Filmmaker Magazine: I’m fortunate to work in action and with stunts, behind the camera. The stunt community is comprised of all kinds of talent — drivers, motorcycle riders, gymnasts, fighters, parkour, Cirque du Soleil acrobats and much more. They are the best of the best! I’ve been even more fortunate to train and work with the best stunt coordinators, innovators, riggers and performers in Hollywood.
7 comments:
The line “It’s time that the people who create the unbelievable stunts you see onscreen are given their due.” is surprising to me. I think being given an award is very different than giving the recognition. There are very few people or probably no one who I’ve worked with in theatre who do something for recognition. Yes being valued is important and giving create to someone is very important is very different from getting an award. I definitely think stunt work needs a hell of a lot more recognition but as someone who doesn’t necessarily believe in the value of award shows, I see no need for stunt work to get awards or even for the Oscars. The most surprising thing I learned from this article is how much effort goes into having stunt work for a show. I thought it is much more low key than having over 200 people, a different director, and camera team.
I agree that stunts should be recognized by the Oscars. However, I understand why many people would not want to acknowledge their work publically. For many people, part of the movie magic is wondering how the actor did the trick, stunt, or move. Movies rarely admit that they used doubles for actors. Part of the allusion is that an actor can learn the skill faster than anyone else. For example, Natalie Portman in Black Swan. Sarah Lane, Portman’s dance double, was asked to keep quiet until the Oscars so it looked as if Portman learned to be a professional ballerina in less the a year. The idea that Portman could learn to dance so quickly added to Portman’s performance. Also, in I, Tonya they are focusing on how Margot Robbie learned to skate, not on the fact that doubles did the intense tricks. I’m not trying to take away the work these women put into learning a craft for a role. Yet the industry is trying to focus the public on what the actor did do, never crediting the the double. Since they are often ignored, it is even more important to credit stunt doubles because they make movies breathtaking.
This article was very insightful to the world of stunts. Prior to reading this article, I had no clue the fact that there is a separate technical team, director and staff. I always thought it was something that happened in the moment side by side the actual actor. It is sad to see that there is not formal, well-known awards given to these performers and crew members. To mainstream audiences, I guess it is cool to think of your favorite actor actually doing the stunt. I'm sure publicity teams for movies try to keep this facade going. Like Rebecca mentioned too, we often see articles and interviews of how some big star learned a new talent for their newest upcoming move. Although that is commendable, there should definitely be mention of the people who do the dangerous things and the scenes that require years of training to accomplish. I'd love to know more about how stunt performers are protected, whether via a union or something else. I definitely will be on the look out in further years to make note of the people who fill these roles in films.
This article brings up a lot of important points but the most argued is that stunts are another form of talent and skill. This is a very true statement. Stunt works takes a lot of practice and experience to be able to do the things they do and it isn’t any less work or skill than acting which is widely acknowledged and awarded. Stunts is simply just another form, performing different skills and delivering different actions. So why isn’t the stunt community acknowledged and awarded as widely as acting? I can’t see any reason not to. Stunt performers have to have insane skills. Think about the coordination they need to have to perform parkour or driving a motorcycle, especially when they drive that car. Just look at all the stunts in any action movie, they listed a few that are great examples. Also, why do we acknowledge so tremendously when an actor does their own stunts, like Keanu Reeves, but yet we don’t acknowledge others? We know that stunts are a skill, so we should acknowledge them as we do actors.
I really do agree with this article. I think the work done by stunt people is actually really impressive and so often taken for granted. Like design and production team members, their faces are not shown on screen so it can be easy for them to get over looked or even ignored, but for me, that I why I do this. i used to act, but I have always enjoyed being behind the scenes more. I do not crave direct praise for the work I do. I prefer to have my work seen and appreciated while being removed from me. I feel like this almost makes the work more personal in a way, knowing that people will be appreciating it for what it is worth and not necessarily for you personally. I like to have my work on display, not myself. Stunt people must feel the same way, so I can see why they should be recognized with awards the same way we are.
I strongly agree with the well reasoned argument this article is making. The essential contributions of stuntmen to the entertainment industry cannot be overstated, as these professionals have proven to be an integral part of the thrill that is so foundational to live performance and film. Especially considering the fact that several stuntmen give their lives in this line of work, It is even more important to give them the recognition that they rightly deserve. In addition, the recognition of stuntmen would be a great step towards recognition for all entertainment workers, such as special effects artists, designers, and technicians who are too often given second billing for the extraordinary work that they put in to the industry. I feel that we need to continue to encourage and work toward a theater and entertainment industry that is inclusive and grants equitable recognition to all those who help to create it.
I love hearing about stunt work. It’s always that truly behind the scenes thing that most people don’t really talk about. Everyone wants to hear about the CG and costumes and other departments, but rarely does a behind the scenes explore stunt work. Sometimes it feels like all stunts are done with with CGI, but I think it always looks slightly (or majorly) fake. But when you use a stunt man it’s a real person doing the actions so all of the musculature movements and weight of the person are real. It was really interesting to read more in depth about stunt work. I had no idea all the stunts are done by a completely different movement. Putting an Oscar in for stunts I think is a really good idea. There is so much work and physical pain and determination in getting really amazing stunts and as action movies get more and more extra with the fight scenes, there is constantly more of a demand for stunt work and consequently more screen time for the stunts, justifying even more the reason for an Oscar.
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