The Fifth Annual Taurus World Stunt Awards Made a Huge Splash

Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson greets a flaming stuntman on the red carpet at the Taurus World Stunt Awards

The Bunraku Puppet Fight introduces Best Fight 2005 Taurus World Stunt Awards - Show Paramount Studios Los Angeles, California United States September 25, 2005
Photo by John Shearer/WireImage.com

The stars were out and the action was in full force at this year’s Taurus World Stunt Awards held on the Paramount Pictures Lot on September 25. Envisioned by Red Bull® Energy Drink founder Dietrich Mateschitz, the Taurus World Stunt Awards honor the stunt professionals with their highest reward, the Taurus.

September 2005 (Newstream) -- The stars were out and the action was in full force at this year’s Taurus World Stunt Awards held on the Paramount Pictures Lot on September 25. Envisioned by Red Bull® Energy Drink founder Dietrich Mateschitz, the Taurus World Stunt Awards honor the stunt professionals with their highest reward, the Taurus. Quentin Tarantino, Sylvester Stallone and Vic Armstrong were honored for their significant contributions to the world of action films. Action movie star Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson entertained the crowd.

“The 2005 Taurus World Stunt Awards is all about acknowledging the brave men and women of the stunt community who put their lives on the line and are the backbone of Hollywood,” explained Rock. “Tonight, we recognize them, honor them and show them the respect they deserve.”

The show with its extraordinary stage design set a new standard by playing with the theme of water and creating a "floating" atmosphere. The opener with rap icon ‘Busta Rhymes’ and lots of live stunts including a high fall from a 95 feet high crane thrilled the crowd: Boat stunts, sharks, splashes and explosions amazed the audience with the likes of Arnold Schwarzenegger, Quentin Tarantino, Michelle Rodriguez, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Men from CSI: Dennis Hopper, Sylvester Stallone, Daryl Hannah, Lee Majors, Rosario Dawson , Robert Rodriguez, Paul Walker, Hulk Hogan, Mr. T, Rose McGowan, Clifton Collins Jr, Emmanuelle Chriqui and Kiefer Sutherland among many others.
The Show will be broadcasted worldwide in more than 100 countries and viewed by over a billion people.

Of course, the main reason behind the award show is to honor the industries' stunt professionals:

THE WINNERS

Best Fight
Kill Bill 2
Monica Staggs, Zoe Bell

Best Fire
The Punisher
Mark Chadwick

Best High Work
Starsky & Hutch
Greg Fitzpatrick

Best Vehicle
Bourne Supremacy
Martin Ivanov, Darrin Prescott, Chris O’Hara, Scott Rogers, Victor Ivanov, Kevin Scott, Graham Kelly

Best Overall Stunt by a Stunt Woman
Kill Bill 2
Monica Staggs and Zoe Bell

Best Overall Stunt by a Stunt Man
Spiderman 2
Chris Daniels, Michael Huggins

Specialty Stunt
Taxi
Debbie Evans, Jill Brown, Christine Baur, Henry Kingi, Gil Combs, Tony Penillo, Spencer Sano, Corey Eubanks

Best Action in a Foreign Film
Der Clown
Christopher Domanski (Action Concept, Germany)

Coordinator/2nd Unit Director
Bourne Supremacy
Dan Bradley

Honorary Awards
Action Movie Director: Quentin Tarantino
Action Movie Star: Sylvester Stallone

Lifetime Achievement Award
Vic Armstrong

On top of all the dramatic entrances, death-defying stunts and enthused award winners, the show was filled with heart and respect as Lifetime Achievement Awards were handed out.

Jeannie Epppers was proud to give the Taurus for the coveted Action Movie Director of the Year to Quentin Tarantino. During the last two years, he was nominated five times at the Taurus World Stunt Awards for his Kill Bill series. This year, Kill Bill 2 also won the desired Taurus for Best Fight and Best Overall Stunt by a Woman.

“This is so cool!” exclaimed Tarantino. “I wanted to win this award so much. I have an awards shelf, but it needs to get bigger now. I think this is hands down the biggest award that is given out!”

2005 Taurus World Stunt Awards Foundation Grant

This year Marty Murray has been selected to receive the 2005 Taurus World Stunt Awards Foundation Grant. Started by a donation from the founder of Red Bull Energy Drink, Dietrich Mateschitz, the Foundation gives financial grants in the event of a stunt related temporary or permanent disability. The Foundation is perpetuated by annual Taurus World Stunt Awards programming and ongoing fundraising activities. Marty Murray was recently injured by a bucking bronco while working on a commercial. In the stunt, Murray jumped onto the wild horse, bareback, with no reigns. The animal tossed him off and kicked him resulting in a compound fracture which spun his foot around to his knee backwards. Fortunately, Murray is on the way to recover after a little more than a year of physical therapy. In 2004, Murray was nominated for two Taurus Awards for his work in Universal’s "Seabiscuit" in the categories of Best Overall Stunt by a Stuntman and Best Specialty Stunt. His recent work includes "Paparazzi", "Domino", "Pirates of the Caribbean", "The Curse of the Black Pearl" and "Spiderman II".

“Being a stuntman is physically very demanding so when you’re injured it's emotionally tougher than anything I could ever have imagined. After my injury, I looked at my leg and not only could I not feel half of it anymore, I couldn't see myself being the stuntman I once was. It was only through the help of my friends such as Rex Reddick, Tad Griffith, Cliff McLaughlin, Casey O'Neil, Buddy "Love,” George Ruge, Dan Bradley, Billy Lucas, Vic Armstrong, Lisa Hoyle, The Picerni's, The PSA and my wife Kori that I have realized much more that stunts aren't about your physical abilities it's about the person you are inside and keeping a positive attitude in life," explained Murray. It is through this Fund that I see first hand that even when it looks like you are at rock bottom, something comes around to bring you back up.”

For more information please go to:
www.taurusworldstuntawards.com or office.europe@taurusworldstuntawards.com.

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