24 tasks, each one witnessed by the sources that watched the job — and behind every one, a prompt you can use tonight.
You usually start early with a safety briefing and a run-through of stunts with the director, stunt coordinator, and camera crew. Expect fittings for costumes and armour, a warm-up, and rehearsals for each stunt in sequence before any take.
Between takes you might review footage on set, talk to the director or agents by phone or email (often using Microsoft Outlook), and tweak moves to match the actor’s timing or camera angles.
On set you’ll see Apple Final Cut Pro or the production’s video system for quick playback, Microsoft Word and Excel for contracts and schedules, and Outlook for call sheets and emails.
For promotion and networking you’ll use Instagram, TikTok, and Facebook to post reels, and Zoom for remote meetings or auditions with agents and directors.
Take classes in stage combat, gymnastics, martial arts, driving, and safe fall techniques at local schools or drama societies. Build a basic showreel of your skills—short clips you can post on Instagram or TikTok and share with agents.
Attend industry workshops, join local theatre productions to learn timing and character work, and use Zoom for remote coaching or to get feedback from stunt coordinators.
According to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), about 55,000 stunt performers were employed in the U.S. (BLS, 2025). Pay varies hugely by experience, union status, and project type: TV, film, theatre, or live shows.
Entry or non-union gigs can pay per day; union work (SAG-AFTRA or equivalent) pays higher rates and has clear contracts. Always read the contract in Microsoft Word or PDF and confirm details in writing.
No. A stunt performer executes the physical actions on camera or stage. A stunt double replaces an actor for dangerous moves and must match the actor’s look and movement. A stunt coordinator plans and supervises all stunts, writes the safe sequence, and liaises with directors.
Early in your career you might do both performer and double work; coordinating is usually a senior role requiring more experience and responsibility for safety.
Yes, use AI for tasks like organizing schedules in Microsoft Excel, writing emails in Outlook, drafting cover letters in Word, or editing demo clips in Apple Final Cut Pro with AI-assisted tools. Use AI to study choreography or to visualize camera angles, but not to replace professional stunt planning.
Never let AI create safety plans or replace a stunt coordinator’s on-set decisions. Always have a trained coordinator and human-reviewed risk assessments before any stunt.
Consistency under pressure: performing the same action safely and exactly as planned every take. That means strong physical stamina, precise body control, and the mental resilience to handle quick direction changes and rejection.
You show this by learning choreography, maintaining character through a stunt, attending fittings, and rehearsing until your timing matches the director’s camera moves and the other actors.