By equipping people with the necessary skills, knowledge, and confidence to excel in their chosen field. We cultivate a nurturing and compassionate environment that fosters collaboration, encouraging individuals to align around the best practices while celebrating their unique approaches and experiences.
This allows freedom, creativity and innovation to thrive. These are things the industry was built on. This also allows for safety, reduces risk and ensures we remain free to create and innovate, without excessive restriction or regulation. That is what the professional industry relies on today.
Our commitment to our students goes beyond the walls of the Academy, as we accompany them on their journey, guiding them away from harm and towards success in their endeavors. By instilling a sense of belonging and camaraderie, we inspire our students to become heroes, both within the stunt community and in their personal lives.
In support of our mission we actively work to help develop standards, train, assess and credit instructors and professionals, and to assist them to communicate with and guide the people and teams they interface with. There's a lot more to The ISA than being a school...
Alongside training Students and Professionals The ISA trains, Certifies, Accredits and licenses Stunt Trainers, Schools and Training Facilities, Globally. This is part of our mission to work with others to help raise the quality and standards of training and work practices around the world.
If you are interested in partnering with us, adopting our training, delivering our accredited programmes and methods, or would like your crews, instructors and teams to be professionally trained and accredited, please contact us. We are here to help others find their best ways and raise standards.
If you would like to add your school or facility to our global network of affiliates, or begin the journey to operating an ISA franchised business, please contact us.
Our goal is to raise, ensure and unify standards and practices globally, improving access to and the best quality of Stunts and Stunt Acting all around the world.
Are you passionate about elevating the standards of stunt training and performance? The International Stunt Academy (The ISA) offers you the opportunity to join a network of elite training institutions, dedicated to providing the highest quality education in the world of stunts and stunt acting. By affiliating with ISA, you'll be empowering your institution to reach new heights and transform the future of the stunt industry.
As an ISA affiliate, your training facility or school will gain access to a wealth of resources and a global network of professionals. You'll also benefit from our internationally recognized and unified standards, created by leading stunt professionals, government bodies, and educational institutions specializing in stunt and stunt acting. In addition, affiliation with ISA will enhance your credibility and reputation within the industry.
If you're looking for an even deeper partnership, consider becoming an ISA franchisee. By running a licensed branch of the International Stunt Academy, you'll be directly contributing to the growth and evolution of the stunt community. The journey to becoming a franchisee begins with affiliation and ensuring that your school meets ISA's rigorous standards.
Begin by affiliating your school or training facility with ISA, working closely with us to meet our international standards. This requires mutual visits to each other's headquarters and training centres and mutual cooperation as we start this wonderful journey together.
During the affiliation process, all instructors and administrators must achieve their relevant ISA competency certificates, ensuring they have demonstrated a consistent and high-quality approach to coordinating and deliver and world-class learning experience for both young students and experienced professionals.
The ISA not only values quality, but also consistency in upholding it. For six months, your school's operations will be closely monitored, including collecting student feedback and evaluations to guarantee standards are maintained and your operations are suitable to ensure continuous improvement.
After successfully completing the initial six-month monitoring period, your school will enter a one-year proving period during which time we can assess it for franchise consideration.
Upon satisfying all required measures and scores, The ISA may grant your affiliated partner school a franchise, (under an annual license).
Joining the International Stunt Academy family as an affiliate or franchisee opens the door to exciting opportunities for growth and development. Together, we can create a brighter future for the stunt industry and inspire the next generation of stunt performers and actors. Take the leap and become part of our global community today!
A stuntman or stuntwoman—more commonly referred to as a stunt performer or stuntperson—is a trained professional responsible for executing various difficult or specialized movement–related tricks in a TV show, movie, or live performance.
Stunt actors enhance the action sequences of a film production by making difficult or dangerous stunts look real, whether they’re acting out fight scenes, high-speed car chases, or other death-defying physical feats. Performances involving live stage combat, car crashes, horseback riding, building jumps, skydiving, fire scenes, or high falls will typically require the expertise of a stuntperson.
ISA AuditionA stunt performer will typically collaborate with a production’s stunt coordinator (in addition to the director and the director of photography), who is responsible for choreographing and supervising stunt moves on a film set. A stunt double—not to be confused with a stuntperson—is a type of stunt performer who subs in as a body double for a specific actor to make it appear like they executed their own stunts.
A stuntperson’s salary depends on their experience and skill level and the difficulty of the type of stunt they need to perform. The average salary for a working stunt performer ranges anywhere from $30,000–$70,000. Amateur stunt artists may make well below that threshold, and professional stunt doubles for A-list actors may earn much more.
Dar Robinson (recorded in the Guinness Book of World Records as the highest-paid stuntman for a single stunt to date) earned a record $100,000 per stunt.
1. Driving: Stunt vehicles are real vehicles capable of incurring the same injuries as a regular car, so driving skills are paramount for the position. Cinematic car chases or scenes involving motorcycles often require the skill of an experienced stunt driver. Some of these skills include peeling out, drifting, or emergency braking the car into a 180-degree spin.
2. Excellent communication: Quick and effective communication skills are a must in this field. Dangerous stunts are risky both for the stunt performer and those nearby. At any given moment, the stunt performer needs to let the director or coordinator know when something isn’t working (either mechanically or physically), especially if it can put someone’s life at risk.
3. Falling skills: Stunt performers must learn the right way to fall from a variety of heights (in different environments) to maximize their on-set abilities while minimizing their risk of injury. Experience working with harnesses and without them during falls can give stunt performers a competitive advantage.
4. Fighting skills: Specialized fighting skills such as martial arts, fencing, wrestling, boxing, and general combat abilities all give stunt performers a competitive edge for landing different gigs—especially when it comes to getting cast in action movies.
4. Fighting skills: Specialized fighting skills such as martial arts, fencing, wrestling, boxing, and general combat abilities all give stunt performers a competitive edge for landing different gigs—especially when it comes to getting cast in action movies.
5. Strength and coordination: Stunt people must maintain peak physical fitness because they often need to perform difficult physical feats (such as lifting other people up or climbing tall structures) during a production. Having a strong body capable of balance and coordination makes you a more reliable stuntperson, and makes any given stunt much safer for yourself and those around you.
Stunt work can be fun and exciting but also hard to find. The more experience and skills you possess, the likelier you are to land a job as a stunt performer. Follow these steps to become a stuntperson:
Take relevant classes. Taking a variety of classes in physical activities, such as martial arts, gymnastics, rock climbing, swimming, or swordplay, helps expand a stunt performer’s toolbox. These classes help you develop your form and movement and help you develop a specialized skill set (which can make the difference between getting cast for a gig or getting passed over). You can also attend a stunt school to learn the basics of stunt training and improve your resume.
Develop a specific skill. Stunt people who master a specific skill greatly increase their chances of getting hired. For instance, some stunt people specialize in fire stunts, while others excel in driving or climbing. Being the best at your particular stunt allows you to develop a reputation in the industry as the go-to person for that skill.
Research the best stunts. Study movies and television shows that involve a wide range of stunts. Pay attention to how some of the best stuntmen execute a variety of feats.
Volunteer your services. Performing stunts for independent projects or student films will help you gain more experience and exposure in show business. It also gives you material to develop a reel, which you will need to showcase your abilities to get cast.
Make a stunt reel. Showcasing the most impressive moments of your stunt work in a reel is an effective way to get a casting director or producer to see your best work, improving your chances of getting hired. (Consider getting a good headshot, too.)
Network with peers and pros. Like many jobs in Hollywood, stunt performing is often freelance, intermittent work. Connect with working stunt professionals through business networking sites or social media to expand your opportunity pool. Reach out to a working stuntman and ask to shadow them for a day to see what the job is really like.
Apply for stunt positions. Browse industry job sites or social networking groups for stunt work open calls. (Keep in mind that many stuntman jobs are based in New York or Los Angeles.) It may be difficult to land these jobs with less experience, but possessing the specific talent or skill the production is looking for will help you stand out. Keep in mind that you likely will need to work a few nonunion jobs (not represented by SAG-AFTRA) before you can join a union and get more professional work.
- Training Partners: Training partners are incredibly important to have, for all kinds of skills and disciplines. Hold each other accountable and use an objective perspective to provide feedback and improve each other's skills.
- Demo & Video Collaborators: Hey man you need someone to film for you for showreel footage and stuff. And vice versa.
A bit of personal advice- don't do "networking" by being fake and using people. Help others out for no reason other than it being a nice thing to do, and expect nothing in return. Being a good person will get you much further than acting fake to get people to like you and using others to get ahead. Remember that there are other people trying to make it out here too, and they deserve a shot as much as you do. The world doesn't revolve around you.
Stunt Contact is an online subscription that releases a list of pending and active US productions along with their location and contact information every two months. You can go in on a subscription alone or find someone to share it with and split the cost.
Hustling is the most ridiculous thing. The first time I was told about it, I deadass thought someone was playing a joke on me. Alas, hustling is very real. The act of "hustling" is when you show up to a set or production office (generally unannounced) to get in contact with the stunt coordinator to introduce yourself and give them your resume. Wild right?! This is not a career for the introvert, guys. I don't have any experience hustling as of yet, so I'm just going to tell you what I was told.
How do you know where to go and when? Networking, people. When stunt performers go hustling, they often know someone on the set or were told about it by someone they know outside of the set. You could just show up to a set that you learned about on the Stunt Contact listing, but obviously having a mutual associate with at least one person involved in the production will drastically improve your chances of success. Ideally, you know someone that is working or has worked with the stunt coordinator that you are looking for.
Always wear all black when hustling - it makes you look like you belong on set and is standard stunt dress anyways. Also bring your headshot & resume in a nice satchel to look official; don't hold papers or a folder in your hands.
You can either go to the active set or go to the project's production office if you have the address (Stunt Contact often includes it). Go either by yourself or with one other person that does not look like you.
Really act like you're supposed to be there. Exude confidence, not arrogance. You'll most likely have to sweet talk the PA's (Production Assistants) in order to get to the production office or active set for the hustle.
Once on set, say "I am here to visit [Stunt Coordinator], can I get a callsheet?" Once you have it, fold it in half and go where the CS indicates that the stunt coordinator is. If in a production office, just ask for them.
If you don't get the chance to introduce yourself to the stunt coordinator, leave your resume on their desk along with a note.
If you cannot go a set or office in person, feel free to send your information to stunt coordinators from afar. Do BOTH email as well as a physical letter and title both "ATTN: Stunt Coordinator" or "ATTN: [Stunt Coordinator's Name]" when addressing them. Include your headshot and resume.
There are several stunt listings online that many people use to get their name out there. You pay an annual or monthly fee and build your profile. If you hate manually entering your work history information on site-specific forms I've got some bad news for you 🙃Stunt coordinators often look on these websites to find stunt performers of certain types for their projects.
The one online account that you definitely need (once you get a couple of credits under your belt) is IMDb Pro
Once you work with or establish a relationship with a stunt coordinator, don't let that relationship go. Touch base with the stunt coordinators that you know every few months or every time you have a significant change in your showreel, resume, or appearance. Give 'em the good old "hope all is well, would just like to send some updated materials your way" in order to make sure that you stay fresh in their minds.
When you seek a career in stunts, becoming a SAG member is the goal. You can begin your career with non-union work (often in advertisements and small or independent productions), but you will eventually have to make the effort to become union. There's no way around it. That's where the money is, and that's where the future is.
In order to become a member of SAG you must first become "SAG-Eligible," then pay your dues into the organization. These are the three main methods of becoming SAG-Eligible as a stunt performer.
You get a union voucher when you work a union background job. "To become SAG this way, you must have completed 3 days of work as a background actor in a SAG-AFTRA bargaining agreement." So get 3 days of background work on a SAG production to become eligible.
Equity is the stage actors' union, which is a sister-union to SAG-AFTRA. If you are a registered member of Equity, you are also SAG Eligible. You get Equity through professional theatre work. Some stunt shows in Disney parks give you Equity-Eligible status after working a certain amount of time there, usually like a year. SAG apparently has some other sister unions as well.
Action Film SchoolThis is the holy grail of stunt opportunities. It is the shortcut into SAG. A Taft-Hartley Report is the form that a stunt coordinator has to fill out when he hires someone that is non-union for a union job.
If you are non-union and get hired to do a stunt in a SAG production, your stunt coordinator will fill out a Taft-Hartley Report and send it to SAG on your behalf. In the industry we call this "getting Tafted." You will then receive a document in the mail informing you that you are now SAG-Eligible.
I was Tafted on NCIS New Orleans because the stunt coordinator needed a girl to do parkour for a stunt acting scene (a bunch of "gutter punks" running away from police), and I also happened to be a good match to double their guest actress in another scene. He killed two birds with one stone by hiring me.
A stuntman performs difficult and risky stunts for the movie industry and producers, such as fight scenes, motorbike or car crashes, falls from high buildings, or even technical dance routines.
Research the type of stunts that will be appropriate for the movie or television script, in coordination with crewmembers like the producer, director and other stunt performers.
Closely imitate the actor’s appearance and body language when playing the character, so stunt scenes are seamlessly incorporated with the film.
Do several hours of training for high impact activities based on the type of stunt required, in keeping with safety regulations.
Do several hours of training for high impact activities based on the type of stunt required, in keeping with safety regulations.
Keep accurate records of stunts performed and submit relevant paperwork such as records of risk assessments to the production team.
During a typical workday, the production company may call a stuntman onto the set as early as 6.30 am in the morning. Usually, he is required to reach at least an hour before the crew call for hair and makeup, which depending on the role can take up to two hours. Much of the time goes while shooting pre-rehearsed scenes unless there are changes in the script. The complexity and riskiness of the stunt determines how many takes are required – e.g. large stunts with special effects could be wrapped up in two takes. Stuntmen will often train together to mimic the moves required in a script more naturally. Rehearsals for upcoming scenes take place later in the evening and everything is done by 9 pm or 10 pm at night.
A stuntman usually enjoys an exciting and engaging work schedule. You can find yourself working in all types of weather conditions and in uncomfortable circumstances like the top of a mountain, down a mineshaft, underwater or in a moving vehicle. You would be working on the set of a tv show or movie for most of the day, rehearsing and performing stunts. Tools like pads, fireproof suits and crash mats would be used to as a precaution to keep you safe.
The hours are often very long, with early starts, late finishes and work through the early hours of morning. When a stunt is particularly complex, you will have to do multiple takes for a successful shot. For instance, one day you could be dangling from wires off a skyscraper while another day you could be shooting at the bad guys. Due to the variable nature of the work, you must be in peak fitness to handle the stress levels and be comfortable with flexible work hours.
While stunt performers begin as extras in small film productions, with talent and perseverance they work their way up to major movies with more prominent stars. Once in a while, stunt performers may be spotted by a casting crew to play a part in a movie. As you build up a stellar reputation in the movie industry for a few years, you can easily make a six-figure income.
Stuntman jobs are very selective and hard to find. To apply for such jobs you will have to become a union member of the Screen Actors Guild or the American Federation of Television and Radio Artists. These unions are in charge of choosing who gets to work on which film.
Minimum qualifications for becoming a stuntman is that you must be at least 18 years old and have superior physical fitness levels. The majority of stunt performers begin their careers by working at the movie industry as an extra on set. This is a good way to get exposure to the functioning of the industry and the type of work stunt performers have to undertake.
These days you can also learn the tricks of the trade by attending a stunt school. Training can take up to a month and involve learning relevant skills like unarmed combat, stair falls, high falls, martial arts, weaponry and harness techniques. There are often specific schools for the type of stunts you want to do going forward, e.g. Rick Seaman’s school is great for car stunts like car races or car crashes. A few acting schools also provide courses on stunt performing and training, which is a good choice to hone your skills in extreme sports. A stuntman is successful if he is dedicated to living a very active lifestyle.
We’ve provided you the following to learn more about this career. The salary and growth data on this page comes from recently published Bureau of Labor Statistics data while the recommendations and editorial content are based on our research.
