# How to become a stuntman? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [September 8, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322 "2013-09-08T12:56:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 12:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/1 "2013-09-08T12:56:56Z")
Well, stuntwoman, actually. Wasn’t sure if this was a General Question, but: my six-year-old daughter has repeatedly mentioned that she’d like to be a stuntwoman when she grows up, and has just this weekend asked how to become one. Now, if she’d said _“actress,”_ I’d have some idea of what to say: you start off by just trying out for a part in the school play, and you keep on keeping on with the drama department through high school and college, all while going on casting-call auditions for commercials or television shows or movies or whatever and pointing back at the roles you’ve played in community theater and et cetera. Come to think of it, I could be wrong about that. But stuntwoman? I don’t even have a wrong idea about the entry-level path; what’s the ground floor on flipping a car during a chase scene before wackily running around with your arms on fire and crashing head-first through a plate-glass window? ---
**Author:** ![Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c77e96/32.png) [@Speaker\_for\_the\_Dead](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Speaker_for_the_Dead)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 1:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/2 "2013-09-08T13:12:00Z")
There’s a great podcast (great in general, but this specific example is great, too) that’s available free on iTunes, called _Stuff You Should Know_. There’s a recent-ish, sometime in 2013, episode on stuntwo/men that’s worth a listen to. Chuck (one of the podcasters), who worked as a production assistant, says that the best way is to schmooze with stuntpeople on sets. He recommends learning a specific skill well, and then broadening your scope once you get a few jobs. Unfortunately, it’s apparently quite a difficult field to get into, as the jobs are always limited. For the most part, he says, stuntpeople, like many other workers in the film business, have side jobs to supplement the meagre income they get from working on movies. ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/3 "2013-09-08T15:26:55Z")
Is she sure this is something she wants to jump into? ---
**Author:** ![Dallas\_Jones](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dallas_jones/32/3277_2.png) [@Dallas\_Jones](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dallas_Jones)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 3:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/4 "2013-09-08T15:46:42Z")
You go to one of many stunt man schools: [http://www.tomcruise.com/blog/2011/08/04/aspiring2actwritedirect-stuntman-guide-information-skills-and-training-to-become-a-professional-stunt-performer/](http://www.tomcruise.com/blog/2011/08/04/aspiring2actwritedirect-stuntman-guide-information-skills-and-training-to-become-a-professional-stunt-performer/) > **[The International Stunt School](https://www.stuntschool.com/)** > > The International Stunt School provides the skills and knowledge to be a successful stunt performer for movies, television, and live action. > **[Stuntman Schools](https://www.stuntuniversity.com/)** > > Stunt Training- Top Stunt School -launch your career forward now- the Worlds Only Stunt University. Get the edge now- great for Beginners aspiring to become a stuntman, stuntwoman or action actor. > See us now at > StuntUniversity.com My brother went to one of these for awhile. ---
**Author:** ![Musicat](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/musicat/32/20189_2.png) [@Musicat](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Musicat)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 3:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/5 "2013-09-08T15:48:24Z")
I’d say being pretty athletic would be a requirement. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/6 "2013-09-08T16:17:30Z")
> [@Johnny\_L.A](#): > > Is she sure this is something she wants to jump into? While I see what you did there, let me emphasize that she’s, y’know, six; she’s pretty much limited to invariably grabbing hold at the bottom of the shopping cart to be dragged on her belly like a tiny Indiana Jones – well, and writing out and performing scripts where a knight (a) declares **I’ll Save You, Princess** and then (b) screams and flops around as the dragon breathes fire – sure as she’s convinced “actresses” means _“girl who just stands there saying stuff until the stuntwoman rides around on horseback or jumps out of an airplane or whatever.”_ So, yes, when her little friends announces their desire to become a veterinarian or a teacher, she has for quite some time said _I Wanna Be A Stuntwoman_. (Oh, and thanks to Dallas Jones for the info; how is it that I’ve heard of clown colleges, but not weaponry-trampolining-rappelling school?) ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 8, 2013, 4:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/7 "2013-09-08T16:26:12Z")
I remember back when I was an impressionable young one, [Dar Robinson jumping off the CN tower](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_neYidAwNs). I thought being a stuntman was the coolest thing ever. ---
**Author:** ![CatherineZeta](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e95f7d/32.png) [@CatherineZeta](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CatherineZeta)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 12:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/8 "2013-09-09T00:23:53Z")
I used to work with a guy who was very heavily into parkour and he left the job to become a stuntman. He said he would audition like any regular actor would. I have no idea how that worked out for him. ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 12:29am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/9 "2013-09-09T00:29:02Z")
we have some friends whose kids have gone into Performing Arts. They went to school to learn how to be stuntpeople, as **Dallas Jones** has already noted. One does not simply “fall into” being in stunts. You are properly taught how to fall and safely use stunt equipment. ---
**Author:** ![PlainJain](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/5daacb/32.png) [@PlainJain](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/PlainJain)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/10 "2013-09-09T04:03:56Z")
Well, I guess the first step would be asking for advice on an anonymous, trivia message board… but I see you got that covered. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/11 "2013-09-09T14:02:42Z")
“Don’t worry, honey, I asked a bunch of overly-educated unathletic dorks what you should do!” ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/12 "2013-09-09T14:25:29Z")
> [@Ike\_Witt](#): > > I remember back when I was an impressionable young one, [Dar Robinson jumping off the CN tower](http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-_neYidAwNs). I thought being a stuntman was the coolest thing ever. I feel the need to point out that Dar Robinson was killed doing a routine stunt. ---
**Author:** ![Simplicio](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/c37758/32.png) [@Simplicio](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Simplicio)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 2:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/13 "2013-09-09T14:47:41Z")
Go to google-maps and make sure your familiar with the route to the nearest ER. (my friends and I went through a “stunt-man phase” when we were kids, with lots of trying to jump off moving bikes and the like. So my folks go to know the ER staff really well.) ---
**Author:** ![Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Springtime_for_Spacers)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/14 "2013-09-09T15:11:52Z")
For a six year old gymnastics, athletics and circus skills would seem to be useful skill sets to acquire. There is a British stuntwoman who was recruited from the Gladiators TV show. ---
**Author:** ![Ike\_Witt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ike_witt/32/283_2.png) [@Ike\_Witt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ike_Witt)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 3:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/15 "2013-09-09T15:31:46Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > I feel the need to point out that Dar Robinson was killed doing a routine stunt. Yeah but he survived jumping off the CN tower without a parachute. ---
**Author:** ![Kimballkid](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/k/b5a626/32.png) [@Kimballkid](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kimballkid)\ **Post date:** [September 9, 2013, 7:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/16 "2013-09-09T19:09:04Z")
Go to stuntman school. Don’t die. Get hired. Still don’t die. Profit!! ---
**Author:** ![Miss\_Woodhouse](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/838e76/32.png) [@Miss\_Woodhouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Miss_Woodhouse)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 12:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/17 "2013-09-10T00:49:50Z")
I would imagine that some kind of beginner’s martial arts would be something you could put her in right now. She could feel like she’s making progress toward her dream and learning a useful skill and a lifelong athletic sport. (learning how to fall without hurting yourself is also useful when you get into the bike stunts and throwing yourself off high places that a previous poster mentioned.) Judo and karate are both popular ones so there’s a good chance there’s a quality dojo near you. ---
**Author:** ![Ethilrist](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ethilrist/32/4604_2.png) [@Ethilrist](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ethilrist)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 1:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/18 "2013-09-10T01:05:11Z")
> [@Springtime\_for\_Spacers](#): > > For a six year old gymnastics, athletics and circus skills would seem to be useful skill sets to acquire. There is a British stuntwoman who was recruited from the Gladiators TV show. This, plus martial arts. I remember watching the behind-the-scenes for a stunt on one of the Bourne movies, and the stunt director said all his stunt people had at least one black belt. Learning all of the above, you’ll also find out how well she recovers from minor injuries, which is also a fairly important talent to have. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 2:38am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/19 "2013-09-10T02:38:47Z")
Well, you can’t be one to kiss and tell. ---
**Author:** ![The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/the_other_waldo_pepper/32/12370_2.png) [@The\_Other\_Waldo\_Pepper](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/The_Other_Waldo_Pepper)\ **Post date:** [September 10, 2013, 12:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322/20 "2013-09-10T12:31:37Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Well, you can’t be one to kiss and tell. It’s admittedly troubling that my daughter wants to hire her body out for pay. Hey, hey. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/how-to-become-a-stuntman/668322.md?page=2)