-seekers often have higher baseline levels of arousal, which may explain their pursuit of high-risk activities.
20. 👨👧 Fatherhood and Legal Battles
- The speaker transitioned from making money through illegal means (selling oxycodone) to pursuing a legal and responsible lifestyle, emphasizing the importance of living 'the right way.'
- The speaker's primary goals for the next five years include being 'alive and free' and being a present father to his daughter, Valentina Papino.
- The speaker faced significant legal challenges due to his past activities but is committed to overcoming these to provide a better future for his daughter.
- Despite the legal battles, the speaker prioritizes his role as a father, highlighting the impact of his actions on his daughter’s life.
- The transition involved not only changing his lifestyle but also dealing with the repercussions of past decisions, demonstrating resilience and a commitment to personal growth.
21. 💔 Family Struggles and Misunderstandings
- The speaker feels misunderstood by most people but claims not to be bothered by it, highlighting a sense of resilience or detachment.
- They express frustration over the necessity to present a false image in court to regain parenting rights, removed after the other parent filed a restraining order, indicating a significant legal and emotional struggle.
- The speaker is participating in anger management classes weekly, a mandated step in the process to restore their parenting rights, showcasing an effort towards self-improvement and legal compliance.
- Despite the restraining order, the speaker claims they never physically harmed the other parent, yet admits to being hit by them, suggesting a complex dynamic of perceived injustice.
- They acknowledge engaging in risky behavior for adrenaline but insist they do not wish to harm others, reflecting an internal conflict between thrill-seeking and social responsibility.
22. 🔒 Facing Legal Challenges
- The individual is facing a seven-year plea deal offer from the Somerset County prosecutor's office for a bank robbery charge, which highlights the severity of the legal situation and necessitates careful consideration of legal options.
- Despite facing serious legal consequences, the individual prioritizes their family case over their own trial, potentially jeopardizing their ability to fulfill parental responsibilities if incarcerated.
- The individual's brother is also facing legal challenges, being involved in three separate bank robberies in New Jersey, which may compound legal issues and affect sentencing outcomes for both parties.
23. 🕊️ The Fear of Confinement
- The speaker identifies their biggest fear as being confined or locked away, equating it to being paralyzed and unable to move.
- Having spent 6 months in county jail, they describe the experience as time distortion: 'one day feels like one week, one week feels like one month, and one month feels like one year.'
- The state of New Jersey offered a seven-year plea deal, which felt equivalent to serving 80 years due to the perceived time distortion in jail.
- The speaker values physical freedom, such as riding a bike and being outside, and equates confinement with being 'dead while living.'
- The fear of confinement significantly influences their daily life and decision-making, underscoring the importance of maintaining personal freedom.
- Coping mechanisms for this fear include engaging in physical activities and maintaining a connection with the outdoors, which provides a sense of liberation and psychological relief.
24. ✨ Redemption Through Stunts
- Maintaining a positive outlook despite life's challenges demonstrates resilience, indicating a strong personal drive and focus.
- The speaker's daughter serves as a significant motivator for positivity, highlighting the impact of personal relationships on mental well-being.
- Performing stunts offers a temporary escape from stresses like financial issues and legal troubles, with adrenaline acting as a coping mechanism.
- Engaging in stunts shifts focus from negative thoughts to the present moment, illustrating immediate stress relief techniques.
- Adrenaline from stunts is acknowledged as addictive but pivotal for feeling alive, showcasing a balance between thrill-seeking and emotional endurance.
- The psychological benefit of stunts includes enhanced presence and distraction from negativity, presenting a practical method for stress management.
- The emotional impact of performing stunts is akin to a transformative experience, providing a sense of redemption and personal empowerment.
- Incorporating stunts into life highlights the intersection of risk-taking and psychological resilience, offering a strategic approach to handling life's difficulties.
25. 🤝 Shared Stories and Understanding
- Attacking fear is emphasized as crucial to living, with the belief that what one desires often lies on the other side of fear.
- The conversation highlights various risky scenarios, such as approaching strangers for interviews or engaging in adrenaline-inducing activities, to illustrate the importance of overcoming fear.
- Personal experiences shared include knocking on the doors of the Hell's Angels and managing to get what was wanted despite initial rejection, showcasing persistence and bravery.
- The value of confidence and assertiveness is recognized, suggesting that simply asking politely is often insufficient without a demonstration of strength or offering incentives like money.
- Another example discussed involves engaging in public speaking despite anxiety, which led to improved personal and professional outcomes, demonstrating the benefits of facing fears directly.
26. 🚓 Legal Complications
- A suspect's alibi claimed they were driving a U-Haul truck during a bank robbery, leading to questions about their involvement.
- The suspect’s phone location data placed them near the crime scene, complicating their defense strategy.
- The suspect and their brother were charged with the crime but were released with pre-trial conditions, requiring weekly probation officer check-ins.
- Families often face significant financial burdens in such cases, exemplified by the $75,000 spent on legal defense for the accused.
- Bank robberies generally result in low financial gains, with the typical amount stolen being around $2,000, while legal costs and financial losses can be substantial.
27. 🛡️ Lessons and Perspectives
- Standing your ground is crucial, especially when pressured into actions you are uncomfortable with, regardless of the circumstances or who is involved.
- Every action can be categorized as driven by love or fear, highlighting the importance of understanding the underlying motivations behind decisions and interactions.
28. 🧠 Complexity of Human Life
- Human life is complex and what works for one person may not work for another, highlighting the individual nature of human experiences.
- The understanding of life and the human brain is limited, and acknowledging one's lack of understanding may lead to deeper insights.
- Faith involves trust in the unknown, contrasting with the certainty often claimed by organized religions.
- Skepticism towards organized religion is expressed, with an appreciation for the teachings of spiritual figures like Buddha and Jesus, emphasizing the value in their messages rather than institutional doctrines.