Stunts: The Basics

  In this project news lull I thought it would be beneficial to my fellow filmmakers and the generally curious if we talked about the basics of stunt work. First up: The Fall. Easily the most important part of stunt work, learning how to hit the ground without injuring yourself. This is the technique that we used to train our team, and it is also used in martial arts academies across the country.

First off, stand with your feet fairly close together.

Cross your arms over your chest.

Tuck the chin.

Bend

and lower yourself straight down...

...roll onto your back and break the fall by slapping out. Remember to keep your chin tucked; the inertia of the roll will try to make you crack your head on the ground.

 Note that you must make contact with the palms first, not the elbows. Trust me, taking it on the elbows hurts.

As time goes on, you will be able to do it faster and less rigidly, but this will help your body remember the core principles

Well, there you have it. I hope that was instructive. Thanks for reading! 

P.S. Now the standard disclaimer. The individual takes full responsibility for any injuries incurred... Brightsword Productions and the Othersight team will be held harmless... etc, etc. and so forth.