STUNTS
Stunt work encompasses all stages of planning and executing action scenes for film or TV. Stunt skills can be applied to different other media, action shows etc, but it is first and last a film oriented profession. It requires specialized knowledge and skills, as well as thorough understanding of film work and the stunt performer´s function on the set.
Stunt expertise is above all necessary when filming scenes that because of skills and/or physical requirements, and sometimes an element of danger, cannot be performed by actors themselves, at least not without training and strict supervision.
Stunts are a lot about taking out as much of the danger element as possible, while still making it look dangerous - something close to the real thing, but ”camera friendly” and ”performer friendly”.
STUNT WORK IS TEAM WORK
A stunt performer should never feel alone on the job. Even for a fairly uncomplicated stunt, there should be other stunt professionals present just to help out setting up for the stunt. Such personel, called safeties, know and understand the stunt in complex detail through established routines and shared experience.
In addition, for any complex stunt operation or fight scene, there should also be a stunt coordinator.
STUNT COORDINATION
A stunt coordinator has the overall responsibility for planning and budgeting the stunts for a film, putting together a team of stunt performers, and supervising the execution and filming of the stunts.
Among many other things, a stunt coordinator must be able to communicate on a professional level with the director, the director of photography, the first assistant director (who handles the practical and logistic sides of the shooting), the special effects guys, and – very important - the actors.
SAFETY
In stunts, there will always be risks, however small, that needs to be assessed. Nothing dangerous is "easy". Still, I have a 100 % safety record. No one ever got hurt for real on a film or theatre play that I did the action for, a fact I am sincerely proud of.
NETWORK
A large network of stunt performers and specialists throughout Scandinavia allows me to put together a team for a particular stunt on fairly short notice. This said, please bear in mind that it is always best to contact us well in advance for the optimal results.
STUNT TRAINING
There is really no formal stunt education you can take. All professional stunt performers rely on a mish-mash of different disciplines that they have pursued, often to a high level of proficiency – martial arts, stage fighting, gymnastics, action sports, horse work etc. In addition, you often get introduced into the film industry by another stunt man (or woman), who teach you the ropes.
For instance, many seem to think that a stuntman needs a black belt. True, martial arts are a valuable base for stage and film fighting, but it needs to be adjusted to the medium (film) - sometimes a lot!
There do exist stunt schools and workshops where one is taught standard stunt skills required for work as a utility stunt person, such as different falls, horse work, special effects and weapon work, and staging fights for film. These courses can provide a good basic introduction, but going to a stunt school is not enough to be a stunt performer. There are just so many vital things you can only learn on a professional film set.
Stunt work really is a multi-skill profession. I have made it a priority to continuously gain more knowledge through courses and training that are relevant to stunt work, including action editing, firearms and gun safety, and first aid. I have also dabbled in special effects, mainly mechanical effects and pyrotechnics, which helps when coordinating a scene together with special effects people.
More than once, I have also found use for my circus background in working with stunts.