Anyone captivated by an intense action scene and wonderstruck by the death-defying stunts of the characters on screen must give due credit to Stunt Doubles, the unsung heroes who execute dangerous and thrilling moments in movies and TV shows while keeping the actors safe from harm. Continue Reading
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Explore Career Anyone captivated by an intense action scene and wonderstruck by the death-defying stunts of the characters on screen must give due credit to Stunt Doubles, the unsung heroes who execute dangerous and thrilling moments in movies and TV shows while keeping the actors safe from harm.
What are the typical responsibilities of a Stunt Double?
A Stunt Double would typically need to:
As is the wont of anyone working in the entertainment industry, Stunt Doubles typically spend the bulk of their time on set, either in indoor studios or outdoor locations. The work environment is generally noisy and hectic.
Some stunts may require your presence in uncomfortable and potentially risky conditions and terrains. Travel is standard and may be domestic or international, depending on the nature of the project.
A Stunt Double typically works long and irregular hours, including late nights and early mornings, depending on filming schedules. Days on set may last up to 20 hours; a lot of that time may involve hair styling, makeup, wardrobe, warming up, waiting around, rehearsals, and discussion of the stunt with fellow stunt performers, the stunt coordinator, and the director.
Research suggests that flexible hours and generous telework policies appeal more than salary to the younger generation. There has been an incremental increase in employers willing to give promising employees a chance to adjust their schedules per the job demands.
Finding a new job may be challenging. Stunt Doubles can boost their job search by asking their network for referrals, contacting companies directly, using job search platforms, going to job fairs, leveraging social media, inquiring at staffing agencies, and checking in with their union. Most freelance and work on a production on a contract basis.
Stunt Doubles are generally employed by:
Professional associations and organisations, such as The International Stunt Association (ISA), are crucial for Stunt Doubles interested in pursuing professional development or connecting with like-minded professionals in their industry or occupation.
Professional associations provide members with continuing education, networking opportunities and mentorship services. Membership in one or more adds value to your resume while bolstering your credentials and qualifications.
In addition, Stunt Doubles, who have acquired considerable experience, find it worthwhile to join a recognised union that will care for their professional and personal interests.
Specialised training and experience are crucial in acquiring skills and knowledge essential to break into the mainstream stunt industry.
Diverse fields such as sports, gymnastics, dance, and martial arts foster the athletic prowess and physical stamina needed. Next in order could be enrolment in a specialised training school that can train aspirants in high falls, fight choreography, and wire work.
Stunt schools and workshops may also prove helpful for learning and training essential skills, such as using wire rigs, falling to the ground, executing fight sequences, and how a movie set works. However, it would serve aspiring Stunt Doubles to remember that this kind of education is expensive and does not guarantee a successful career after completion.
One is better advised to begin building at the earliest opportunity a comprehensive resume and a robust demo reel that serve as a well-designed calling card for their skills, abilities, and experience.
Create potential work opportunities if none offer themselves. Try short films with action sequences and add exciting work footage to your reel. You can even choreograph your own fight scenes and stunts for the purpose.
Chance or premeditated encounters with experienced Stunt Doubles at a training programme or gym may make it possible to ask them for expert advice on diet, workout regimens, and choice of speciality. Further building on such relationships may open up opportunities for a coveted mentorship, apprenticeship, or job recommendation for a future project.
Most Stunt Doubles begin as background actors or extras in movies and TV shows. In addition to gaining valuable experience on set, they may attract the attention of stunt coordinators looking for new talent.
Although nonunion roles come with less popular projects and little remuneration, they can help you make significant additions to your resume and demo reel.
The experience also affords opportunities to network with directors and producers. Make sure to carry with you a headshot, resume and demo reel. Have a connection or mentor introduce you to the professionals.
Most educational institutions do not offer stunt double majors. However, a well-planned post-secondary education in an entertainment-related field, such as theatre arts, communication and rhetoric, dance and film studies, would help hopeful Stunt Doubles understand scripts, technical jargon, and directorial instructions. Moreover, familiarity with acting will teach you how to mimic others’ mannerisms convincingly.
Business certificate courses will equip freelancing professionals with the requisite budgeting, negotiation, and marketing skills to build a successful career.
Recommended high school courses include physics and biology to perform stunts safely without risking injury, psychology to portray characters realistically, physical education, dance, drama, maths, and business studies. English and speech classes will help you develop your research, writing, and oral communication skills.
Remember that completing a particular academic course does not guarantee entry into the profession. Professional qualifications and transferable skills may open up more than one door.
Do your homework and look into all available options for education and employment before enrolling in a specific programme. Reliable sources that help you make an educated decision include associations and employers in your field.
Certification demonstrates a Stunt Double’s competence in a skill set, typically through work experience, training, and passing an examination. Successful certification programs protect public welfare by incorporating a Code of Ethics.
Although not mandatory, certification in gymnastics, martial arts, acting, or filmmaking from an objective and reputed organisation can help you stand out in a competitive job market and allow you to become an independent consultant.
Stunt Doubles may require permits or licences to perform specific stunts or work in certain locations. A stunt involving explosives or firearms may call for a pyrotechnic or weapons permit.
Registration with a recognised professional organisation geared towards the development and advancement of stunt performers in your region is often necessary to get lucrative job opportunities.
Some professional bodies may offer a grading scheme with increasing levels of expertise. Members may begin with probationary status and be qualified as bonafide stunt performers after working for at least three years under the supervision of a full member.
Stunt Doubles may also need to undergo an employment background check, including but not limited to a person’s work history, education, credit history, motor vehicle reports (MVRs), criminal record, medical history, use of social media, and drug screening.
The intense physical demands made constantly tend to wear out a Stunt Double’s body over time and cause them to ‘age out” of the career. If you play your cards right, you can continue performing appropriate stunts well into your middle age and early senior years.
Select acting skills can help you achieve a role with speaking parts or become an actor who performs their own stunts. Stellar performances can elevate the careers of experienced Stunt Doubles, help them transition to acting and progress to performance-based rules in films, TV shows, and theatres.
Suppose you wish to focus exclusively on stunts. In that case, you can specialise in one or more skills, such as martial arts, boxing, fencing, trampolining, gymnastics, swimming, high diving, horseback riding, and stunt driving.
You can also acquire additional qualifications to become a Senior Stunt Performer and progress to the position of Key Stunt Performer before eventually donning the role of a Stunt Coordinator.
Other options include producing, stunt directing, rigging, working as a consultant, and opening your own training school for the next generation of Stunt Doubles.
The desire to accelerate career growth and personal development has an increasing number of millennials choosing to job hop and build a scattershot resume that showcases ambition, motivation, and the desire to learn a broad range of skills.
Studies prove that job hopping, earlier dismissed as “flaky” behaviour, can lead to greater job fulfilment. Employees searching for a positive culture and exciting work are willing to try out various roles and workplaces and learn valuable, transferable skills along the way.
Physically fit and athletic Stunt Doubles who exhibit the requisite dedication, hard work and willingness to take calculated risks have the best job prospects.
Continuing professional development (CPD) will help an active Stunt Double build personal skills and proficiency through work-based learning, a professional activity,
formal education, or self-directed learning. CPD also enables the regular renewal of desirable certifications.
With significant experience under their belt, Stunt Doubles can consider joining a reputed trade union to avail of better job opportunities and more stringent safety policies.
Where it is possible to do so, qualify for the increasingly difficult grades of a professional stunt register until you gain full accreditation. Completing a supervisory-level health and safety course will be an additional skill to market yourself for dangerous stunt work.
Specialisation in specific skills can help Stunt Doubles get a part in exclusive projects. Proficient rock-climbing and swimming skills may allow them to substitute for an actor in a wilderness movie.
Expertise in business-critical skills such as boxing, martial arts, stunt driving, horseback riding, abseiling, high falls, parkour, kayaking, skiing, snowboarding, skydiving, burns and pyrotechnics, acrobatics, and gymnastics will be handy in an industry where it is expected of most film and TV actors. Snorkelling and scuba diving are additional skills useful in underwater stunts.
Stay abreast of industry trends and safety protocols to ensure that you will continue to contribute your best work safely and efficiently.
Current Scenario
The employment outlook of a particular profession may be impacted by diverse factors, such as the time of year, location, employment turnover, occupational growth, size of the occupation, and industry-specific trends and events that affect overall employment.
As the film and television industry grows and produces more action-oriented content, there will be an increased demand for competent Stunt Doubles. Advances in technology and special effects may also create fresh opportunities for these professionals to showcase their skills in innovative ways.
Shield Yourself Properly
The nature of the job spells perpetual risk and danger. Stunt Doubles wear protective gear, such as fire suits, harnesses, and helmets and use wires to minimise the probability of critical or fatal injuries.
Slice of the Action
Every movie with a fair amount of challenging stunts has a prescribed budget for Stunt Doubles, who perform risky feats instead of the principal actors so the latter do not get injured and cause budget overruns and costly production delays.
Stunt Doubles can negotiate daily and weekly fees based on their experience, skills, availability of work, and production location. The production may cover transportation costs too in the contract along with safety equipment and insurance.
Laws implementing standard minimum wages protect union members. You may negotiate a higher fee if the project entails extended engagement or higher risk. A cannon role (a nitrogen cannon propels a vehicle into several rolls) can fetch a skilled professional 50 times more than a pratfall (a simple fall from standing).
Avoid Being Burned
Take pains to make sure your face is not clearly visible on-screen to avoid being ineligible for work on the rest of the TV season on film shoot due to the importance of continuity in the production. Avoid ‘being burned’, so you can be hired for as much work as possible on each project.
Potential Pros & Cons of Freelancing vs Full-Time Employment
Freelancing Stunt Doubles have more flexible work schedules and locations. They own the business and can select their projects and clients. However, they experience inconsistent work and cash flow, which means more responsibility, effort and risk.
On the other hand, a full-time Stunt Double has company-sponsored health benefits, insurance, and retirement plans. They have job security with a fixed, reliable source of income and guidance from their bosses. Yet, they may experience boredom due to a lack of flexibility, ownership, and variety.
When deciding between freelancing or being a full-time employee, consider the pros and cons to see what works best for you.
Adrenaline-fueled daredevils who go where film actors fear to tread, Stunt Doubles play a crucial role in creating thrilling action sequences that leave big and small screen audiences awe-struck and wanting more.
“Stunts, show business—you’re going to take hits. Can you get up and take another hit and another hit and another hit? If it doesn't knock you out completely, you’ll be successful. Go back to your heart. You’ll succeed.”
Eddie Braun
Stunt doubles are often paid more than actors for their work since they require specialised skills and carry greater risk.
What do Stunt Doubles do?
A Stunt Double would typically need to:
Accredited
$49,595
