Earnings --
Working Conditions --
Education & Training Needed --
Advantages --
Disadvantages --
Future in Stuntman Career --
How to Start a Stuntman Career
A stuntman has a very exciting and interesting life. He or she gets to do everything and anything that is too dangerous for the actor/actress. The biggest problem with a stuntman career is that the work is not always there. If you have the connections, being a stuntman is a great adventurous career.
Look at K.C. Peterson's Interview Page.
Earnings
A stuntman's earnings are determined by several factors. As a beginner, you most likely won't make the money that you expect, but once you have experience and have a good reputation, you can sometimes name your price. Salaries can range as low as $5,000 to $70,000 and more per year. Remember stuntpeople do the more adventurous parts of the movie, but no one sees you.
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Working Conditions
A stuntperson goes whereever the movie industry goes and the movie industry goes everywhere. You may have to work from 4 AM to 10 or 11 PM and then get up at four again the next morning. A stuntperson's work is done in all types of weather and is most likely done outside. There are generally more men than women in the business and by the age of 40, you are usually too old to do stuntwork.
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Education & Training Needed
The easiest way to become a stuntperson is to bypass the education and just grow up with stunt work. It is common for stunt work knowledge and skills to be handed down from one generation to the next. Not every person is capable of being in the stunt business. It takes lots of courage, guts, and ambition. Some skills are taught at stunt schools in places like California and Florida that you could enter to learn from professionals.
Check out an Orlando Stuntman School
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Advantages
K.C. Peterson and Mel Gibson on the Maverick set. A major plus is all the people that you get to meet on the job. K.C. has pictures with Jodie Foster and of Tom Cruise and Ron Howard. He is very close friends with Robert Duvall. When asked how he felt about knowing famous movie stars, K.C. reminded me that "they put their pants on the same way we do". I think that it is still exciting to meet such famous people. You will come across the same people on different movie sets. Whether it be the make-up artist, camera man, director, or actor, you will have seen or known a face from somewhere else.
Another advantage of stuntwork is the travel. You travel anywhere that set travels. Movies are made in the most scenic places on earth. And if you're good and can find work, the money is also great.
Photo courtesy of K.C. Peterson.
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Disadvantages
There are also disadvantages of such a career. The hours are very long. Most days last at least 14 hours and then you must get up early the next morning. There isn't a lot of work and so you must join a union and pay union fees every month. It took K.C. 17 years to be accepted by the union. Also you must travel and therefore are away from home a lot.
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Future in becoming a Stuntman
Right now, in 1996, there is not a lot of work for stuntmen. Stuntwork goes in spurts and should not be considered as the only income. Instead of hiring stuntmen, many films use computer generated images to portray the dangerous scenes. Contrary to this, the national employment growth for acting is 54% good. Stunt work usually lasts until the age of forty and then there is the option of becoming a stunt coordinator.
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How to Start a Stuntman Career
The best way to become a stuntman is to just simply become lucky. You must have luck to get with the right coordinator. Directors usually use the same coordinators and if you get a good coordinator connected with a good director, you are very lucky and will have more than average work. You could also attend a stunt school and don't forget to apply for the union. "The biggest part is who you know and how much talent you have."
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