Stunt doubles play an essential role in every set. The presence of actors and directors on a film set is undeniable, but many overlook the significance of stunt doubles. These specialists assist performers by performing high-risk actions during filming. Those interested in this line of work might find it challenging to become a stunt double without the proper guidance.
A stunt double is an actor's assistant who performs high-risk activity sequences in films and television programs. Due to their specialized education, they may participate in movies and TV shows that include fistfights, automobile accidents, and high dives. A stunt double's face isn't shown during the shot to convince viewers that the actor is performing the stunt.
Stunt doubles can perform a variety of physical activities in different situations. They may punch during a fight, drive a vehicle, or fall on stairs. Stunt doubles are also capable of jumping over obstacles and hanging from buildings. Other tasks that these experts are responsible for include:
Stunt doubles do not need formal training for employers to hire them. It might help you improve your craft and increase your qualifications if you obtain training as a stunt double. Consider enrolling in a stunt training facility to learn how to perform various activities safely. Programs usually last a few weeks and teach you the fundamentals of being a stunt double.
Stunt doubles can use a postsecondary education to their advantage. If you want to work in the entertainment business, consider getting an associate or bachelor's degree in a subject related to the industry. Some of the most popular majors are theatre arts, communication and rhetoric, and dance and film studies. An acting major may also help you learn the skills necessary to become a successful stunt double.
Stunt doubles may speak with one another in various ways, depending on the context and type of training session. You may come across industry lingo while completing training programs and working with other stunt doubles. Studying this jargon can boost professionalism and help you get familiar with various roles. The following keywords:
Tumbling: It's one of the most popular and common types of gymnastics. It is defined as a movement in which a person performs various gymnastic acts, such as shoulder rolls, somersaults, and back handsprings, without the aid of specialized equipment.
High fall occurs when a stunt double drops from three stories or higher and lands safely on a box catcher or airbag.
Air ram: By shooting an actor through a system of pipes and compressed air, this is a machine that simulates the impact of an explosion.
Wirework: Professionals frequently use wirework or the usage of harnesses, vests, and rigs for aerial acts in falls or flying sequences. Amateurs also use wires to make many creative things possible - see below.
Stunt doubles have a demanding job that requires them to be in great form. Adhering to a healthy diet and strict exercise regimen can help you become fitter. Some stunt doubles train independently. Working with a nutritionist or fitness trainer might be beneficial. These experts can assist you in developing a physique that will allow you to perform your job better.
You may apply for more jobs by improving your abilities. For example, your excellent rock-climbing and swimming abilities might allow you to fill in for an actor in a wilderness film. To maintain realism in fight sequences, you could take lessons in boxing or martial arts. Many movie and TV characters engage in sports activities like horseback riding, skiing, and skateboarding. If you want to double for these roles, consider taking lessons in the desired action. You might also find work as a safety specialist onset if you have experience in first aid and CPR.
Obtaining a mentor might assist beginner stunt doubles in improving their abilities and finding jobs. Consider asking them for guidance if you meet an experienced stunt double at your training facility or gym. You may question them about their meal plan and exercise program, or you could inquire how they decided on their profession. When you develop connections with these professionals, they might be more likely to offer you roles in upcoming projects.
Stunt doubles start their careers working on low-budget movies and television shows. These roles will allow you to collaborate with experienced professionals and learn the ropes of the business. You must understand the many types of stunt doubles.
Stunt doubles are not only vital in the entertainment industry, but they can also help you build your resume. Looking for double stunt roles in the film business may be an excellent approach to use your connections and online job boards to discover. What might find stunt doubles at movie theaters and amusement parks that offer performance-based jobs?
If you've built up some experience, consider joining the Screen Actors Guild-American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. Union membership allows you to seek work with a union and receive higher pay for more well-known productions. Because the league has rigorous safety standards, members enjoy greater job security.
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International Stunt Academy AuditionDisney's involvement in the entertainment industry extends beyond creating movies and TV shows. The Walt Disney Imagineering Research & Development has invested in technology that can alter actors' facial expressions in post-production, and now Disney has created a flying robot stunt double.
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They’d get a junk car, promising to dispose of it properly. He’d ask his brother to drive the car past him a few times until he was happy with the speed. Then his brother would hit him.
“You use common sense,” he said. “You figure out where the hard parts of the car are. You don’t want to get hit by the bumper or the front end of the car. You also don’t want to get hit by the windshield frame.”
“You use common sense,” he said. “You figure out where the hard parts of the car are. You don’t want to get hit by the bumper or the front end of the car. You also don’t want to get hit by the windshield frame.”
But the windshield itself is actually quite soft, he said. If you can jump high enough, so that just as the car hits you, you land on the windshield and roll onto the hood, the forward momentum will spin you up.
“The only thing you have to worry about is landing,” he said. “And as long as you don’t land on your head, you’re typically fine.”
It’s safer to practice this with professional — or at least adult — supervision. But growing up in Germany and Suriname and enamored with westerns and action flicks, Sturz put on his elbow and knee pads and hoped for the best.
“If you want to break our industry down really, really simply into one sentence, we get paid to take a beating,” said Banzai Vitale, veteran stunt professional who runs Stunt Performers Academy in Los Angeles. “Our job is to hit the ground and take a beating, so the actor doesn’t have to. And that requires a level of physical training.”
There are stunts in almost every film, said Mallory Thompson, who worked on “Top Gun: Maverick,” the upcoming “Avatar” films, and doubled Zendaya for “K.C. Undercover.”
Some are flashier — people flying around on wires or getting set on fire. Some are quieter or more intimate; for example, a drowning or domestic violence scene. Some are funny — people often trip or fall off things in comedies.
The Times talked to Sturz (“Captain Marvel,” “Eternals”), Thompson, Vitale (“True Blood,” “Buffy the Vampire Slayer”) and fellow stunt professionals Alex Daniels (“Bosch,” “Veronica Mars”), Alfred Hsing (“The Watchers, “Everything Everywhere All at Once”), Katie Rowe (“Will & Grace,” “American Horror Story”) and Noah Garret (“Ms. Marvel,” “The Mandalorian”) for advice on how to get into the industry.
Do you have big Hollywood dreams? This article is part of a series on starting and building entertainment industry careers. Read on.
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