Duties

• Execute individual stunt sequences upon the direct personal supervision of a stunt coordinator.
• Research the type of stunts that will be appropriate for the movie or television script, in coordination with crewmembers like the producer, director and other stunt performers.
• Closely imitate the actor’s appearance and body language when playing the character, so stunt scenes are seamlessly incorporated with the film.
• Do several hours of training for high impact activities based on the type of stunt required, in keeping with safety regulations.
• Keep accurate records of stunts performed and submit relevant paperwork such as records of risk assessments to the production team.

Day In The Life

During a typical workday, the production company may call a stuntman onto the set as early as 6.30 am in the morning. Usually, he is required to reach at least an hour before the crew call for hair and makeup, which depending on the role can take up to two hours. Much of the time goes while shooting pre-rehearsed scenes unless there are changes in the script. The complexity and riskiness of the stunt determines how many takes are required – e.g. large stunts with special effects could be wrapped up in two takes. Stuntmen will often train together to mimic the moves required in a script more naturally. Rehearsals for upcoming scenes take place later in the evening and everything is done by 9 pm or 10 pm at night.

Work Schedule

A stuntman usually enjoys an exciting and engaging work schedule. You can find yourself working in all types of weather conditions and in uncomfortable circumstances like the top of a mountain, down a mineshaft, underwater or in a moving vehicle. You would be working on the set of a tv show or movie for most of the day, rehearsing and performing stunts. Tools like pads, fireproof suits and crash mats would be used to as a precaution to keep you safe.

The hours are often very long, with early starts, late finishes and work through the early hours of morning. When a stunt is particularly complex, you will have to do multiple takes for a successful shot. For instance, one day you could be dangling from wires off a skyscraper while another day you could be shooting at the bad guys. Due to the variable nature of the work, you must be in peak fitness to handle the stress levels and be comfortable with flexible work hours.

Growth Of The Job

While stunt performers begin as extras in small film productions, with talent and perseverance they work their way up to major movies with more prominent stars. Once in a while, stunt performers may be spotted by a casting crew to play a part in a movie. As you build up a stellar reputation in the movie industry for a few years, you can easily make a six-figure income.

Typical Employers

Stuntman jobs are very selective and hard to find. To apply for such jobs you will have to become a union member of the Screen Actors Guild or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. These unions are in charge of choosing who gets to work on which film.