Wondering how to become a stuntman? In the UK, stunt performers will generally join the BSR – The British Stunt Register and try and get work through a stunt co-ordinator. To apply to join the BSR you must meet their criteria for acceptance. This requires a minimum of 6 skills covering a variety of stunt related activities such as fighting, falling, driving, gymnastics, horse riding, swimming, motor cross etc. One skill must be in the fighting category including boxing or a martial art, and one must be in the falling category, such as high diving, skydiving or trampolining.
In addition to gaining the minimum requirement of physical skills you also need experience in front of the camera. This can be attained through acting or extras work, performing in shows or some other such experience. The rules of acceptance on to the BSR are subject to change, and frequently do. So it’s worth contacting them directly for the latest rules and disciplines. There is a minimum age requirement (18) to join the BSR but no upper age limit.
Stunt work is competitive. So it’s also worth knowing that work is generally sporadic, especially at first. To get work you need to be employed by a stunt co-ordinator. But co-ordinators are often reluctant to take a risk on someone new. They risk being embarrassed if someone doesn’t perform to high standards, or even losing work themselves if something goes wrong. Stunt co-ordinators will therefore typically have a small group of performers they use often and that they can trust.
However there will always be opportunities for newcomers if they fit the bill and are a good match for an actor and a particular skill set. But you may have to wait for an opportunity to come along when an “outsider” is required!
How To Become A Stuntman – Location & Networking
How to become a stuntman? Where you live is important for stunt performers too. Ideally you would locate yourself in a major city with a strong film industry presence. London in the UK is the best place to locate yourself if you’re in the UK. If you’re much further north it’s definitely more difficult. You may have a long journey and if a job comes in at late notice this can be an issue.
Work can come in at very short notice and you’ll want to jump on these opportunities if you’re new. This might be because someone has dropped out at late notice or there’s been a change of co-ordinators on a job. If you’re a long drive away from where the work is this presents problems.
It’s also worth reaching out to co-ordinators, although this should be done carefully. Certain co-ordinators will welcome your interest and some will not! Many new stunt performers will ring up co-ordinators asking for observation work. Not all co-ordinators offer this but some do. So it’s worth doing because it can get you some on-set experience and get you around other performers and co-ordinators.
In the UK there’s also a yearly meeting of the BSR which is worth attending as a networking opportunity to build up your contacts and meet co-ordinators.
How To Become A Stuntman – My Journey
I joined the BSR in 2002 but it wasn’t until a couple of years later that I got my first job. Although I was given the advice to get observation work, I felt at the time I couldn’t afford to do it. I also lived too far from London to make it a realistic venture to work for free. In hindsight, observation work would have been a good idea. But at the time there was also conflicting advice handed out not to call the stunt co-ordinators. Certain co-ordinators may not be working themselves, too, so that’s worth keeping in mind.
Newcomers to the stunt register today have a much better way of connecting – through various apps online. So if you’re looking to join the Stunt Register it’s worth seeking out these apps and groups. I believe there’s even one for trainees of the stunt register to connect with others doing their stunt training. It’s definitely worth building some stunt connections if you’re interested in becoming a stunt performer. Natural networkers do much better in the industry because they are good at connecting with other stunt performers and co-ordinators. So, if you’re not a great /natural networker, it’s definitely skill worth exercising.
How To Become A Stuntman – Work Begets More Work
If you’re new to the industry and have joined the BSR, it can take some time getting known. This can be frustrating and when I joined the BSR a lot of people simply dropped off after all their hard work and left the register. But once you start getting work, (and you do a good job of course), you should naturally get more work as you get known. Co-ordinators will recommend you to other co-ordinators and that’s how work starts gaining momentum.
Once you’re on a job, work can snowball too. One day’s work can often lead to several days or even weeks at a time. So, if at first you find nothing is coming in, have some patience. The one job that comes in at the last minute can lead to more and more work over time. The stop/start nature of stunt work can get a little tiring, especially if money is an issue. One week you might be working, and then you might have nothing for a few months. Expect this as a natural progression of getting into the business and you won’t be as disappointed.
It’s also worth knowing that work can dry up as quickly as it appears. When you’re not used to earning the kind of money stunt work can bring, this can easily go to your head. So it’s worth planning for the down times when work is not so forthcoming.
Find A Sideline Income For The Quiet Spells
Most of the stunt performers I’ve met have had some other income source which they use to navigate the stunt world. Although some stunt performers make a full time income from stunts, not all of them do. So depending on your intention for the stunt work, it’s wise to have something you can do in between jobs to keep the money coming in.
While I was doing my stunt training I was also working as a TV extra, driving taxis and working on building sites and in offices. I juggled a number of jobs including doing stand in work and chauffeur driving for actors while trying to get work as a stunt performer.
Another income source to fall back on is definitely a good idea. I now have a kung fu school and an online business which I can work on when not doing stunt work. Learn more about starting your own online business from scratch here.
Career Progression
The career progression of a stunt performer is to become a stunt co-ordinator eventually and co-ordinate other stunt performers. This doesn’t appeal to everyone however. Older stunt performers can and do still perform stunts. But often it is left to the younger performers to do the more dangerous stuff where they are taking the hard knocks.
So where does this leave the older performers who want less and less to get knocked about performing stunts? Unless they want to become co-ordinators, there’s still room for older performers who can perform certain stunts. Much of the bread and butter stunt work is low impact safety work where the production company is protecting an actor from a low level fall, for example.
An older performer can perform a skilled stunt in a vehicle or even a fight scene, with little risk of injury. Stunt performers also become fight co-ordinators or second unit directors.
Summary
When I first discovered how to become a stuntman it was though a chance meeting with a stuntman. He had worked on James Bond films and I thought it was amazing! It inspired me to do the training and join the BSR. But that’s really just the beginning. If you manage to stay the course and do all the work involved in getting those qualifications, congratulations because that’s an amazing achievement in itself.
Once you have been accepted on to the BSR, getting the work needs to become the next goal. Network, and build your relationships. Turn up and do a good job when you get work. It’s a competitive industry and you’ll experience setbacks so you need to build resilience into your game plan. Keep up your skills and training and stay fit and active. Oh, and get another income source you can pick up and drop when you like! You can get started with an online business through this video series.
So that’s how to become a stuntman! Good luck!