A stunt double is a person who performs physical sequences for television or film that are potentially dangerous or difficult for an actor or actress to perform. Doubles are frequently used in action scenes to perform stunts such as fighting or jumping off buildings, but they can also be used to perform any feat that an actor or actress cannot physically perform for a role, such as horseback riding or swimming. A professional stunt double is usually skilled in a variety of physical abilities, such as karate, gymnastics, or climbing, which can help him or her stay safe while performing stunts.
When a stunt double stands in for an actor or actress during a scene, it is usually filmed from a distance so that the audience is unaware of the presence of a double. Despite the fact that stunt doubles do not have any speaking roles or close-ups, they must bear a physical resemblance to the people they are standing in for in order for the transition to be seamless. Stunt doubles dress in the same clothes as the characters they portray, including wigs if necessary. An actor or actress may use the same stunt double in multiple films, especially if the double is the same height and size as the actor or actress.
A person can enroll in a stunt school to learn how to be a stunt double. A stunt school teaches students how to safely perform fighting sequences, dodge oncoming cars, fall down stairs, and jump from great heights, among other things. Despite the presence of safety devices such as harnesses or mats on set, stunts can still be dangerous, necessitating proper training. Before pursuing stunt doubling, many people have a physical background. Professional wrestlers, for example, frequently pursue stunt work because they have experience performing potentially dangerous physical acts safely.
A stunt double is usually chosen by the stunt coordinator of a production, who is in charge of casting and choreographing stunts. A professional stunt double can work for a stunt company that specializes in television or film stunts. He or she can also work part-time as a freelancer. Many stunt doubles begin their careers as small-time actors or set crew members, allowing them to network with film and television producers.
Some stunt doubles start working as children. Although the actions performed by young stunt doubles are not as dangerous as those performed by adult stunt doubles, they may be used to stand in for child actors or actresses in physical sequences like falling or climbing. For more dangerous physical scenes, stunt doubles with dwarfism are frequently used as stand-ins for children or babies.