How to Become a Stunt Coordinator

If you're a world-class athlete in a sport such as gymnastics, motocross, martial arts or an extreme sport, then stunt coordination may be the career for you. Stunt coordinators are former (or current) stunt people who help find other stunt people for various film, television or theatrical projects. Follow these steps is landing a position as a stunt coordinator interests you.

Instructions

1. Hone your stunt skills. Stunt coordinators were stunt men first. If you plan to be a stunt coordinator, you must have top-notch stunt skills.

2. Go to stunt school. This step is somewhat controversial because no regulating body exists for stunt schools. However, if you want to work as a stunt man and don't have the formal training in an extreme sport, then stunt school may be the proper route for you.

3. Join the Screen Actors Guild or American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, the unions to which stunt people belong. To join SAG or AFTRA, you can either be waived into the union or earn membership by working three full days as an extra.

4. Get stunt work. You need to have a resume, a professional head shot and a 3- to 5-minute video reel that highlights your talent. Shop these materials around as you try and secure your first jobs.

5. Apply for jobs as a stunt coordinator after you have a few years of experience as a stunt person under your belt. The stunt community is small so after you've worked in the field and made some connections, you should be able to secure a stunt coordinator position.