Karla Souza on Doing Her Own Stunts in Netflix’s Day Shift

The action-packed vampire struggle scenes in Netflix’s “Day Shift” are simply the spotlight of the just-released sci-fi comedy. And whereas the Jamie Foxx-led movie — which additionally stars Dave Franco, Snoop Dogg, and Meagan Good — tapped skilled contortionists and different performers to seize its intense, supernatural magic, one of many film’s different leads was adamant about doing her personal stunts.

Karla Souza, who performs vampire boss/San Fernando Valley actual property agent Audrey in the movie, tells POPSUGAR she insisted to director J.J. Perry that she act out her stunt sequences with none additional help. “I spoke to J.J. earlier than agreeing to do the undertaking, and he liked that I was an athlete. I might do all of the motion stuff . . . I used to be like, ‘I wish to do each single stunt. I do not need any doubles,'” Souza shares. “He was like, ‘Sure, positive,’ after which I made it occur, however I spotted manufacturing will get actually scared with that.”

Souza had a blast enjoying an antagonist in the motion flick. She says the script and her robust vampire character actually inspired her to get on board the movie. She additionally notes that working with Perry on his directorial debut was a way more versatile filming expertise, contemplating his background as a stunt coordinator on motion pictures like “John Wick,” “Iron Man,” and “Django Unchained.”

“He took what we requested and would simply at all times elevate it,” Souza says. “He would inject us with a lot vitality [and] made positive everybody was having enjoyable. He’s such a coach in that means . . . like a little bit child simply enjoying with motion . . . there’s all these kinds concerned that simply make the movie very particular.”

Souza says one of many perks of her position was attending to cater her struggle scenes with Perry to each her consolation and physicality. “One of the times that I used to be doing that large struggle scene on the finish with Jamie, we’re going face to face and I used to be in these big Louboutins, like actually excessive heels, and the ground of the set was squishy,” Souza recollects. “So, I [told Perry], ‘Hey, it is fairly onerous to do [this scene] with these heels on,’ and he stated, ‘Why do not we have now this character, proper earlier than she will get into struggle mode, sort of break off her heels?’ I used to be like, ‘J.J. I really like you,’ like, sure! If I might solely try this for lots extra of my different characters, simply break off [my] heels.”

“Day Shift” is now streaming on Netflix.