How to Get a Job as a Stunt Driver
If you want a glamorous Hollywood job without having to remember pages of dialogue, one option is to get involved in the art of stunt driving. Stunt drivers can secure a six-figure income, and with the creation of the "Outstanding Stunt Coordination" Emmy category, people in this career field can gain widespread acclaim for their work if they advance far enough in the industry. But breaking into the industry without the proper credentials can be very difficult, making it important to have plenty of educational experience.
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Instructions
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Get your driver's license. You will need to be able to drive solo, without any parent or guardian present, in order to attend driving schools or get paying stunt jobs.
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Get fit. The drivers who are in highest demand are physically fit and young looking, which allows directors to use them as convincing body doubles for Hollywood actors. Most stunt drivers are also under 6 feet tall, as this minimizes head injuries when stunts force the driver into the air, and shorter drivers are preferred in car commercials because they make the interior of automobile look more roomy.
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Start saving. Mastering the craft of stunt driver is going to take many hours of training and a 3-day basic intro class for stunt driving can cost as much as $3000. You will have a hard time getting educational loans to cover these costs, so you must have a large amount of money in your personal savings account.
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Enroll in a stunt driving course. One respected school is Rick Seaman's Stunt Driving School in Rosamond, CA. However, you will need consult your local Yellow Pages to find the best schools in your area, unless you plan to travel out-of-state to study (and thereby increase your expenses).
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Get some on-the-job experience. Before you get your first paying stunt gig, you may have to first do some interning or job shadowing on a movie or commercial set to expand your resume. You will be able to get these kinds of experiences by networking with your driving school classmates and instructors. In addition, you can mail copies of your CV/resume to casting directors in New York and LA, whose addresses will be listed in trade publications like Backstage and Backstage West.
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Tips & Warnings
Stunt drivers can rarely qualify for disability insurance, so always remember that your life is on the line every time you show up for work.
