JASON RODRIGUEZ packs an impressive punch as a stuntman and stunt coordinator. Stunting and/or coordinating on everything from The Last Castle to Antebellum to The Lone Ranger to Django Unchained to Bedazzled, Iron Man and more, his decades of work have allowed him to not only showcase his skills but hone them in multiple disciplines from car chases and bar brawls to extreme stunts and wirework, making him one of the most sought after stuntmen in the business.
Growing up on a working cattle ranch in a rodeo family (his grandfather and father are both in the Pro Rodeo Hall of Fame), cowboying is second nature to Jason. The physical demands of working a cattle ranch and rodeo are perfect training grounds for someone who wants to make a move into film and television and the world of stunts. And while Jason has previously worked on “westerns” like Meek’s Cutoff and 3:10 to Yuma, nothing brings it all home for him like YELLOWSTONE. With the show and doing stunts since Season One, in Season Two, series creator Taylor Sheridan elevated Jason to stunt coordinator, a role which he again tackled in Season Three and the upcoming Season Four.
The stunts in YELLOWSTONE are old school and, as Jason describes them, “down and dirty.” There is plenty of man on man fight action, or man on woman action with Beth Dutton (Kelly Reilly) and ranchhand Teeter (Jen Landon) around, not to mention car chases, car wrecks, trips to the “train station”, shootouts, and more, but what sets YELLOWSTONE apart from the rest, and particularly in Season 3, is that the majority of the stunt work involves cowboying and animals, be they horses, cows or buffalo. And for JASON RODRIGUEZ, it’s all about “choreographing and melding animal brains with human brains to make something work.. . .we just come at you and we just do it.”
And do it he does. In Season 3, we saw midnight buffalo riding and roping, corraling and herding about 100+ horses from one pasture up a hill to another in an all hands on deck “fuck it” move which provides some of the most beautiful and exciting moments you’ll see on screen (and those cowboys you see are the principal actors doing the work – Kevin Costner, Luke Grimes, Cole Hauser, Jefferson White, Ian Bohen, Forrie J. Smith, Denim Richards, Jen Landon, Jake Ream), motorcycle gangs, roping a man driving a truck while the roper is riding a horse racing to catch the truck, bodies getting thrown through plate glass windows, explosions, highway shootouts, and more. One of the most difficult stunt/action sequences in any show this year happens in Episode 9, “Meaner Than Evil” and involves two horses being ridden by legendary western actor Boots Southerland and Brent Walker as they attack the characters of Teeter and Colby (Landon and Richards) who are in a pond and the horses circle them and trample them while Southerland’s and Walker’s characters whip and agitate the water with some horse rear-ups, and all while maintaining the safety of Landon and Richards as well as the horses and Southerland and Walker. This is just one example of the skill that Jason brings to YELLOWSTONE in melding and choreographing man and animal.
I spoke at length in this exclusive conversation with JASON RODRIGUEZ about his work on YELLOWSTONE for Season 3, discussing everything from script to shooting, preparation and planning and prioritizing, working with Taylor Sheridan, casting stuntmen and actor doubles for the rare occasions they are needed as well as going outside the Hollywood-well bringing in those with specific cowboy and rodeo skills, and so much more.
And of course, couldn’t miss the opportunity to ask about Season 4. Like everyone else associated with the show, his lips are sealed on the Season 4 premiere date and what happens after the Season 3 cliffhanger, but Jason did say, “I think the audience is gonna thoroughly enjoy what Taylor has in store for them. My plate was full this last year!”
So, while we await Season 4, just kick back, relax, grab yourself a Yellow Stripe, rewatch Season 3, and. . .
TAKE A LISTEN to this exclusive conversation with stunt coordinator JASON RODRIGUEZ.
by debbie elias, exclusive interview June 17, 2021
