What is a Stunt Double?
Working the film set is an active, and engaging opportunity for most of the cast and crew involved. Yet, no other position for cast or crew is as dangerous as the job of the stunt double. In fact, the stunt double’s position is so dangerous. That there are very few individuals that can actually call themselves stunt doubles. But, what is a stunt double? And what is it that they do that’s so dangerous on the set?
What is a Stunt Double?
Many hear “stunt double” and think, oh. They’re just the second stuntman that comes in if the original stuntman is sick or something. That’s incorrect. Close, but not quite.
The stunt double is the individual that performs the most skilled, dangerous stunts of a film or video sequence. They are called the “double” because their body type is a visually close replica of the stuntman that can pass off as “the same” when filmed on camera.
Stuntman vs Stunt Double
The stuntman in a film is involved in dangerous acts that could potentially harm the actors. The stuntman may perform various fight scenes or they might be required to jump off a bridge onto a roof.
They certainly perform “dangerous” acts for the camera. But there’s a line drawn in which if something is TOO dangerous for the stuntman, a stunt double is called in.
The stunt double performs the most dangerous actions of the stunt. They have the appearance of the stuntman, so they can play it off as if it were the same individual, but they are highly skilled stand-ins that are called in for the most complicated stunt performances.
What Does a Stunt Double Do?
The stunt double can perform a variety of different stunts on camera. They might light themselves on fire, jump out of burning buildings, hang from a helicopter at 500 feet in the air or perform some other insanely dangerous stunt.
Not only do they perform these stunts, but they do so over and over again until the footage captured is “just right” and the Director is satisfied.
Beyond what a Stuntman does
A stuntman performs various stunts, such as falling down a flight of stairs or maybe crashing a car into something, but the stunt double embraces the true danger in stunt work.
Stunt doubles go beyond the work of the stuntman and act on behalf of another actor to perform the stunts that they are hired for.
Note, stunt doubles and stand ins are not the same. While a stand in may have similar build of another actor, they do not perform stunt work. Stunt doubles perform the insane acts of danger that keep moviegoers coming back to the cinema for more!