Jocelyn Clarke

Jocelyn Clarke was born in Waterloo, Ontario, Canada. She would later move to Vancouver, British Columbia to pursue her dream to be a kick ass stunt performer. In 1998, Jocelyn would get her first big break doing on a film called FUTURESPORT opposite Dean Cain, Vanessa Williams, and Wesley Snipes. Her role would be actress/stunt performer in the role of Park. And that was only the beginning.


Joceyln's drive, ambition, and incredible work ethic would make her stand out and keep her working. She would appear as a stunt performer in televsion and made for television movies - HAPLESS, NIGHT MAN, and SECRET AGENT MAN - before landing a stunt performing gig in the scary death comes a'knocking thriller, FINAL DESTINATION. You don't often get to see a real life action hero, Jocelyn was of the ilk that super hero stories come from and this was just while she was doing what she loved - creating amazing action sequences on film and television.


From her start in 1998, Jocelyn would be constantly working. Her brazen and ballsy attitude would make her a first pick for all sorts of 'crazy shit' production would require of her stunt performers. You can see her brilliant work in films and shows like: DEAD LIKE ME, SMALLVILLE, ANDROMEDA, V, BONES, ROLLERBALL, FREDDY GOT FINGERED, THE A-TEAM, and 30 DAYS OF NIGHT: DARK DAYS.



In November of 2009, Jocelyn was diagnosed with the rarest and most aggressive form of lung cancer. This bleak sentence would have crushed a lesser human being, but Jocelyn's light and strength could never be extinguished. She didn't slow down for a second but rather used the diagnosis to fight even harder. I must say this before moving on, the sense of community and love and respect in the Vancouver film scene floors me time and time again. These are some of the highest quality of people and talent the whole world over. Jocelyn was not alone in her fight, the community was there to fight beside her.

"Thank you to my friend Charlie Bewley who plays Demetri in the Twighlight series for auctioning his Twighlight t-shirts in Germany to support my struggle. Of all the causes he could have chosen to support he approached me. In May he is running an ultramarathon here in Vancouver to continue to help raise funds! We will be cheering each other on, (i aint runnin) You are an incredible man Charlie. I'm so greatful!" -Jocelyn Clarke

"My dad's hockey team The Waterloo Aging Bulls created a calendar to support myself the Canadian Cancer Society. Amazing group of men and women worked their butts off (hint) to make this happen. It's hilarious! One way or another we all have been touched by this insidious disease and your purchase of this calendar will help find a cure. Beware: bare butts. Haha!" -Jocelyn Clarke

Fight? The costs for her treatment were in the excess of forty five thousand dollars. This was just the cost for one year. Charity events, auctions, and donations were created to help support Jocelyn. She always stayed positive and strong and handled her situation with good humor. As a person who has had that horrible fucking disease touch my life too, I know what a challenge that can be. Fuck cancer. Absolutely. Not even the rarest, most aggressive form could slow this woman down.

"Kit breaks his neck and leg and the day after I was diagnosed with terminal cancer. How fucked up is that. We are doing well now."
-Jocelyn Clarke

One of Jocelyn's dreams in her stunt work was to do a full body burn. It's like the stunt to do. Yes, there is an element of danger as there is with all and any stunt, but when done by a group of trained professionals that sense of danger is greatly diminished and that stunt is visually spectacular. A couple weeks ago, that dream was turned into reality when David Barkes (SPFX Coordinator), Dustin Brook, and Colin Decker (Fire guys) came together to set this badass chick on fire. These are also the sensational and wonderful people who made the full body burn in DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK possible.

Below is the clip of the burn - where Jocelyn moves around serenely like being set on fire is no big. For her, it was one of many huge things she would accomplish in her inspirational life. She did it with panache, she did it with class, she did it with a 'fuck cancer' shirt on.

"A major item on my bucket list has been fulfilled. I really wanted to do a full body burn. For those that don't know, I was a stuntwoman. This is a shot of a fire burn I did wearing the Fuck Cancer t-shirt from a non profit organization. When the project is finished I will post it. It was shot in 2D and 3D. It is comedic to those who have a sense of tumor. :-D Alot of dear friends are making this happen for me. I am so very greatful to them." -Jocelyn Clarke

On February, 14th, 2011 - this past Monday - Jocelyn passed away in the afternoon. She did not lose her fight with cancer and I will share the heartfelt, beautiful words by Kit Mallet who was there for her battle and the end:

Jocelyn Clarke

Passed away Monday Afternoon February 14th 2011 after being diagnosed with the rarest, most aggressive form of lung cancer in November of 2009.

We have all heard the saying "Lost the fight against cancer". Well, Jocelyn certainly did not lose. To lose is to not appreciate those moments, to not challenge the odds and to not surround yourself with love. She did win the fight! For her entire stunt career she wanted to be set on fire and two weeks ago we were able to make that dream come alive. For that moment the cancer did not exist! It also did not exist during all the charity events put on for her... It was pure joy and love she felt. We had been planning a dream vacation and in all those moments she felt excitement and happiness. Cancer was not an thought. I was taught a great lesson from her as well as many other friends I am sure. Enjoy life, make today count, and don't forget to say to your loved ones "I love you!".

On Thursday evening Jocelyn was rushed to the hospital. I met the ambulance at the entrance of emergency. Her breathing was labored and she was exhausted. Over the following three days she realized that this was her time. Just after midnight on Monday she opened her eyes and smiled. She asked me if her brother arrived from Ontario yet. She was so close to her passing and I told her to hold on and that he was half an hour away. Matthew finally arrived and she was able to see him. The rest of her time with loved ones was peaceful. Throughout the whole time her father Ron Clarke was by her bedside. "Mikey" (as Joce called him) Mike Desabrais and Johnna Sparrow Crawford were Pillars of strength as well for her. My apologies for not naming everyone but you know who you are!

Jocelyn discovered how many beautiful people there were in her life. Not only life long friends but others who came in after her diagnosis. Many offered to drive her to treatments, or simply to share a smile with. On behalf of Jocelyn I would like to extend my heartfelt thanks to all of you who made her final months "the time of her life"....

Kit Mallet....

I had never met the woman, but I have heard stories about her through the community. She was a beacon of strength and had a vibrance about her that couldn't be stopped by anyone. May you rest in peace, Jocelyn Clarke. Thank you for being a real life badass that we girls can dream to emulate.

~Sylv

Betty Thomas

Behind me, THOMAS FX stands a proud and epic structure.

If you are a Vancouver~ite and have found yourself inside, you were undoubtedly treated to being in the company of some of the finest expendable supplies, pyrotechnics, artificial snow effects, custom breakaway glass, and mechanical effects rental equipment that you could have ever dreamed of. During their Christmas season they transform their space into a winter wonderland that makes even the most adamant of Scrooges overcome with child like wonderment. If you prefer to tread on the dark side like yours truly, you'll have to drop by Halloween time for a display that will make you feel like you just wandered into a Tim Burton film.

However, you may not instantly recognize the woman above and you very much should. Betty Thomas is a living legend in the film industry. Whether you realize it or not, you know her work.

In addition to helping to establish the Thomas name as the premiere special effects company in Canada and supporting dramatic effects for successful film projects around the world, she was the first female stunt performer, first female stunt coordinator, and first female 2nd unit director in Canada. She even trained the incredible Melissa Stubbs. She's worked on countess films with some of the biggest directors and actors in the world. Her credits include well over 50 films.

Betty has been recognized nationally by her peers as "Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year" for her contribution to the local economy, and received the international "Ambassador's Award" from Canada's Ambassador to the United States, in Washington DC.


Betty also received the "Award of Merit" from the British Columbia Film Commission for her "Contribution to the Development of the BC Film Industry", and several awards from the North Vancouver Chamber of Commerce for "Business Excellence"... for "Innovation", and for "Best Business".

Betty is a member of the International Women's Business Forum, an Honorary Lifetime Member of Canadian Women in Film & Video, and a long standing judge for the annual Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards.

And yet I had to struggle to even find a photo of her.

I hate to think that many of you are hearing her name for the first time, but I am honored to be able to showcase the woman whose invaluable contributions to the film industry has paved the way for countless others. She is a truly remarkable human being who can teach us all a lot about business, perseverance, and strength.

Thank you, Betty, most humbly, for being an inspirational pioneer in the film world and making us all work a little harder in hopes of coming anywhere close to the bar you've set so very high.

~Jen

Melissa Stubbs

"I am what I do" - Melissa Stubbs

Talk about women in the world of stunts and it's only a matter of minutes before her name comes up. Talk about the men and her name still comes up within minutes. There are specific stunts only she can do. She was worked on over a hundred and fifty films and she started by busting her ass for free. That's right. At the age of 17, this Vancouver-born would show up to any and all productions filming in the city and volunteer her services. There is a lot of sacrifice if you want to break into this industry and it seems like she could have written the book on it.


It didn't matter whether it was pouring rain (you may have heard about the rain up here - it's all true), it didn't matter what the stunt was - or if she would just be helping the stunt team or working as an extra, it didn't matter that she had to work out and train extremely hard everyday - nothing stopped her. She knew what she wanted to do and she set out to work hard and get it. She is the one and only, Melissa Stubbs.


Kick boxing, running the Grouse Grind (for those of you not familiar with Vancouver, it is on Grouse Mountain, it is pretty much straight up the side of a very steep mountain - kind of like what the cenobites would recommend), horse back riding, motorcross, and jetskiing are how she rigorously trained to be the best. She spent everything on expensive equipment to train more - to be a stunt driver, to have the skills to pull off extreme stunts, and to put herself in the best possible shape and skill level to do what she loved. And it payed off. Her dedication and work ethic got noticed by BC pioneer stuntwoman, Betty Thomas. She would later give Melissa one of her first big stunt jobs - falling out of a top window of the Vancouver Art Gallery while doubling for Donna Mills.

”She was always turning up on set and I used to wonder, ‘isn’t this girl going to leave us alone?’ She had a mission and wasn’t going to give up no matter what. I admired her tenacity, and knew that she was going to succeed.” -Betty Thomas (on Melissa Stubbs)

The first stunt job she landed was doubling for Kelly Hu in FRIDAY THE 13TH PART 8 and that was just the start. It's her training, professionalism, and drive that kept her working. She has since worked on films like: KNIGHT MOVES, ALIVE, LOOK WHOSE TALKING NOW?, TIMECOP, LEGENDS OF THE FALL, ASSASSINS, JUMANJI, HAPPY GILMORE, BORDELLO OF BLOOD, ROMEO + JULIET, DANTE'S PEAK, BATMAN & ROBIN, DISTURBING BEHAVIOR, LAKE PLACID, DOUBLE JEOPARDY, FINAL DESTINATION, ROMEO MUST DIE, DUETS, THE SIXTH DAY, SAVING SILVERMAN, ALONG CAME A SPIDER, X2, BONES, FINAL DESTINATION 2, THE LAST SUMARI, NEW YORK MINUTE, SCOOBY DOO 2, RESIDENT EVIL: APOCALYPSE, ELEKTRA, MR & MRS. SMITH, LAND OF THE DEAD, X-MEN: THE LAST STAND, JOHN TUCKER MUST DIE, FIDO, FF2: RISE OF THE SILVER SURFER, GOOD LUCK CHUCK, RUSH HOUR 3, WAR, X-FILES: I WANT TO BELIEVE, THE DAY THE EARTH STOOD STILL, YOUTH IN REVOLT, 2012, INCEPTION, and SALT - just to name a few.


She has since teamed up with colleague and friend Mike “Mitch” Mitchell to form M&M Stunt Rentals and M&M Studio Services. Does that name sound familiar? Well, M&M Studios were kind enough to let us film parts of DEAD HOOKER IN A TRUNK at their location. If you have worked in Vancouver in film, you've at least heard of how instinctively and generously Melissa gives back to the film community. I have yet to meet this remarkable woman, but I have been on set in her home when she donated it as a location to a friend (our teacher who even came on to coordinate on DHIAT, the Lauro 'Lash' Chartrand) to film in. Badass and kind.

You can see her and her work making the coolest and best sequences in films. You also can check her out on her site - ACTIONGIRLFILMS.COM.


She is the queen of ass-kicking, taking hard knocks, doing the 'impossible', and creating memorable 'holy shit' sequences in films that you'll be rewinding to watch over and over again as a 2 Unit Director, Stunt Coordinator, Fight Choreographer, and Stunt Performer. In closing, Melissa Stubbs rocks. Hard. Maybe the rewinding commence.

~Sylv

Look Mom, It's The Best DHIAT Review Ever!

In our lives, there are moments that are just cool.

Moments that take you away from your shitty day job, that cunt that was a cunt to you, screaming kids, ailing loved ones, mountains of bills, or whatever form of suck you have to deal with. Yesterday after working til the wee hours we found that there was a new review up for 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk' by Zach Shildwachter of www.bloodsprayer.com. It was so beyond cool, that we are still smiling about it today. It was so rad that I was tempted to call my mom, but 2am is never the best time to call.


Firstly, Zach has an extremely entertaining and articulate style of writing. His word usage and analogies are fucking hilarious and hip. Secondly, he knew his shit inside and out on the crew, cameos, music, production, stunts, and everything about the film inside and out. Incredibly insightful, thoughtful, and in depth review. It gives you a real insider feel to what it's like to make a low budget indie with such a kick ass team.

If you haven't seen the film yet, are wondering what it's like -- check out his kick ass review here. If you dig what you hear and want to support this indie horror pass it along.


Who was on the team that made 'Dead Hooker in a Trunk'? Some of the most talented, genuinely rad, hard working people you could ever hope to get to work on your set. It's not everyday that you find such a level of talent come behind such a crazy idea.








Thank you for all the emails and messages regarding screenings and screening requests. That deceased slut might be coming to a venue near you soon! If not, let us know and we'll do our best to get it there.

Your friendly neighbourhood (because in Canada we put in a 'u') Twisted Twins,
~Jen and Sylv