Check Out Naomi Chaffee’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Naomi Chaffee.

Hi Naomi, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself
My name is Naomi Chaffee, and I grew up in Bismarck, North Dakota. I found my passion for theatre when I was a kid and had continued to do it up until college. When I was a freshman in college, I decided I wanted to go into law, so I didn’t sign up for the show the college was doing. My professor pulled me aside and told me to sign up. With a sigh, I signed up, and it was the best decision of my life.

As a 5’11”, more built than average woman, I always struggled with feeling comfortable in my body. I would go to the gym excessively, try new diets, and do whatever I could to maintain the ideal body image that social media gave to women. I was cast as Heather Chandler in the production of “Heathers” and portraying a character of sexiness, power, and confidence was hard for me. That show really pushed me into feeling confident in my own body.

After that, I had the opportunity to perform as Andromache in the show “The Trojan Women” in the Oiniades Amphitheatre in Greece. My favorite part about that trip and performing overseas was practicing Suzuki, an acting method that incorporates intense, athletic-like movements in order to stay in the moment, control the body, and focus on breathing. It pushed me to the next level of feeling comfortable in my body, and the most important part which I was missing: BODY CONTROL!

Once I got back from Greece, the college I was attending did a production of “She Kills Monsters”. I was lucky enough to be Agnes, one of the lead female characters, and was introduced to stage combat. I honestly didn’t even know stage combat was really a thing. That show unlocked an aspect of me I had never felt before. I was able to stay in the moment with my scene partners I was fighting, have body control, but still have this intensity of “oh this fight is real”, but in a safe manner since it was all choreographed. I knew that combat was going to be a huge part of my life moving forward.

When COVID hit, I decided to move to Kansas to attend KU for a bit, as a few folks from the trip to Greece went to KU. I went for a semester and a half, but it was too hard to do theatre online, so I dropped out. Having moved to Kansas and having more opportunities, I got involved with several martial arts that I still train in today. I began making little fights in my backyard with my friends and for some reason that caught the eye of a few people in the stunt community here. Let me tell you though- the fights my friends and I were creating were GARBAGE. It didn’t matter that my fights were garbage, it mattered that I was TRYING and putting myself out there.

I was invited to come onto a film set to check out the local film/stunt scene and was approached by Ronin Stunt Company’s team lead, Coleman Taylor. He asked me to come to a Ronin training session just to see what was popping but little did I know, it was actually an audition for the team. Since October of 2020, I’ve been a company member of the Ronin Stunt Company.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It was definitely not a smooth road. I mean, I grew up in the middle of nowhere.

We didn’t have a film scene, martial arts (barely anyways), and really anything besides a super cool theatre scene within the college community. My professors at Bismarck State College changed my life, and I am forever grateful for them. Dean and Danny, ya’ll rock even though you still give me sass (it’s okay, I give it back).

It was hard to even fathom the thought of going into stunts when a few years ago I didn’t feel comfortable or in control of my body. Now I can do things I never would have dreamt I could ever do. It took a lot of hard work, soul searching, tough relationships, and training.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I’m a stuntwoman with the Ronin Stunt Company.

We train in all sorts of things from various martial arts, wireworks, tricking, stunt fighting, melee/tactical weapons, etc. I don’t have a specialty right now as I’ve only been doing stunts for a year and a half, but I’m constantly training in new things and learning as I go. I love that there are so many aspects of stunts, and I can’t wait to find “my thing”.

I’m most proud of being able to start tricking (it’s sort of like a mixture of gymnastics and parkour) at the age of 20. I never in my life thought I could be able to do a butterfly kick and an aerial. I’m a hard worker, driven, and don’t let people say no stop me from excelling.

I believe what sets me apart from others is, besides my height and red hair, is that I don’t give up, I’m welcoming and friendly, and won’t back down from a challenge.

What does success mean to you?
I think success is up to the individual. I define success for myself as being able to do the creative arts full-time. Besides stunts, I also act and teach acting at Trilogy Cultural Arts Centre in Olathe.

It’s a fabulous art school that I would highly recommend to anyone from little kiddos to even adults. Success to me also is being able to have a routine schedule, financial stability, a balanced mental health state, and, like I said above, pursue what I love full time.

I also think success is helping others along the way. I would not be where I am today without the generosity of others, and if I can push others past my success level, then I know I did something right.

Contact Info:

• Email: naomichaffeestunts@gmail.com
• Website: naomichaffee.com
• Instagram: instagram.com/naomichaffee
• Other: roninstuntcompany.com

Image Credits
Adriana Martinez, Amber Rose, Casey Ayers, Austin Moddrell, and Joey Moreno