Stunt
- This article is about stunt performance. For the plant disease, see stunt (botany).
A stunt is an unusual and difficult physical feat, performed for artistic purposes in theatre or cinema. Stunts are a big part of many action movies. Before CGI special effects, there was no way of achieving these effects, except by using stunt performers who really would jump from car to car or hang from the edge of a skyscraper.
Practical effects
One of the most-frequently used practical stunt is fake fighting. It is still in use today. Rather than hitting someone with a heavy blow, the two actors would stand a little farther away from each other. With the careful placement of the movie camera, one can hardly tell if the actor was actually hitting another actor or not.
Examples
- Tripping and falling down
- Fake fighting
- Fake blood
- High jump
Mechanical effects
A physical stunt is usually performed with help of mechanics. For example, if the plot requires the hero to jump to a high place, the film crew could put the actor in a special harness, and use piano wire to pull him up. Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (2000) is a kung-fu movie that was heavily relied on wire stunts.
Examples
- Wire stunts
Stunt driving
Computer generated effects
In the late 20th century, though, stunt men were placed in dangerous situations less and less as filmmakers turned to relatively inexpensive (and much safer) computer graphics effects using harnesses, fans, blue- or green screens, and a huge array of other devices and digital effects. The Matrix (1999) is a hit action movie that used CGI stunts extensively.
Examples
- Face replacement
- Wire removal
Stars who do stunts
In the early days of cinema, some actors such as Buster Keaton and Charles Chaplin did most of their own physical stunts. However, as these performances were usually very dangerous and many movie stars were not so athletic, filmmakers and insurance companies turned to hiring stunt actors to do the stunts.
Most action actors today use stunt doubles, though some of them do a few of their own stunts to please movie fans. One famous exception to the rule of diminishing stuntwork has been Jackie Chan from Hong Kong, although he has recently admitted to using digitized effects in his movies. Phanom Yeerum, an actor who is highly skilled in Muay Thai, also does all his stunts without assistance.