Action Stunts

Anyone who’s seen Quentin Tarantino’s Death Proof knows how traumatic and important the job of a stuntwoman can be. All the stunts were real in that movie, and the cars were really going that fast, and who knows what was going through the mind of the stuntwoman on the car. The stuntwoman, Zoe Bell, was actually playing herself. This is an interesting movie because it shows how the career of a stuntwoman can also be used as a plot device in a movie. Whatever the case, being a stuntwoman has its perks. But how do you break into the business?

There is no pre-requisite training for a stuntman or stuntwoman in order to get the job or the part. Most people have just grown up successfully around the business. You should get a Screen Actor’s Guild card though, and the best way to do this is to just be an extra in a movie and then apply for one. It’s also a good idea to have a wide range of experience like rock climbing, martial arts, and skydiving. Once you get a small part in a movie, you usually work your way up the line doing small stunts and then move on to bigger stunts. So, first be an extra, and it all goes up from there!