- stunt n. [stuhnt] a difficult or unusual physical feat, action sequence involving paid professional stunt performers.
- stunt performer n. [stuhnt per·form'er] a paid, highly trained and qualified individual that executes stunts for film, television and commercial markets. Please do not confuse members of Jackass, daredevils, extreme sports enthusiast with Motion Picture Stunt Performers.
about pay $$$
Professional stunt performers are not paid a yearly or monthly salary. They are hired and paid a daily or weekly rate by the production company producing the film or television show. The pay scale for a stunt person will vary greatly depending upon the stunt to be performed and if the job is union or non-union. The two major unions in the United States are the Screen Actors Guild (SAG) and American Federation Of Television And Radio Artist (AFTRA). If the stunt person is working on a union show, the minimum daily rate will vary based upon the budget of the show. Sag has four tiers for budget class. Here are the pdf download links for the contracts that list the minimum daily rates. Ultra-Low, Modified Low Budget, Low Budget and Full Scale.
In addition to the minimum daily rate the performer may also receive additional compensation. This is known as a “stunt adjustment” (see below).
- stunt adjustment n. [stuhnt ə-ˈjəs(t)-mənt] stunt adjustments are an additional fee paid to the stunt performer in addition to the minimum daily rate to compensate for more dangerous stunts or when the stunt performer exceeds expectations and the budget allows for extra monies to be paid. Utility stunts, playing a bad guy that takes a couple punches or falling down are usually covered by the daily rate. But for the fun stuff like being set on fire or falling off a roof, a negotiation between the stunt performer and production will take place. (typically the coordinator does this on larger shows). The factors used when determining the justified amount of adjustment will be based on technical difficulty, level of danger, etc.
- stunt coordinator n. [stuhnt co·or'di·na'tor] the stunt coordinator is head of the stunt department on a picture. When a picture gets the green light and stunts are involved, production needs a go-to expert for this department. That’s where the stunt coordinator comes in. He or she fills the role of bringing in the necessary stunt crew and equipment to create the action that the director has envisioned. First, the stunt coordinator performs a script breakdown and outlines what is required to accomplish the scripted stunts. He/she will also recommend creative feedback and alternatives to the scripted action. He/ she will coordinate anything stunt related on the show and work with actors that have to engage in any stunt related scenes. They establish what can be accomplished within the budget allotted for the stunt department. This person is the one you want to hand your head shot / resume to when trying to become a stunt person.
- stunt double n. [stuhnt duhb-uh l] a stunt person that fills in for an actor to perform a piece of action that is considered to be to risky or dangerous for the actual actor to perform. It is advantageous for production to use a stunt double in place of the actor, because if an actor is injured an unable to continue with the shoot, then production has to come to a halt until the actor can recover. Production insurance is also a factor on if a stunt double is used. When an insurance company agrees to insure a production it’s usually done under a contract that stipulates any or all stunts scripted for the lead actors shall be performed by a stunt double. That ensures the project will be completed on time without incident.
- stunt rigger n. [stuhnt rig-er] an experienced stunt person that understands the working intricacies and physical mechanics of how stunt equipment works. These unique men and women rig the stunt to be performed with safety in mind at all times. Stunt Riggers do everything from arranging and laying out landing pads to welding in roll cages. Stunts involving any type of equipment e.g. air ramps, air ratchets, pipe ramps, fly by wire etc., need to be properly set up. Riggers will usually have more working time on a show since setting up equipment requires prep time, testing and teardown.
- rigging n [rig·ging] any piece of equipment used when setting up a stunt. These items are usually but not limited to; high tensile strength wire (aka steel rope), pulleys, shackles, fuel cells, truss, bolts, nuts, pneumatic cylinders, safety harness, etc etc. Anything that’s needed when rigging a stunt.
- fire stunt n. [fahy·uhr stuhnt] any action sequence performed where the stunt guy / girl is on fire, in fire or escaping fire. Fire stunts are of high risk and considered to be one of the most dangerous stunts due to the unforgiving nature of fire. Stunt Performers do not have some super human ability to withstand extreme temperatures. They don a special fire suit typically soaked in a water based gel and have protective thermal barrier gels covering any exposed skin which may not be covered with the protective suit.
- fire stunt gel n. [fahy·uhr stuhnt gel] aka “stunt gel”, “fire Gel” fire stunt gels are a water base gelled substance that is applied directly to the fire stunt performer’s skin and fire suit. The gel works as a thermal barrier to temporarily prevent the extreme temperatures of the flames and radiant heat from burning the performer’s skin. The best known fire stunt gel available is Devil Skin ® stunt gel.
- stunt bag n. [stuhnt bag] aka gear bag. a stunt performers life support when walking onto set. This bag is usually some sort of large duffle bag containing all the basic essentials for performing stunts [e.g. knee & elbow pads, cup, jerk vest, protective fire layers, bite guard and ibuprofen.
- stunt pit n. [stuhnt pit] a large rectangular shaped foam pad that a stunt performer would use to fall into. It’s not just an ordinary big chunk of foam. These pits are specially constructed to safely break the performers fall without causing harm. This is achieved by using several different layers of foam that vary in density and thickness. Some of the foam layers have channels to help expel air upon impact. These pits are covered with a durable vinyl canvas on the bottom and sides with a mesh across the top to allow maximum air expulsion. Though its not uncommon to see some stunt pits with mesh on the sides for added air expulsion. Most pits will measure at least two feet tall or thick, five feet wide and at least eight feet long. Though the size will vary depending upon the stunt.
- box rig n. [bäks rig] a box rig can substitute for a stunt pit. It can also be used to catch objects. The way a box rig is constructed is by using several cardboard moving boxes that are stacked and aligned in rows, X wide by X long by X tall. To keep the boxes from shifting but without making the box rig too rigid of a structure, they’re wrapped together with plastic wrap. Like the kind used to wrap pallets (think saran wrap). The cardboard boxes crush or give way upon impact allowing the objects to safely stop. Box rigs are affordable and a low-tech solution. Interesting factoid; box rigs are great for catching cars that need to be flipped upside down without being severely damaged. The boxes cushion the vehicle upon impact. Yes, enough boxes that are properly stacked can safely catch a full size car or truck.
- pipe ramp n. [pīp ramp] a ramp built out of steel box tubing used to flip a car, truck or the family minivan. The ramp is constructed on average 3-6 feet tall and 10-15 feet long. It doesn’t have a platform in which the wheels of the vehicle roll on. Instead it has a steel tube that the vehicles undercarriage slides upon, favoring either the left or right sight depending on which way the vehicle needs to flip. A stunt driver that favors the left side of the car will roll to the right “driver’s side up” and when favoring the right side the vehicle will roll to the left “driver’s side down”.
- grab strap n. ['grab stæ p] a strap that is securely fastened inside the cabin of a vehicle on the passengers side seat. This strap wraps around the wrist akin to a weight lift strap and is used by the stunt driver during a low speed rollover stunt for vehicles that do not have a roll cage. It is used in conjunction with a lap belt. No shoulder belts are used. The driver will hold firmly onto the strap while approaching the ramp, upon reaching the end of the ramp, just as the vehicle is starting to roll, the driver pulls him/her upper body against the passenger seat.
- jerk vest n. [ˈjərk ˈvest] a harness made from high tensile strength nylon webbing. There are many variations of a jerk vest though they all fit the same fashion as a normal vest garment; encompassing the upper body. A jerk vest has multiple pick points and is custom fitted for the actor or stunt person. The multiple pick points give the option on where to place a rope or cable for snatching, pulling, flying or dragging the person for the stunt sequence. Jerk vest are designed to be as low-profile as possible as to help hide underneath of the wardrobe.
- pick point n. [ˈpik ˈpȯint] pick points are specific areas found on a harness, piece of rigging, steel beam etc., in which a shackle/ pulley, rope, cable or combination of, is attached to.