Today we’d like to introduce you to Tripp Pickell.
Tripp, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
In my junior year at West GA College, I joined my first theatre company and gravitated toward acting and stage combat/fight choreography. After graduating, I moved to Los Angeles and continued my acting/fight combo in theatre companies, which has led to actor/stunt actor roles on television and stunt/fight coordinator jobs in the Independent, Short Film, and Webisode circuit.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
When I moved to L.A. over 25 years ago, I was interested in acting and performing/choreographing fight scenes. I was perceived as an actor trying to break into stunts and got a lot of “You gotta pick one or the other” speeches from the stunt community. Wanting to continue to do both, I went off-road and found the groups and projects that didn’t mind my acting/action combo. Because of that, I never got into the major pools of stunts or acting. Now, most stunt performers consider themselves actors, and I have to laugh sometimes about how much that’s changed since I started. Had it been that way 25 years ago, my resume would be triple what it is now. It played out as it did, and because of it, I’m married to my best friend, and we have an awesome Daughter to play with and teach, and I have no regrets! I love my road.
Thanks – so, what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a mix of actor/stunt actor/fight-stunt coordinator. On camera, my specialty is Stunt Acting, mainly on TV shows when some dialogue leads to a fight scene. Off camera, as a fight/stunt coordinator, I’d say my specialty is working with actors who are being asked to perform their own fights/action for the first time. I’m most proud when they carry out their action on set and go home knowing they did something they didn’t think they could do. I’m a bit on the older side of things now. Where most steady-working stunt performers my age want to ease up on the bruises and try their hands at more acting work, I’m doing the opposite and honing in on more stunt performer experiences. It’s not at all how I thought my years out here in LA would have played out, but I’m just now starting to get momentum in that area, and I’m going with it. I’d say that’s what sets me apart from most.
What are your plans for the future?
Since the SAG strike from April to November of 2023, all of my jobs have been stunt/fight coordinator gigs. I’m currently working as a fight choreographer on 2 plays for a middle school and a high school, as well as a stunt/fight coordinator on 4 short films, and I’m looking forward to seeing all of the final products! Due to these recent projects, I’m starting to put together a good group of stunt professionals with different skill sets, fighters, riggers, fire stunt experts, etc. I’m really looking forward to seeing where this will lead us. In addition to all of that, future plans consist of my Wife, Diana Toshiko, and I expanding on what we do, she being an Actress and Photographer, me doing what I do and balancing all of that while raising our 5-year-old Daughter who is just now starting to find her own interests. We’re learning how to harmoniously honor ourselves and each other. It’s a rollercoaster of an experience . . .and I’m loving the ride!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://tripppickell.wixsite.com/stunt-actor
- Instagram: @tripppickell
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/tpickell
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/tripp-pickell-5a068759/
- Other: https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0961547/?ref_=nv_sr_srsg_0_tt_0_nm_1_q_tripp%2520pickell
Image Credits
Toshikophoto
