Tory Belleci is a Sicilian-American filmmaker and model maker, best known for his work on the Discovery Channel television program MythBusters.
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» All Filmmaker InterviewsHi, reddit, it's Tory Belleci, TV host, filmmaker, builder, special-effects technician, guinea pig, and fan of fast cars. My new series White Rabbit Project, which is with Kari Byron and Grant Imahara, has been streaming on Netflix for a week now, and hopefully you've had a chance to check it out. You can ask me about that, MythBusters, working in TV, movies I've worked in the past, Rogue One (which I haven't seen yet), doing the Gumball 3000 with deadmau5, whatever you want.
PROOF PHOTO: https://twitter.com/ToryBelleci/status/809804379792416768
This is my first solo AMA. Kari did an AMA on Monday and Grant did one last week and they had fun, so I'm looking forward to it.
How did your conversation with Kari go after she electroshocked you over dinner?
We were laughing so hard. It turned out to be a very fun scene.
Do you think you guys will, if White Rabbit Project gets renewed which I see easily happening, look at suggestions fans might have about the show and see if it's something you can improve on?
Totally. We've always been very responsive to you guys so if we do get a S2 we're listening. So far a lot of people are happy with the show, but want more builds. I agree.
So, remember when you guys launched a car underneath a semi's trailer and it jumped out of the test area?
Good times.
HAHA! And someone from the highway called 911 because they thought someone was driving it. Good times indeed.
Hi Tory! Thank you for taking the time to be with us today!
What kind of milk do you drink? 2%, 1%, Whole, Chocolate, Milk Alternative?
Thanks for asking me the hard hitting questions. drink 2%
Tory - I used to binge watch myth busters in my friend's basement. Should I prepare to do the same? I need to know how many days of food to prepare
HAHA! White Rabbit Project is 10 eps each around 60mins. If you're gonna binge and you're serious, you could probably get it done in a day. 1 day supply.
Hi Tory! What was the scariest thing that has ever happened to you while filming?
It's a toss up between getting in the ring with a bull and jumping into shark infested water.
How did you get to work on Mythbusters in the first place?
I worked with J & A for years before MB in special fx for movies. When they got picked for MB they called me to audition as a builder and the rest is history.
Enjoying White Rabbit Project so far!
What would your dream project be? TV or movies, what would you like to be involved in that (maybe) you haven't been already?
Thanks! I'm so glad you're liking it. My dream project would be to direct a movie. Maybe horror or Grind House style.
What was your favorite clip (video thing or whatever) from WRP and why is it Hitler with tits?
I think my favorite clip so far is Kari controlling me with electrodes. We couldn't stop laughing.
First of all thank you for taking the time to do this AMA.
I love the mythbusters and started watching the white eabbit project a few days ago.
When you started in mythbusters, did you think it was going to be this amazing?, and how happy were you when you found out that you were hired for the mythbusters?
How did you fill when the show ended?
And how happy were you when you three started working together again in the white rabbit project?
Again,
Thank you very much :)
It's my pleasure. Good question. I was terrified when I started on MB. I didn't like being in front of the camera. None of us predicted the show would take off like it did. I was bummed when MB ended, but was also excited about the prospect of new projects and then White Rabbit Project happened. It's been a wild ride.
Hello Tory
What was the biggest/ most challenging project that you did with Mythbusters and what did you have to do?
I think one of the biggest builds we did was for earthquake myths. We built a 40ftx40ft earthquake simulator. When it started shaking it was terrifying, but awesome!
If you had to forget one injury you had on myth busters, what would you forget?
Probably the bike jump, which has become my most famous injury. ha!
Now it's your turn for an IAMA! So tell me, what was your favorite thing that got blowed up real good on the show?
Cement Truck! Boom!
Hi, Tory! I wanted to quickly say thank you for entertaining me for so many years! You and the rest of the MB cast and crew really made me love science from a young age. I binge watched WRP earlier this week, and I really enjoyed it!
Ever since that moment you wiped out jumping over the wagon, you've kinda become known as the "daredevil"/unwilling guinea pig/guy who accidentally hurts himself on camera a lot. How do you feel about that being a part of your legacy on MB and WRP? I'm also sorry for laughing at a lot of your (hopefully not too bad) pain over the years.
Bonus: What was it like driving that beautiful Lambo for Kari's GPS experiment?
HA! I get hurt so you don't have too. Stoked you like WRP. Ever since I was a kid I wanted to be a stuntman so dreams can come true. The Lambo is SICK!
How much creative control does Netflix give you guys with White Rabbit Project?
Netflix has been amazing. They pretty much just let us make the show. So different from cable.
Hi Tory, thanks for doing the AMA! You should do this more often!
Do you still maintaining contact with Jamie and Adam? I know that you appeared in one of Tested podcast but do you still come by M5 from time to time to check up on Jamie? That guy just vanish into the deep water like a wal.... (i better not say it)
Thanks! I just had lunch with Jamie a week ago. He's still building crazy machines in his shop, but I get the feeling he's done with TV.
Ok Tory, imagine you, Kari, and Grant are working diligently on a new build in your shop overnight. You emerge to find that the zombie apocalypse took place while you were too busy to notice. Now, using only what you have available in your shop, how do you get yourselves and your crew to safety outside the city?
Get out of my head! We have these conversations all the time. Take whatever vehicle we can reach, A-team it out with armor, a flamethrower and then load it up with zombie destroying contraptions.
What was your favourite myth to bust?
What's better. Jamies mustache or Adams hair?
Who's better looking out of you, Grant and Kari?
fav myth: Bull in a china shop
what's
better
what was the first car you bought? no idea how this is relevant to anything but whatever lol
It was a 1970 Ford pick-up. It was my grandfather's and he gave it to me.
Are you half italian? Your surname sounds like that. Big fan from italy ciao!
I am Italian. Thanks paisan.
If you could retest any myth, what would it be and why? In other words, what myth causes you to doubt the results of the experiment you devised to test said myth?
Wakeboarding behind a cruise ship. I was so worried about standing up that I didn't really get to enjoy it.
Hey, long time fan, what was your favorite Myth or project you worked on? I've never heard your favorite ones since you did the Mythbusters episode. Thanks again, love the show!
Thanks! My fav myth/moment was blowing up the cement truck. Hands down.
The see-through screens you guys use on WRP to video chat are awesome...are they real or CGI?
They're so cool right?! Available this Christmas? I'll keep that a mystery.
What, in your opinion, was probably the stupidest myth you ever tested on the show? What about your favorite?
Pyramid power was the lamest myth.
I have so many favorites that it's hard to pick one. What's your favorite myth?
Hey, I really like the episode of MB where you were trapped under all the earth. It looked absolutely terrifying and it definitely freaked me out.
Has there ever been a test that you've said no to because of how dangerous/scary it is? Or is there a hypothetical test you would never do?
Thanks 😊
I wanted to test going over a waterfall in a barrel at the Niagara Falls, but the Canadian Govt said no.
Hi Tory! Just a simple one, have you seen Rogue One yet, if so what did you think?!
Haven't seen it yet, but planning on going today. STAR WARS!
Hi Tory, thank you for this amazing show, Im just 2 episodes away from finishing this season, what can I do after that, what will happen to my life and how will I kill the boredom? I need more episodes, when is season 2 starting?
That's awesome! Glad you like it. Hopefully Netflix gives us a season 2 so you can have MORE!
Hi Tory! What is your next project after White Rabbit and do you plan to continue the series?
Love the show BTW!
Happy to hear you're liking WRP. Hopefully we get a season 2. We had a blast making it and would love to keep it going.
What is your "White Whale" of testing? The one thing you could never get just right, but knew the solution was out there?
Driving an F1 race car upside down. It's supposed to have so much down force that it would overcome gravity. No one ever wanted to let us use their F1. Go figure.
I've seen you wear Nevada Wolfpack shirts on Mythbusters, and I wondered: Are you a UNR alum? I know they have an excellent engineering program, but I'd just always wondered.
Oh I loved that shirt. No, I didn't go to school there. I found the shirt at a second hand store.