You've come to the perfect place if you've ever fantasized about hurling yourself from a building, crashing into a concrete barrier at great speed, or catching fire while fleeing a burning house. Stunt work is a difficult task, and it's safe to say that this specialized art form is not for the faint of heart. To work as a professional stuntman or stuntwoman, you must be well-trained, motivated, and willing to execute activities that most people would find terrifying. You'll also need to be conscious of your safety and have the necessary skills to conduct live-action stunts correctly.
But what are these skills that you should consider learning? Continue reading.
Travel:
Being a stuntman or stuntwoman can take you to some of the most beautiful places on the planet. However, depending on the film, TV show, or theatre production you're working on, you may be asked to uproot your life and relocate hundreds of miles abroad with little notice. As a result, if you want to make it as a stuntman or stuntwoman, you'll need to be ready for anything and appreciate the thrill of discovering new areas.
Health and Fitness:
It may seem self-evident, but you'll need to be in peak physical condition to be a successful stuntman or stuntwoman. Join a gym if you haven't already done so, stay active as much as possible, and eat healthily. When you get a job as a stuntman and have to perform things like free-run onset or escape from a potentially dangerous situation, your physical condition will be crucial to keeping you safe.
Many legendary stunt doubles have stated that the exercises they did in the gym to keep themselves active were the key reasons they could pull off the stunt. Mj George, a stunt double turned actor, began his career as a stunt double for Will Smith in the critically acclaimed Men in Black II. Since then, George has vowed never to stop, and his hunger has propelled him to new heights in his career, with his commitment landing him roles on Netflix and Amazon Prime.
Teamwork:
You would believe that being a stuntman entails much solo work because it involves effectively acting as a double for someone else; nevertheless, you'd be wrong. To be successful as a stunt performer, you'll need to be a great team player who can work well with others. After all, a film set employs many people, and the labor can last for several hours. As a result, maintaining a professional demeanor while utilizing solid interpersonal skills is critical. Plus, if people enjoy working with you, they'll be more inclined to recommend you for future employment opportunities.
It's not easy to start a profession as a stuntman or stuntwoman. To maintain at the top of your physical condition, you must be wholly committed and driven. We hope you find this blog useful in some manner.