Beruflich Dokumente
Kultur Dokumente
THE
MAN
BEHIND
THE
CHAINSAW
Actor Andr ew
Br yniarski talks
P34
NITRO-
CHARGED
WORKOUTS
P50
TRANSFORM
YOUR BODY
BUILD BIG P30
“Bring it!” mals are a joy,” Bryniarski says. At present they have
three dogs (pomeranians), two cats, an Amazon parrot,
The rhythmic thump of a cane connects with the filthy
several box turtles and four giant African land tortoises.
wooden floor. The wheelchair creaks as the old man
yells yet again at the top of For a man who’s childhood
his lungs, “Bring it, boy!” hero was the nature-loving
John James Audabon,
Then it happens. The roar jumping into character
of a chain saw cuts through required that he delve into
the speakers and the the darkest areas of his
audience jumps as psyche. “I began some
Leatherface charges onto intense character studies on
the screen full bore at the psycho murdering types,”
unsuspecting teenagers. he says. “It’s simple
Three hundred pounds of psychology, this character’s
psycho wielding 35 pounds motivation: Hunt, kill, eat,
of twisting metal rips provide. For necessity first,
through the door and into then followed shortly by
the room. release and sweetened by
revenge.”
He towers above his victims
at an impressive 6’5” and Slipping into Leatherface’s
stares them down behind skin meant placing himself
the eye sockets of a in the right frame of mind.
gruesome mask stitched Bryniarski states that he
together with the skin of didn’t play the character for
victims past. Who is this his likability. The character
creature and what must the is, in Bryniarski’s words, “a
actor playing him do to towering, evil, powerful,
prepare for such a journey? imperfect beast.” He knew
“I was born to wear he needed to play that to
Don’t be fooled. The man
behind the mask may be
the mask.” the hilt and he did what
had to be done. But that
towering, powerful and was only half the journey.
intense, but that is where the similarities end. Actor
Andrew Bryniarski was raised just outside Philadelphia, However daunting the mental challenge of playing
Penn. by his hard-working father and librarian mother. Leatherface, the physical challenges of the role proved
He enjoys music, reading and spending time with his even more strenuous. Bryniarski wasn’t the first choice
wife, Gretchen, and the many animals they have res- to play the part. Another actor was originally slated for
cued together. “She is my love, my sanity and the ani- the performance, but on the first day, during the first
HEAR
take, he fell injured. Not only did the actor misrepresent his
size, he’d now nearly crippled the production by landing in
the hospital. Producer Michael Bay knew of Bryniarski’s
interest in the role early on and made the call.
SEE
latex mask, other days he endured a silicone one, which did
not breathe and contributed to the ever-present problem of
him overheating.
It was in this condition that Bryniarski did all his own stunts.
SPEAK
Years of hard work has made him a versatile actor and “I’m proud of this movie,” Bryniarski says “I promise you
he enjoys the challenge a new roll brings. “Part of what won’t soon forget it.”
I enjoy about the craft of acting is the freedom to segue
38