Stunt Performers

More than 7,700 stunt performers belong to SAG-AFTRA, but only a fraction of those can afford to devote themselves to film or television work full time. Stunt coordinators will continue to hire only very experienced professionals, making it difficult to break into the business. In addition, the coronavirus pandemic has cancelled or delayed many film and TV productions in 2020. There is currently limited, if any, demand for stunt performers and coordinators, so competition for jobs will be particularly keen. Employment will pick up when productions resume at some point in post-pandemic 2021.

In general, the future of the stunt profession may be affected by computer technology. In more cases, filmmakers may choose to use special effects and computer-generated imagery for action sequences. Not only can computer effects allow for more ambitious images, but they're also safer. Safety on film and television sets has always been a serious concern; despite innovations in filming techniques, stunts remain extremely dangerous. However, using live stunt performers can give a scene more authenticity, so talented stunt performers will always be in demand.