INTERVIEWS… More About a Medic Who Worked in the Movies

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A Doctor turned autobiography writer gets my interview treatment…

 

My exclusive interview with the author, Dr John Gayner, the writer of A Doctor For All Seasons tells his true tales as a one time doctor to the stars.

 

Dr Gayner with Johnny Depp

Angelina Jolie

You’ve Got A Friend’ | Fundraising For National Bereavement Partnership | BSL Version, National Bereavement Partnership

 

Recently I reviewed the excellent book, A Doctor For All Seasons (2021). This is a must read autobiography from the pen of Dr John Gayner, a doctor who worked in a real-life role over many decades on many familiar film sets in the film industry.

In his always professional recollections of his behind the scenes medical job, he’s seen and treated many different cases of physical problems and mental difficulties. These difficulties included some more unique cases than your average GP.

His work on the film set ranged from treating tiger cub bites to those clients with stage fright. He has treated a galaxy of familiar stars with his client list including Lesley Anne Down, Shelley Duvall, Angelina Jolie and Marlon Brando. His book is littered with his star-filled remembrances about his career from the late 1970s to more recently, where he is now working in the National Bereavement Partnership.

In his work in the film industry, he also advised stars and directors about treatment and medical conditions in scripts. This book only relates to cases that have been mentioned in the public domain and more about this book. Dr Gayner graciously replied with his answers to my questions in bold type, in his own time, and these are found in his replies in normal font. My review of his book is found HERE.

 

Can you explain your one-time medical role in entertainment to those who haven’t read your book?

Helping to resolve the problems that occur when an actor is unable to perform due to a medical problem. Ensure that they get the right treatment immediately, and then protect them from going back to work too soon. Helping to give an estimate of when the actor will be fit to return to work. I have acted in the interests of all parties, but generally reported to the insurers through their loss Adjustors.

 

What would you say was your most interesting case?

Superman 2.  

 

 

What was the most unique case from your career?

 

Helping Marlon Brando back to the set.  

 

Paul Scofield in A Man for All Seasons

When have you felt at your most starstruck during a consultation?

 

When I was younger, and watching the actors on A Man for All Seasons.  

 

 

What decade of your career did you most enjoy your work? (Please note, as I later wrote to Dr Gayner, “I did notice my question was asked a bit badly when I asked which decade you enjoyed in your work… I meant which decade of films was it the most enjoyable to work in. Sorry about that.”)

 

I enjoyed the 80s particularly when there were many feature films being made. We are now in the era of TV box sets, which can have smaller budgets, and that loses something as a result.

 

 

When a stunt is being performed is a medical practitioner usually on set?

 

No not normally, but there would be a unit nurse.  

 

Making moulds for flying sequences

 

Has any of your advice on set after an accident, had a lasting effect on the film industry?

The making of moulds for flying sequences in the correct way.  

 

 

As a one time mental health professional, I was wondering if you ever had to give advice for a cast member to seek help or withdraw from a film because of mental health problems (no need for mentioning their names here)? What happens on such an occasion?

 

Yes this has happened, and it might be the death of a relative as well as an issue with the actor, which is rare.  

 

In your book you write about giving advice for storylines from a medical point of view, can you tell me more about the films that you have worked on?

 

There are a number of fascinating insights, and too numerous to mention here. I enjoyed being shown all the drawings for Star Wars.

 

John Cleese gives his thanks.

 

As a doctor, do you feel frustrated when you see medical or mental health storylines portrayed wrongly or inaccurately in movies?

 

Yes, but fortunately they have good medical advisers.  

 

 

Is there any film that you would have liked to work onset with to give medical or mental health advice on? What would you have advised?

 

This not something that I have thought about.  

 

 

It sounds like a surreal career to be working with the stars, did it ever feel surreal and what moments felt the most surreal?

 

Standing in the wings during a Sting concert in front of an audience of 50,000 people.  

 

Pierce Brosnan and Dr Gayner test out how a cardboard cut out of gun would affect this James Bond actor’s hand injury.

 

 

If you could have been a consultant for giving advice and medical support for a particular film series – eg The Omen films and the James Bond franchise – which would you like and why?

 

I was closer to the Bond franchise and enjoyed the situations where I was called upon to give advice.

 

If your book was adapted into a biopic, which actor would you want to star as you (and why)?

 

Tom Hiddleston, tall, fair, and slim. That will do for me.  

 

And do remember to read the companion piece to this interview, in my review of Dr Gayner’s autobiography HERE which sheds more light on those photographs, actresses, actors and movies mentioned here.

 

A disclaimer and personal thank you to Cameron Publicity & Marketing Ltd and Dr Gayner for allowing me to interview this author. Financial compensation was not received. I would also like to add that Dr Gayner kindly personally agreed to me using these pictures from his book in my blog and all copyright is his.  The questions were voluntarily answered by Dr John Gayner, and all answers are his own. If you would like your book to be featured or promoted here, please drop a line to me via my Contact Me Page.

 

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