Stunt

A stunt is a difficult and dramatic physical feat. It is performed for artistic purposes. These feats are usually meant for a public audience. You might see them in theaters or cinema. Stunts are a major feature of many action films.

Before computer-generated imagery, creators had limited options. They used models or false perspective. Sometimes, they used in-camera effects. If a creator wanted something more, they found a stunt performer. This person is also called a stunt double. They perform dangerous acts like jumping between moving cars. They might even hang from the edge of a skyscraper.

Practical effects are among the most frequent types of stunts. One common example is stage combat. Performers use sword fighting, martial arts, or acrobatics. While they try to avoid contact, some contact is necessary. This contact creates specific noises or physical interactions.

These performances are highly choreographed. Professionals may rehearse for hours, days, or weeks. Seasoned experts treat every performance as if it is new. This is because the risks of injury are very high. Every move must be correct to reduce danger. Examples include high jumps, spins, and "suicide backflips." To stay safe during falls, performers use stunt airbags. These large mats can be the size of a small swimming pool.

Mechanical effects often assist a physical stunt. A film crew might use a special harness to help an actor. They can use aircraft high tension wire to pull them upward. This makes it look like the hero is jumping to a high place. Sometimes, piano wire is used to make objects fly. However, actors are never suspended from piano wire. This is because the wire is brittle. It can break under the impact of a shock.

Wuxia films, like *Hero* (2003), rely heavily on these wire stunts. Western cinema also uses extensive rigging, such as in *The Matrix*.

Vehicular stunts require extensive training and special vehicles. These stunts can be simple handbrake turns, called bootleg turns. They can also be complex car chases or crashes. These chases may involve dozens of different vehicles. Rémy Julienne was a pioneering automotive stunt coordinator. Another driver, Bobby Ore, is a Guinness Book of World Records holder. He holds a record for driving a London double-decker bus on two wheels for 810 feet.

Aviation stunts have a long history as well. They began with stunts performed in balloons during the 18th century. After 1903, powered aircraft led to aerobatics and barnstorming. Ormer Locklear helped develop tricks like wing walking. He also helped develop mid-air transfers between airplanes.

In the late 20th century, computer-generated imagery, or CGI, changed the industry. Filmmakers began using digital effects because they are inexpensive and safer. They use tools like harnesses, fans, and green screens.

CGI can be used for face replacement or wire removal. *The Matrix* (1999) used CGI to enhance real stunts during post-production. The *Star Wars* prequel films often feature stunts that are entirely computer-generated. Even with these digital tools, real performers remain essential. They provide a human quality to the action that computers cannot replicate.

Hong Kong action cinema has produced many famous stunt examples. In 1982, Jackie Chan experimented with elaborate sequences in *Dragon Lord*. One pyramid fight scene required 2,900 takes to complete. In 1983, he formed the Jackie Chan Stunt Team. His film *Project A* featured him falling through fabric canopies. The film *Police Story* (1985) featured a massive car chase. Its final mall fight was so full of broken sugar glass it was called "Glass Story." During one stunt, Chan suffered second-degree burns and a dislocated pelvis. Other stars like Michelle Yeoh and Tony Jaa are also famous for stunts.

Stunt performers have fought for professional recognition. Films like *The Fall Guy* helped raise their profile. Some stunt coordinators, like Vic Armstrong, became famous directors. Armstrong was the first stuntman to win an Academy Award. He won it for developing a descender rig for safety. In 2001, the first World Stunt Awards were held in Los Angeles. Arnold Schwarzenegger presented the first Lifetime Achievement award. The awards recognize categories like Best Fight and Best Work with a Vehicle.

While their status in Hollywood is still growing, their work is vital to every film genre.