TV and Film Stunts

The type of production you oversee can make a big impact on the wages you earn. As this Vanity Fair report shows, experienced stunt coordinators could make more than $100,000 per year when working on high-budget productions.

Because stunt coordinators are represented by SAG-AFTRA, they make at least a standard minimum rate when they join union productions. Coordinators who also perform some stunts themselves typically receive an additional fee. As a general rule, the more dangerous or complicated the stunt is, the higher the fee they receive.

Inspired by the heady mix of danger, petrol fumes and burning rubber? Wondered how to become a motorcycle stunt rider?

If wheelies, skids, jumps and high speed two wheel tricks are your thing there’s no reason why you shouldn’t make a career out of becoming a motorcycle stuntman – but it will require a shed load of hard work.

There are no university or college courses to teach you how to become a motorcycle stunt rider, but the British Action Academy is the closest thing there is to motorcycle stunt school.

It is the UK’s only industry Health and Safety approved stunt training course and it is run by leading stunt performers and coordinators – guys and girls that have been there, seen it, done it, and survived to tell the tale – over three days of intense theoretical and practical training.

Designed for experienced stunt performers who want to polish their skills as well as newcomers trying to break into the stunting profession, BLAST will put you through a series of realistic stunt scenarios testing you to the limits of physical and mental ability.

Once that course has whet your appetite you will be more determined than ever to go on and work as a professional motorcycle stuntman. To do that in the UK you must be at least 18 years old and signed up to the British Equity Stunt Register.

You will have to work for at least three years as a Probationary Member of the Register, a further minimum of two years as Intermediate Member when you will be able to perform supervised stunts, before progressing to Full Membership, and a further period of not less than five years to become a fully fledged Stunt Action Co-ordinator, meaning you can perform stunts and plan and supervise stunts for others.

Because of the potentially dangerous, hazardous or specialist aspects of the work, career progression for Stunt Performers is strictly regulated by the Joint Industry Stunt Committee.

Logbooks must be kept providing evidence that stunts have been performed in a wide variety of disciplines – so even if you want to specialise in motorcycle stunts, you will have to be proficient in a diverse set of stunt skills.

But in whichever discipline you specialise, endurance and flexibility are key qualities you will need. A sudden phone call might require you to traipse across the country at short notice for a shoot and because the stunt team plays second fiddle to the acting cast, stuntmen usually get the wrong end of the filming schedule which can mean long hours, extreme conditions and antisocial hours.

You will also need the ability to get along with the stars of the show – the actors that you will be needed to perform as a stunt double for.

If you turn on the television or attend a movie, chances are you will be entertained by explosions, fight scenes, and fast car chases. Many of us walk out of the theater excited by what we’ve seen but never giving a second thought as to what it took to make all those scenes happen. The truth is there’s an entire stunt team putting great thought and care into ensuring these action scenes are both safe and entertaining. A stunt designer uses their knowledge of mathematics and physics to create a set design that ensures each scene is carried out safely and successfully the first time and every time after, keeping both costs and injuries to a minimum.

Learn how to start your own Stunt Design Business and whether it is the right fit for you.

We have put together this simple guide to starting your stunt design business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Choosing the right name is very important. Read our detailed guide on how to name your business. We recommend checking if the business name you choose is available as a web domain and securing it early so no one else can take it.

The most significant asset for a stunt design business owner is experience. As mentioned, most individuals entering this industry have up to ten years of experience under their belt. They have put in the work as a stuntman and/or design staff and are ready to move on to the next stage of their career.

Europe's Leading Stunt School

Stunt designers should meet with a professional to ensure they have proper insurance coverage should an incident occur. Travel expenses for the entire design staff should be budgeted for, and designers are encouraged to consider the travel budget when determining their fees.

Many designers have a dedicated staff that travels with them from job to job. While this significantly increases startup costs, it often proves invaluable to most as each team member knows their role and are able to communicate amongst the team with ease. To mitigate costs, consider hiring team members on a freelance basis.

Regardless of your role within the industry, leaders encourage everyone involved to commit to learning new methods through continuing their education. Workshops at the Los Angeles Stunts Training Center typically last three days and cost an average of $975, while tuition to an International Stunt School course can set you back upwards of $4,500.

In addition to investing in continuing education, stunt designers will need to budget for travel expenses, insurance, and payroll/employee-related expenses.

If you are considering launching a stunt designer business, you have likely spent many years in the industry. Where have you built your reputation? What producers and directors have you developed a solid foundation with? What sets and/or genres most align with your passion and experience? Where could your knowledge and skills best be put to work? While your ultimate goal is to work on set with a television or movie crew, you may have to work your way back up the ladder in this new position.

Hired by television or movie production teams, stunt designers are paid for each project they complete. Designers rely on past successes and the relationships built on set to gain additional work and build a professional portfolio.

Fees collected vary depending upon the scope and length of the project and budget. The average rate is $980 a day or $3,655 a week.

If you earn an average of $3,655 per week and work 30 weeks per year, your gross annual income will exceed $109,000.

Stunt designers looking to increase annual profits are encouraged to branch out and think outside the box. Commercial skate parks, theme parks, community parks, and video game developers could also benefit from your expertise. Opening a stunt school or teaching workshops are also effective ways to supplement your income and build a name for yourself within the community.

Establishing a legal business entity such as an LLC or corporation protects you from being held personally liable if your stunt design business is sued.

You can form an LLC yourself and pay only the minimal state LLC costs or hire one of the Best LLC Services for a small, additional fee.

Recommended: You will need to elect a registered agent for your LLC. LLC formation packages usually include a free year of registered agent services. You can choose to hire a registered agent or act as your own.

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It's really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.