Jess Durham's Lounge Discussions

Hey Jess, this is Amanda from the Stage 32 team. I just wanted to let you know I moved your post from Acting to Introduce Yourself, as it fits much better there. Congratulations on your work! Love the photo you posted! Let me know if you have any questions, and all the best to you!

I agree. My husband is a stunt coordinator. he is in the process of making his stage 32 profile. you guys should talk.

I mean, there some posts on stunt related things, but since tey are tagged as various topics it is sometimes hard to find them. Would be terrific to have "stunt" or "stunt work" as topics and get all posts in there :)

I have tried a few times to get discussions up and running but because they are only posts and not topics, they get lost in the system and fizzle out. I would love for this to be more prominent on the site, it is something that definitely needs to be discussed in all aspects and from all sides.

Could not agree more seems to be lack of stunt professionals here.

I think there are enough stunt professionals around for having a separate topic, but on the other hand - there's still no Academy Award for stunt work so I guess it comes with the profession - not being noticed ;)

Nice to have You here Zachary! Hope You find the site useful - it can be if You work it the right way :) Hopefully the more stunties we are on here, the more likely it is that we eventually get a stunt section...

Hi Fredrik! Looking forwad to learning how to use the site. Any advice would definitely be helpful! Thanks for the welcome!

In it to win it.. definitely ready to take some risks! :)

My best advice is to try and hook up with stunt coordinators, in any way You can. To get advice, to get training and to get the chance to show your abilities... I know these are kind of basic advice but IMHO still important to re-iterate :)

Thank you, Fredrik! Any advice is great at this stage in the game. I understand what you mean here...get in front of coordinators no matter what!

I think it has a lot to do with how mature all the involved people are. The more mature director/producer/... are , the more they know what to expect from a stunt coordinator/stunt performer, and also how to best make use of stunt peoples skills and knowledge. As someone mentioned - with planning and a lot of experience nice stunts can be performed even on a tighter budget. A stunt professional does not only know how to take a hit or do a spectacular fall, she or he can also suggest how to film and/or edit a stunt to make it safer and alos make it look awesome even if the budget doesn't really allow for what the film makers initially planned. So I'd say, in the best of worlds, stunt work should start early in a project, maybe even when writing the script (at least the shooting script). That way everyone gets the most out of the money and people involved.

I am a stuntsperson,I didn't know there were more like meLOL

I am adding all of you to my networkLOL

I just joined last week, funny,this topic was posted 3 months ago :/

This site needs an update:) :) :)

He is on the money. There are too many people that assume that these weapons have been super modified for extreme safety and are little more than children's toys. And while there have been modifications, they create there own kind of dangers in the process. I have seen people picking up and wielding blunt swords and knives from and unattended weapons table (shouldn't have been unattended) and when they are asked not too, they get testy and don't understand why we are acting like this blunt sword is dangerous.... BECAUSE THEY ARE! Every department seems to understand and respect etiquette for each other, but some how, stunts seem to slip through the cracks. Now that is not true for every set or every person, some people are well aware of what it is that goes on in a stunt performers day and that their equipment is off limits. But there are too many who don't. Do you lean on a camera stand, sit in an actor/directors chair? Then why are you lying on my air ram pad?

Love the response. i thinks it's important that these things are talked about because as of yet I only hear it in closed circles. Like I said. I have seen actors do very stupid things. Some directors too . If talking these things out can keep someone from getting hurt or killed then it's totally worth it.

As many people in the business say: - The difference between a stunt performer and a daredevil is that a stunt performer can do take after take if need should be. Of course there are occasions when there is only one chance of doing a stunt, but that should be due to other things than a stunt not being safe. Props or locations that once they are broken can't be re-built (at least not easy). And I agree that stunt work over all needs to be talked about more among film makers in general. It goes both ways - those that think You can just toss in a stunt performer and have any action shot You want, to those on the other end that think stunt complicates things too much (or don't even think of the possibility to bring in stunt people) and re-writes or cut out scenes instead.

Or just use CGI to solve their problem Fredrik. But you are right. I was on a shoot about two years ago and they didn't listen to a damn thing I told them. It was pointless for me to even be there.

CGI have its place in film making and action scenes, but as we all know it can't replace physical stunts all the way. Maybe we could get "stunt" or "stunt work" topic here at stage 32 where these things can be discussed and somewhat give other film makers a better insight to what stunt work can and con not do for their productions? I have asked for this from time to time but so far nothing has happened.

It is more fun that one person should have.. but tons of work as well.

great to meet you

Nice to meet you. I like to be friends with people like you.

Jess nice to meet you and welcome to Stage32. Best regards Ivan

Pleasure is all mine