14 DAY TRIAL // If you think of the ‘90s, when the concept of action star began to take a more concrete form, we had enough of them to fit on the fingers of both hands: Stallone, Schwarzenegger, Van Damme, Lundgren, etc. All the other male stars were just “actors” and, even if they too did action movies every once in a while, they didn’t have to play by the same rules as regards their body as these guys.
These bona fide action stars had bulging muscles and bulging veins, were skilled in the martial arts, and could wield a weapon like a true soldier and not get killed in the process. Their careers also included, at best, a handful of comedies and some “serious” attempts at acting so that, even today, they’re still held in high regard for their roles in action movies.
I’m overgeneralizing a bit, but it’s with the purpose of illustrating how things have changed in today’s cinema. Today, every actor can become an action star as long as he’s willing to put his body (and himself, mentally, emotionally) through hell to transform himself into one.
Sure, we still have 100 percent action stars (Jason Statham’s name comes to mind) but, more often than not, we have actors who strive to break into this niche and who are willing to do whatever it takes to achieve this.
Think of the most recent releases in theaters, “Pompeii,” “Hercules,” “Captain America: The Winter Soldier,” “X-Men: Days of Future Past,” or some of the older ones, “300,” “Prince of Persia,” “The Dark Knight Rises.” What they all have in common is the fact that the male lead is ripped to the point where his body is unrecognizable from how it was before the film came out.
There’s an entire industry around this type of roles, with celebrity trainers like Gunnar Peterson and Harley Pasternak, two of the most expensive, in-demand, and efficient trainers on actors’ payroll, putting their clients through hell for up to 3 months before the film starts shooting. Books and news articles are written, supplements sold, and workout routines advertised: in other words, money is being made.
Today, production of a film unerringly includes the few months of intensive training for the role, during which time the actor sleeps, eats, and sweats with his personal trainer until he’s as fit, lean, and imposing as the role demands of him.
Sometimes, these transformations take their toll on the actors’ body but it’s not like they have a choice or a say in the matter. Where the likes of Marlon Brando famously wore a wifebeater two sizes too small to come across as more physically imposing on screen, today’s leading men have to look perfect for when the moment comes to take their shirt or even all their clothes off.
And make no mistake about it, this moment does come, whether it’s a furtive shot of his ripped buttocks, or a more shameless, longer look at his pecs and abs, or an R-rated love scene that presents his entire body for the viewer’s viewing pleasure. Training for the role is customized to fit the shooting schedule and peak when said scene is supposed to be shot.
Of course, on-set lighting and makeup also help but, in most cases, what we see in those few seconds of screentime is the result of at least 2 months of a regime of training and dieting many of us would not even dream of taking up.
Indeed, women are more objectified on the big screen than men (more on that next week, I promise), but that’s not to say it doesn’t happen to the guys too. If anything, looking ripped so that they can be paraded on camera is now part of their contract, a prerequisite for being a versatile actor and, yes, action star.
As noted above, they don’t really have a choice: first off, they’re paid millions to do it; secondly, they can always be replaced by someone younger, more eager to climb the ladder and to put in the effort. When these two pressuring forces come together, today’s actor has no choice but to play by the rules.
Peterson says in a recent piece in Men’s Journal on this topic: “Great, you're a good-looking dude and you can act. Now take off your shirt. All of a sudden you go, ‘Oh, maybe you can be the friend.’ Or: ‘We'll do an indie film’.”
And let’s be serious: as much critical acclaim as you could get by playing a supporting role or giving your best in an indie flick, that’s not where the big money is.