Dive Another Day: Stunt performers hang tight

Stunt men and women are the go-to team for risk-taking. But is this school of hard knocks doing it tough in the industry. Georgina Pearson reports.

As humans, we have a natural fascination with danger. Since Buster Keaton emerged unscathed from a house collapsing around him (Steamboat Bill Jr) we have been unable to tear ourselves from a thrilling action sequence, or a daring gunfight.

However, with each actor comes a stunt double and despite their relatively low-profile these gutsy professionals put their bodies on the line for their craft – and in turn are vital to the success of the films they represent. But as we move into an age of increased CGI and VFX, the fundamentals of post-production are rapidly shifting. Not only do we now have the ability to digitally change the way an entire scene is shaped – but we can actually create the physical characters within that scene. At a glance, it would seem that stunt work is a rapidly dying art. Will five years’ time show an industry struggling to match the infallibility of digital avatars? Or is this merely a pot-hole (granted a very large one) on an otherwise even road of high demand?

Perhaps. But whilst the demand is there, it’s becoming harder than ever to get a leg up in the industry. Jeff Prewett (pictured) – an experienced Australian stunt worker who has doubled the likes of Vin Diesel and worked on features such as Fast and Furious Five, Cross and Avengers – left our shores for LA due to lack of consistent work. “I remember living in Sydney for five years and not being able to land an agent or even get a casting for acting or stunt roles. The industry is small with a very large amount of people wanting work or trying to break in. The difference in the States is that there is a lot of work in comparison, which creates much more opportunity for people.”