(Kelly Greyson, photo courtesy of Press Here)
Meet Kelly Greyson! This actress, fitness star, stuntwoman, and humanitarian stars alongside Jesse Metcalfe, Bruce Willis, and Chad Michael Murray in the exciting new action film “Fortress.” Greyson does all of her own stunts and honestly loves it that way. Staying right in the middle of all of the action is exactly how she wants it. Living on the edge with the stunt work as well as putting all her energy and creativity into getting the perfect shots while filming is right up her alley.
Not only is this talented actress passionate about filmmaking, but she also devotes a good amount of her time to giving back. She wants to inspire others to think about what their impact is. What is that person’s impact on the planet? What is that impact on people’s lives, animals, and so many other options.
The trailer catches the attention of any action film lover, and the description adds more to the excitement.
It takes place at a high-end resort that is a cover for a secret military compound hiding compromised agents. In this dazzling action flick, Bruce Willis plays Robert, a retired CIA agent living at the top-secret “Fortress” in the jungle who faces a team of revenge seeking mercenaries.
Colleen Bement: Thank you very much for taking time out for this interview. Let’s start out by chatting about your exciting new film “Fortress.” My first question is what was the atmosphere like on the set?
Kelly Greyson: Filming was such a good experience. I really enjoyed it. Honestly, everything from the cast to the crew, and it was located in Puerto Rico. I was totally okay with that. Everybody was super professional, and there was that Puerto Rican kind of lay back mixed with the intensity of cramming a film into way too much action in too short a time. It was a really, really great experience. It was intense and challenging in lots of ways for all the actors and everyone involved. I love challenges, so it was good.
CB: Were there challenges during the filming?
KG: So many things, actually. I think with the recent health environment, there are all kinds of new and complicating factors and everyone trying to cram so much filming into a very short time period. As an actor, you’re just cramming, just like cramming for an exam. There’s so much dialog and so much action all into a much shorter time period than what is normal. Also, because I do all of my own stunts, which I love so much, and is probably the thing I love the most about this film is being able to do all of the action.
KG: As soon as I get to set, I get all the context for the stunts. I love the stunt coordinator–my new best friend. Every single spare chance I had, I would get with the stunt coordinator. Work with me on this, what’s the fight sequence, what’s the choreography on this. It’s learning authentic movement so that it can be really dialed in because we had multiple times where a scene that should have taken 8 hours to film, and now the day took too long, and the sun started setting, and now it’s raining. Well, if we don’t get it today, we’re not getting it. Are you up for it? Everybody just jumps in with whatever they had. I was always prepared. When you add in the stunts and all that choreography and don’t have a stunt double, it’s next-level performance. You need to be ready. Challenges but lots of fun.
CB: Stunt work amazes me. How do you keep yourself from getting hurt?
KG: There are definitely injuries. Every time. It’s one of those things that it’s just par for the course. I’ve always been a tomboy. I was never really afraid of that. I’ve always been an athlete–played football with the boys, that kind of thing. But you have to make sure that you don’t get too hurt. I generally end up bleeding and having bruises after every day. It’s just part of it, though I will say generally speaking, with the stunt crew, when you have enough time opposite a stunt double, there are less injuries. It is something that you just take into consideration. It’s kind of nice in a way because it puts you in the moment of reality. You’re actually fighting. You’re actually defending yourself with blocking and all those types of things. There’s also an element of protecting and taking care of the person that I’m fighting, and making sure that I get that exact place of the hit to make sure there are no injuries. It’s a lot. There’s a whole lot going on.
CB: I’m sure that you have an incredible workout regimen, but do you do any MMA to stay in shape or to work on your fighting skills?
KG: Actually, I don’t as a typical routine. I’ve done some in workouts, but I don’t do it on a regular basis. Generally when I’m on set is when I jump back into it. For multiple roles, I do fight sequences and swordplay. Generally, I start training on set. I have really good muscle memory–like when you grow up riding a bike, you know how to ride a bike. For me, if I watch other people and watch the movement, and watch the stunt double, I’ll study those movements and film myself and film myself and watch. Thinking through the muscle movements is actually really effective, and watching somebody else and trying to replicate that. I’ve been just so grateful to work with so many great stunt coordinators. They’re the unsung heroes. They’re willing to take all the hits, all of the time. They don’t get enough appreciation, for sure.
CB: Let’s switch gears. I know that this film is going to be a trilogy, which is super exciting, but besides the Fortress films, do you have another project in the works that you’re allowed to tell us about? There are two films coming up. I don’t have anything locked in, but they have very exciting casts, so stay tuned.
CB: Tell us about the charitable work that you do and the new nonprofit that you’re starting up.
KG: Ultimately, at the end of the day, not only is it inspiring, it changes your life as an individual when you change somebody else’s. I think it’s also healing. I love to involve people and tell people about it. If you can make that perspective shift from my day is bad, I’m hurting, this happened to me, too, you know, you know what, this is how it feels. I don’t want anybody else to feel that way.
How can I help somebody who’s going through this? How can I change somebody else’s life? How can I feed the hungry or the hurting? So the thing for me to spend such an unbelievable gift is to be able to highlight heroes around the world, and I love to travel. I’ve been all over the place. Even these past two years it just never stops. To be able to find those heroes–those people who are truly heroic, who’s doing the right thing when nobody’s looking. Loving the invisible, and the hurting on a daily basis, not because there is any affirmation in it, but just because their heart is pure.
This kind of organization that’s sustainable, it’s replicable, it’s something that’s ongoing. It’s not a huge–monstrous organization that the people who really need it are so far down the line. It’s ins inspiring to see how much you can love with so little, and change lives in a monumental way.
CB: How do you take care of yourself mentally and emotionally? How do you take time out for yourself?
KG: I would say that I can do better, but definitely find that I have a need to recharge. For me, honestly, I really love shooting: Modeling. Even though I do it for work, it’s also something that I really enjoy. It’s kind of therapeutic for me. I would also say that if I could just get in the ocean and freedive and be underwater, you get into this whole other mental state. The beach and the ocean is kind of a need, I feel like.
Also, words and thoughts are so important like I declare. I declare truth. I speak. I speak life. I speak love. I speak what it is that I want to see in my life. And also being aware. Being aware of where your brain is going, and being aware of where your thoughts are going. Most recently, I’ve literally just started telling myself what I love about myself. I look at myself in the mirror and tell myself, I love this character quality, I love this integrity. I try to do that for myself and for other people.
CB: I love that.
KG: You have to do it. Look at yourself and say those things. Those things that you know about yourself that maybe nobody else does, but they’re beautiful and amazing. I think you start having that frequency, and the more you affirm and declare positivity, truth, light, love, I think the more you’ll attract those things into your life.
When I’m having a hard day or a down day, I’m always like God, help me with this. One day I was walking along the beach and I was dealing with something, and I was like, help me with this. Literally, a leaf washed up in the perfect shape of a heart. There were no trees anywhere to be seen, and this leaf washed up right next to my feet, and I was okay. It’s going to be okay. I think what you look for is what you’re going to find. If you’re looking for love, you’re going to find more of it. If you’re looking for life or guidance.
CB: I honestly think our readers will love that.
KG: The non-profit (I’m involved with) is called My Impact, and I want to inspire everybody to, and challenge your readers to is to think what What Is My Impact? What is my impact on the planet? What is my impact on other people’s lives, animals, or whatever it is that’s your thing. Nobody can do what you can do. It is as unique as your fingerprint. Only you can leave your mark. What is specific to you that the world needs?
Although Kelly has already been working on this, stay tuned for the official launch of My Impact later this year. It sounds like an inspiring project. And “Fortress” fans can look forward to more action as this is a trilogy in the works. “Fortress 2” will be out this year, and the third installment will be announced soon.
Written by Colleen Bement
Hi, I’m Lynn, and I Make.
Props, Cosplay, Scale Models, Home Projects, and just about anything else that involves me Making.
A positive podcast about video games. Chris and Ashley go over the video games we love. Updated biweekly.
Chris and Lynn
Evan Conroy
Ron Peterson
Join our Patreon family