Leap of faith

>> Stuntman extraordinaire takes inspiration from Scientology

by CHRIS BARRY

Name: Jere Gillis

Occupation: Stuntman

Age: 43

Income: Six figures!

Years spent in stuntman school: 0

Bio: After a youth spent playing hockey, this heaping hunk of manhood ended up in the NHL where he struggled for six seasons before leaving for a career in Europe as a player/coach. Returning to Montreal in '93, his pro hockey days behind him, a disheartened Jere worked in the exciting and fulfilling world of home renovations, but nevertheless felt empty and purposeless. At around the same time in his life, Jere, a brave guy "who likes to take impossible tasks and find a way to make them work," stumbled across both Scientology and the idea for a new career as a stuntman. A determined buck, he has been working steadily in his field for a little over three years now. In top physical condition, Jere says he is happy to be out of hockey and working in a profession "where he is not always in hospital emergency wards or doctors' waiting rooms."

Was he one of those weird teenagers who tried to impress chicks by doing daredevil stunts like popping wheelies on the railing of the Jacques Cartier Bridge? No.

Do any of those stupid kids ever grow up to work as pro stuntmen? Some do, but they are usually guys who you don't want to work alongside. They can be dangerous.

His speciality stunts: 1) Forty-five-foot jumps off of high buildings. 2) Getting blown up.

Serious injuries he's acquired on the job: None so far.

Is there much work in the film business for handicapped stuntmen? Not really.

How often directors try to push him into doing dangerous stunts that he's not so sure about: More often than he would like.

Worst part of the job: Sitting around a movie set for 14 hours doing nothing and then, at the very end of the day, when he is tired and least expecting it, somebody decides it's time for him to jump off a building or be set on fire.

First book read: Dianetics, by L. Ron Hubbard, was the book that inspired Jere to start reading. Prior to Dianetics, Jere never read because he would come across too many words that he didn't understand and the whole process would just put him to sleep. Dianetics held such a powerful message that it encouraged Jere to buy a dictionary and learn those words he hadn't understood. Now he reads a great deal.

Last book read: Fundamentals of Thought, by L. Ron Hubbard

Favourite recent film: The Matrix. Jere doesn't like "neurotic films" or films about people's problems. "Everybody has problems. I don't need to hear about other people's shit."

Favourite watering hole: Nowhere. Jere no longer drinks. "When I was playing hockey, we always ended up in bars. But I couldn't stand it after a while, listening to people yap about the same story every half hour. Alcohol makes everything stupid."

Is his sister a celebrated dancer? Yes--Margie Gillis.

Philosophy: "Be honest. Always give back more than you are given." :

Comments? dimwit@openface.ca