I just got back from “The Descendants”, and noticed approx. 10 people listed under “Stunts” in the credits.
I can’t think of a single scene in the movie that would have required a stunt person, except maybe one where a character gets punched (but even there I don’t think so - the scene is shot from the POV of the puncher, with the punchee’s face full in the frame for that scene) - what did they need 10 of them for? I’ve noticed this in other movies with no apparent stunts before as well.
There might be some scenes in the screenplay that somebody envisioned being more action-packed than they turned out to be, so stunt people were contracted for. Once contracted, they probably get credited (and paid) whether or not their scenes make it to the screen.
Could be other reasons too, like a seemingly mundane act of jumping off a chair or catching a baseball, that the actor either didn’t want to try or the director didn’t want to risk having the actor try for fear of him twisting an ankle or losing teeth and then the whole production gets delayed.
You’ve heard the phrase “if looks could kill” right? Well - of course - that’s impossible, but Hollywood insiders have long known that George Clooney is so damn handsome that a stray line reading has often resulted in the odd body blow, sprained ankle, or cranial trauma.
I work with film dailies on a regular basis, and often see stunt people brought in for the most minor things. If a character is supposed to get shoved hard against the wall, or any kind of fall, a stunt person will be used. Part of it is not taking any chances at all with safety, and I wouldn’t be surprised if there were some kind of insurance standards in play.
Also stunt people know how to move, and sell a physical action. They can run into something and make it look like they hit it a lot harder than they did, and get it right the first time. It doesn’t have to be something dangerous, even simple running and jumping might call for a stunt performer who will do it with more grace than the actor.
I agree with the above, if a main character suffers even a trivial injury like a twisted ankle etc. it can seriously disrupt filming.
Also there may have been stunts filmed that didn’t make it past the editing process.
From the trailer, we apparently get shots of Clooney driving at night (except we can’t actually see the driver), and Clooney rushing down a staircase in the dark (only it’s from far off, and it’s dark), and Clooney awkwardly running around in flip-flops (though at times we only see him doing so from behind), plus a scene where Clooney and Company are out looking for someone in the dark while waving a flashlight around (et cetera). There also seems to be a good deal of swimming, plus maybe some boating?
So maybe they should be billed as “expendables” rather than stunt people.
Would stunt people be listed if they were used as a body double?