Action Stunts

What does every action packed-car flipping-fire burning-gun shooting-building jumping scene have in common? The answer: a highly trained stuntman risking his or life in place of your favorite actor/actress. These stuntmen have years of experience and training behind them. To become a successful stuntman (or woman), you’ll want to follow these simple tips:

1. Get connected: The best way to form connections in the world of Hollywood is to hire an agent.  Your agent can hook you up with a stunt coordinator who casts stunt doubles, choreographs stunts, and fulfils the director’s creative vision. Directors usually hire the same stunt coordinators, and stunt coordinators tend to use the same talented stuntmen, so getting a good word in with a stunt coordinator is a surefire way to make it into a movie. (more…)

The typical movie watcher thinks of stuntmen as daredevils with dream jobs. If you’re interested in pursuing a career in the stunt industry, you should know it is not for daredevils—it’s for performers. Becoming a stuntman takes a great deal of hard work, training, and connections. It is recommended you become an actor who can perform stunts rather than a standalone stuntman. Before pursuing such a job, you should know that the hours are long, the pay is unstable, and the safety is limited. Work days commonly last up to 14 hours due to the need for impeccable planning, detailed setups, and careful filming. Moreover these 14 hours are often spent in less than optimal conditions—an icy mountain, a hot desert, submerged in water, or surrounded by fire. As far as location goes, stuntmen go where the movies go: everywhere. (more…)