Local girl in Hollywood movie
Sitting on a rearing elephant’s back is all in a day’s work for Megan Ourtaev.Article from the GEORGE HERALD, George, South Africa
Thu, 03 February 2011
ARTICLE: PAULINE LOURENS GEORGE NEWS - Working with circus animals and performing daring stunts on horseback as a stunt woman in the soon to be released Hollywood film, Water for elephants, are all part of energetic Megan Matern Ourtaev’s busy life.
She was hired by Sled and Tamara Reynolds of Gentle Jungle in Cali-fornia to work as a stunt woman in the film, but Megan was also given two small parts to play. She appears in the film as a belly dancer and a menagerie man. It was quite a thrill for her to get to know Reese Witherspoon who has the main role in the love story which is enacted in a circus. She taught Witherspoon to do Roman riding which involved standing astride on two horses while cantering. "I found her to be very friendly and easy to work with. Reese is a lovely, kind, professional actress that helps make everyone on set feel right at home.
"Robert Pattinson is also really a cool guy, yet a very shy man who keeps to himself. He asked me a lot of questions about horses and animals," remarked Megan who noticed women swarming around him when they got the chance.
She was hired by Sled and Tamara Reynolds of Gentle Jungle in Cali-fornia to work as a stunt woman in the film, but Megan was also given two small parts to play. She appears in the film as a belly dancer and a menagerie man. It was quite a thrill for her to get to know Reese Witherspoon who has the main role in the love story which is enacted in a circus. She taught Witherspoon to do Roman riding which involved standing astride on two horses while cantering. "I found her to be very friendly and easy to work with. Reese is a lovely, kind, professional actress that helps make everyone on set feel right at home.
"Robert Pattinson is also really a cool guy, yet a very shy man who keeps to himself. He asked me a lot of questions about horses and animals," remarked Megan who noticed women swarming around him when they got the chance.
Megan has grown up on a horse’s saddle.Animal powerMegan, who shows a special affinity with animals and has grown up on a horse’s saddle, helped teach the "liberty" horses to do their circus acts - to lie down and sit up. She rode the Indian elephant and helped control other circus animals like the camel, zebra, and giraffes. This even involved standing poised with a pitch fork and fire extinguisher when it came to moving the big cats like tigers and lions to and from the circus tent.
Whilst working on location Megan wrestled a lama to the ground, much to the amusement of the film extras who applauded spontaneously. This followed a scene in the film where the animals escaped from the circus. This hands-on approach comes naturally to her. Being in tune with animals means you simply are very sensitive to and aware of their moods. They respond to kindness and the animals are rewarded for their performance.
The film, which also stars Christoph Waltz is to be released on 22 April.
At the Reynolds’ Californian ranch, Frazier Park, animals are trained to be used in the film industry. Filming took place in a valley one hour’s drive from Hollywood.read more at: http://www.georgeherald.com/news.aspx?id=3798
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