Add
producer, director, stunt coordinator and fitness guru to his titles
and you begin to glimpse the life fashioned by Caballero, who grew up
in Downers Grove and lived in Woodridge after military service, before
heading to the big city.
With “The Dark Knight” blasting box
office records, he’s already looking forward to the release of Johnny
Depp’s 2009 film, “Public Enemies,” in which Depp takes a turn as 1930s
gangster John Dillinger, and Caballero plays the FBI agent who arrests
his girlfriend, played by this year’s Oscar winner for best actress,
Marion Cotillard.
Now comes the wait to see if his scene
survives the editing process. Caballero shares a look at the reality
behind the movie magic.
Q: What’s been the reaction to your “Dark Knight” role?
A:
I get constant text messages quoting my dialogue from friends and
family, which I think is great. I was very lucky. Several of my friends
that were in the movie got cut in the final version, and the original
role I auditioned for as a SWAT leader was cut as well.
Q: What was director Christopher Nolan like at your audition?
A:
He’s a very intense man to audition for and doesn’t say anything. The
casting agent advised, ‘You know Chris likes to see the intensity in
the eyes. Make sure you keep that in mind.’
Q: And how about during the shoot?
A:
He’s very smooth ... I think one of the best. ... calm and collected.
He gave me extra dialogue, but they cut it out. It didn’t need to be in
the film, and as an editor and filmmaker myself, I understand totally
why. It’s an incredibly well-made film and, in my opinion, more
psychological thriller than action movie.
Q: Did you attend the movie’s opening?
A:
I attended the world premiere in New York City, and it was a dream come
true. Walking down the black carpet was a high point in my life as an
actor in such a huge film. The evening opened with Hans Zimmer
performing live ‘The Dark Knight’ theme song and ended with a tribute
to Heath Ledger.
Q: What draws you to making short films?
A:
(You) shoot short films to get them into film festivals and feature
everybody. Hopefully that will lead into feature film work or to
co-produce to make bigger films. You do it for different reasons. It’s
a gamble. The reason I do them is to feel that energy with the crew and
cast day in and out making movies. For me, that’s everything. When I
was a kid, my father had an old video camera and we had a video
cassette recorder and I found another — that became my editing studio,
and I used it to shoot little short films. I’m doing a short film next
about vampires. I’ll be stunt coordinating on that. Vampires will be
hanging from cables in front of a green screen.
Q: What was your most recent stunt work?
A:
We just did a short about a hitwoman. I was stunt coordinator. That
film had a big shoot-out scene at Excalibur with lots of guns, blood
hits and action. We did an assassination scene in Millennium Park that
had no guns, but a lot of martial arts.
Q: What was it like working on ‘Witless Protection’?
A:
It starred Larry the Cable Guy. (The stunt coordinator) is one of the
best in the country. I learned a lot from him. I was an FBI agent. Talk
about a crazy move. Yaphet Kotto was a blessing to me. He grew up with
Marlon Brando and is a good friend of Clint Eastwood. Sharing stories
with Yaphet Kotto gave me an edge on how to manifest my hunger for
(acting and directing) and go for it.
Q: What was your ‘Public Enemies’ experience?
A:
I got to meet Johnny Depp. It was his birthday, and the energy on the
set was unbelievable. I had a one-day job on that. (Director) Michael
Mann put me in a great spot as an escort to the police car. Working
with Michael Mann was amazing. He’s directed some of my favorite films;
he’s a fantastic action movie director. (In the scene), I carry a BAR
(Browning automatic rifle), biggest weapon on the set. I’m a former
Marine; I think I know how to hold it. He told me, ‘You’re holding the
weapon in the modern (manner), but it’s in the 1930s.’ I learned a lot
as an aspiring director.
Q: What keeps you energized?
A: I have a lot of people in my life who are hungry and passionate about filmmaking. It’s a great feeling.
Q: What are some of your other projects?
A:
My Ground Pound Fitness camp. It keeps me in shape. I run two sessions
a day, and we do all kinds of military training and resistance training
and guerilla cardio training.
I also work with my fiancee, a
therapist for autistic children. (He said their LEEP into the ARTS
program blends visual arts, music, theater and dance with therapy.)
These kids are coming out of their shell, communicating better,
learning social skills. It has been a blessing.
To support
the therapy project, which is a joint venture between LEEP Forward and
Chicago Danztheatre Ensemble, a fundraiser is planned Friday evening,
Sept. 19, at the Chicago Society for Arts. Visit leepforward.com for
details.
For more on Caballero and his work, including a prize-winning documentary, check out his Web site at www.joecaballero.com.
