AV resident gets in the action with stunt-performance company
By Amy Zillner
Apple Valley Review
Co-owner of Reel Time Stunts, Apple Valley resident Matthew Rege, 28, doesn’t let fear stop him from doing a stunt.
“Pretty much we do whatever the actors are scared to do,” said stuntman and stunt coordinator Rege, who likes “high falls and flying off buildings.” His group also does stunts such as fire burns, car and bike crashes and fight scenes.
“It’s more of an adrenaline rush flying through the air with no parachute,” Rege said of the “free fall” that can be created with chutes, cardboard boxes and blue pads, with a port-a-pit to catch him.
A Hesperia native, Rege said a good location for people to watch a stunt in Hesperia would be a jump off City Hall onto an airbag.
“I always told them they’re not limited by anything,” said Rege’s father, 36-year movie business veteran James Fuentez of his advice to his kids. “What any man can do another man can do if you put the time in and practice to train — just go do it.”
A stunt that impressed Fuentez was one Rege did off a 3 1/2 story high lift in Lake Havasu during a racetrack half time show.
“He decided to do this running back flip I’ve never considered doing,” Fuentez said. “Watching him do it was really cool, especially since I’ve never done it before.”
Fuentez Sr., Rege and James Fuentez Jr. worked together on the film “The Night Crew” with stunts, special effects and weapons, according to James Fuentez Sr. They did a lot in a short time at the busy shoot, which was fun, hard and cold, with extreme hot or cold weather part of the territory, he said.
The movie “centers on a group of hard-up bounty hunters who must survive a night in a desert motel against a hoard of savage cartel killers,” Rege said of his most recent project, which is in post-production with a release sometime in 2014.
Working with “big actors” including Luke Goff, Danny Trejo and Bokeem Woodvine and a production crew that was experienced was good, Rege said of the Palm Springs and surrounding area night shoots.
“I love it, it’s my passion in life,” said stuntwoman Ashley Miranda, who worked one night on “The Night Crew” set. Athletic her entire life, Miranda said she’s a natural at and been involved in every sport, including extreme sports like skateboarding.
This year Rege will work on two Western movies and a science fiction movie.
James Fuentez Sr. will direct the western film “The Boys” in August with Rege as stunt coordinator; it will be filmed in several locations in the High Desert including Whitehorse Ranch, Morongo Valley, Lucerne Valley and the Cajon Pass, according to Fuentez.
“I love the non-stop chaos stunts bring,” said Miranda, who feels happiest and loves when she’s active and physically doing something.
“I never know what I’ll be called to do. You have to bring your A game, always have to be on your toes,” she said. “I love that — I can’t imagine doing anything else.”
“It gets pretty hectic at times because actors get multiple takes, (where) stunts usually get one take, especially the more detailed ones,” Rege said. “You have to get it right the first time.”
One take stunts are those with multiple camera angles like high falls, fire burns and crashes, according to Rege.
For more information about Reel Time Stunts, contact Rege at RTSMatt@Yahoo.com.