Stuntmen: Actors With A Licence To Thrill

Hardly any action film can do without them; but stunt people can also be in demand in less spectacular productions . These special performers even make occasional appearances in the theatre. But why are they used at all and what requirements do stuntmen have to fulfil?

What does a stuntman do?

Stuntmen step in when a theatre or film scene is too dangerous for the main actors . They take over the part of the hero, antagonist or other actors for one or more takes. The stunts do not necessarily have to be the falls or jumps from great heights that are often seen in action films. Horse or motorbike riding as well as difficult car driving and handling fire, water and weapons can also be too demanding for the actual performer. In this case, the stunt person steps in. On the one hand, stunt people acting in the place of actors ensure credible staging; on the other hand, their use prevents injuries and thus keeps the production on track.

The most important requirements for stuntmen

To be convincing in their partial role, stuntmen must have a certain amount of acting talent . Much more important, however, are manual and technical skills, a sense of responsibility and discipline as well as fitness and the ability to work in a team - because working as a stuntman involves much more than just shooting a film scene or making a brief appearance on stage. One of the main tasks of these special performers is to minimise the risk involved with stunts through training, tricks and timing. This requires a lot of experience, good decision-making skills and even more preparation. The scene itself is only a fraction of the work - the danger doubles spend most of their time planning and organising the stunt.

Becoming a stunt specialist

Comprehensive training is required in order to become a stunt specialist - but it is not an independent or recognised profession. The term "stuntman" is not protected. Completing the relevant training courses says nothing about the quality of the work or the personal aptitude of the graduates. On the contrary: many stunt schools give their students a completely false impression of the extensive activities of a stuntman. Reputable providers focus on safety awareness for future assignments and attach importance to painting a realistic picture of the day-to-day work of specialised performers. They make it clear to beginners that how good the final effect of stunts is the result of regular training, technical know-how and iron discipline. This is the only way for stunt people to achieve the overwhelming fees of a Dar Robinson, the fame of a Tanja de Wendt or even the World Stunt Award. You can register for assignments as a stuntman via our platform.