Episode 118: Interview with Danielle Burgio & Andy Armstrong’s new film, Squealer(Lionsgate)

Triple threat Danielle Burgio transitioned from Broadway dancer, to Hollywood stuntwoman, and now, successful actress / producer. Born in Andrews Airforce Base, Burgio booked her first job only two weeks after moving two New York City, making her Big White Way debut in Starlight Express.

After breaking in her skates on Broadway, Burgio moved to Los Angeles, where she became one of the industry's most sought after stunt women, appearing in over 100 films and TV shows, including fan boy favorites like Blade, Batman Forever, and serving as stunt double to Carrie Ann Moss' iconic 'Trinity' character in the Matrix sequels. Burgio's winning streak continued with a book, 'The Stuntwoman's Workout,' and invitation to co-host TBS' 'Worst Case Scenario,' where, as 'Gear Girl,' she performed some of the most thrilling stunts of her plane-jumping, car-crashing, skyscraper-dangling career, and got the opportunity to display her daredevil skills during appearances from Entertainment Tonight to Good Morning America.

In addition to her career as a top stunt woman, the host of the Women Kick Ass podcast has become a successful actress in her own rite, appearing in nearly 50 credits, most recently stealing the opening scene as 'Soccer Mom' in Zack Snyder's instant cult classic, Army of the Dead. The expert martial artist has also channeled her creativity behind the camera, writing, directing, and producing two short films, Lucy Falls and Girl Trip, which screened at festivals across the US.

orn in England, Andy competed in many forms of two and four wheeled motor sport before entering the movie business. He began his film career in 1972 in England and France as a vehicle stunt performer. Andy's talent was mostly concentrated towards vehicles stunts. Andy decided in 1973 to make use of his organizational skills too and become an assistant film director.

This proved extremely successful and Andy enjoyed a meteoritic rise through the ranks of third, second and eventually first AD to become one of the World's most highly paid AD's. This work took him all over the world. Specializing particularly in very large international productions that involved complex, dangerous and logistically difficult stunts and action sequences, including the three of the largest James Bond films, The Man With The Golden Gun, The Spy Who Loved Me and Moonraker. From 1973 to 1987 Andy worked as an Assistant Director on more than 70 International Movies. As First Assistant Director, Andy's credits include, among many others, Hope and Glory, The Last Place on Earth, Getting it Right, Party Party, Another Country and The Dresser (Both Hope and Glory and The Dresser were nominated for Best Picture Oscars).

With these major credits under his belt, by 1987, Andy once again decided to concentrate on action but this time, creating and directing entire action sequences. This move led Andy to design, coordinate and or direct some of the largest action sequences ever achieved on many international productions. These are typified by the huge (Twelve hundred peo… Read More