Building Monster Trucks with The Righteous Gemstones Stunt Coordinator
Cory DeMeyers, the Emmy-nominated supervising stunt coordinator behind The Righteous Gemstones, faced a range of absurd challenges in season three of the HBO comedy about a dysfunctional family running a Southern megachurch. From a nude brawl to an elaborate car chase, there was no shortage of outrageous scenes to tackle. But the wildest of all involved a monster truck named The Redeemer, specially constructed for the occasion. A monster truck is not something to be trifled with.
“You have to constantly remind even the stunt performers and the crew that, ‘Yes, everything’s going great, but let’s not get too comfortable because this is a 12,000-pound killing machine that we’re dealing with on set and we must respect it and its power,” says DeMeyers.
The Righteous Gemstones received two nominations for stunts: one for outstanding stunt coordination for comedy programming and another for outstanding stunt performance for the episode “Burn for Burn, Wound for Wound, Stripe for Stripe.”
In this episode, the Gemstone children are kidnapped, and a deus ex machina moment involving The Redeemer helps secure their escape. The custom-built monster truck was driven by professional driver Ryan Disharoon, who also assisted in its construction.
Despite safety concerns, the Gemstones set allows for spontaneous moments of inspiration. For example, a scene where Jesse attempts a Starsky & Hutch-style slide over a car hood led to a comedic fall that was a hit with the crew.
With a mix of humor and hyperrealistic action, The Righteous Gemstones offers DeMeyers and his team the opportunity to showcase unique stunts not typically seen in other comedies.
Alongside the creative challenges, DeMeyers appreciates the familial environment created by McBride and Rough House Pictures, making the experience of working on the show even more rewarding.
This story first appeared in an August stand-alone issue of The Hollywood Reporter magazine. To receive the magazine, click here to subscribe.