Extra to stunt performer
An extra already meets 34% of what the stunt performer role asks for. The move turns on 11 required skills not yet in the profile.
68.9/ 100
1 How much of what a stunt performer is expected to do is already part of an extra’s work. Directional: the figure for the reverse move differs, because moving into a speciality is not the same problem as moving out of one. 2 Every skill the stunt performer role is recorded as needing, required and optional together. What these numbers mean.
Why this move works
A stunt performer role treats 6 of its required skills as things an extra already does. You would walk in with these on day one.
- collaborate on costume and make-up for performances
- express yourself physically
- follow directions of the artistic director
- harmonise body movements
- work with the camera crew
- work with the lighting crew
What stands in the way is 11 required skills the profile does not yet cover. Table 3 groups them; Table 4 says which to take first.
Table 2 · What you already bring
Of the 15 skills that carry over, these are the ones fewest other occupations ask for. A stunt performer role needs them, and most people applying for one will not have them already. This is the part of an extra background worth leading with.
- already held practice martial arts communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held ride horses communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held use firearms assisting and caring
- already held express yourself physically communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held harmonise body movements communication, collaboration and creativity
- already held adapt to acting roles communication, collaboration and creativity
All 15 carried skills, including the 6 the stunt performer role treats as required.
Table 3 · What you may need to learn
The 30 missing skills fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, numbered in the order worth working in. Areas carrying the most required skills come first, and inside each one the required skills sit above the optional ones. Nothing here is a verdict on you: it is a list of what this particular job asks for that your current one does not.
- still to learn adapt to type of media required
- still to learn follow time cues required
- still to learn perform stunts required
- still to learn study roles from scripts required
- still to learn work with an artistic team required
- still to learn attend rehearsals required
- still to learn manage feedback required
- optional, not held practise extreme sports optional
- optional, not held self-promote optional
- optional, not held adapt fighting techniques for performance optional
- optional, not held communicate expectations of fight actions optional
- optional, not held learn the choreographic material optional
- optional, not held perform with motion capture equipment optional
- optional, not held prepare rehearsals optional
- optional, not held interact with fellow actors optional
- optional, not held perform improvisation optional
- optional, not held work with prop makers optional
- still to learn analyse own performance required
- still to learn follow work schedule required
- optional, not held analyse your fight discipline expertise optional
- optional, not held organise rehearsals optional
- still to learn study media sources required
- optional, not held search for a suitable filming location optional
- optional, not held perform risk analysis optional
- still to learn work with respect for own safety required
- optional, not held obtain relevant licenses optional
- optional, not held sword fighting optional
- optional, not held film production process optional
- optional, not held interact safely with animals optional
1 further area in the appendix
Table 4 · Where to start
The 3 entries a stunt performer role is least likely to hire without. The ordering is computed from the skill data, not from what pays.
- 01 adapt to type of media practise this
- 02 follow time cues practise this
- 03 perform stunts practise this
Each entry opens a course search for that skill. Career Overlap earns nothing from these links.
Appendix · The rest of the record
All 15 skills that carry over
- already held collaborate on costume and make-up for performances skill
- already held express yourself physically skill
- already held follow directions of the artistic director skill
- already held harmonise body movements skill
- already held work with the camera crew skill
- already held work with the lighting crew skill
- already held acting techniques knowledge
- already held adapt to acting roles skill
- already held lighting techniques knowledge
- already held perform dances skill
- already held photography knowledge
- already held practice dance moves skill
- already held practice martial arts skill
- already held ride horses skill
- already held use firearms skill
The 1 learning area not shown above
- optional, not held drive vehicles optional
19 supplementary skills, helpful but not required
- optional, not held practise extreme sports optional
- optional, not held self-promote optional
- optional, not held sword fighting optional
- optional, not held adapt fighting techniques for performance optional
- optional, not held analyse your fight discipline expertise optional
- optional, not held communicate expectations of fight actions optional
- optional, not held film production process optional
- optional, not held interact safely with animals optional
- optional, not held learn the choreographic material optional
- optional, not held organise rehearsals optional
- optional, not held perform with motion capture equipment optional
- optional, not held prepare rehearsals optional
- optional, not held search for a suitable filming location optional
- optional, not held drive vehicles optional
- optional, not held interact with fellow actors optional
- optional, not held obtain relevant licenses optional
- optional, not held perform improvisation optional
- optional, not held perform risk analysis optional
- optional, not held work with prop makers optional
9 held skills the stunt performer role does not ask for
- not needed by the target role act discreetly skill
- not needed by the target role act reliably skill
- not needed by the target role analyse a script skill
- not needed by the target role exercise sports skill
- not needed by the target role perform scenes for filming skill
- not needed by the target role practise singing skill
- not needed by the target role rehearse role skill
- not needed by the target role sing skill
- not needed by the target role work with the director of photography skill
2 gaps that are knowledge rather than practice
Knowledge gaps usually close through study. Practical skill gaps usually need something you can point at.
- optional, not held sword fighting optional
- optional, not held film production process optional
Common questions about this move
Can an extra become a stunt performer?
Yes, and it is a substantial move. An extra already covers 34% of what a stunt performer is expected to do: 15 skills carry over, 6 of which the stunt performer role treats as required.
What skills does an extra need to become a stunt performer?
11 required skills are missing, plus 19 optional ones. They fall into 7 areas of the ESCO skill hierarchy, led by communication, collaboration and creativity. The single most important is adapt to type of media.
How hard is the move from extra to stunt performer?
Its learning distance is 68.9 out of 100, which is the substantial band. That accounts for both how much is missing and how specialised those skills are.
How this record was compiled
Both occupations are taken from ESCO, which lists the skills and knowledge each occupation is expected to have and marks every one required or optional. Nothing here is a prediction about hiring, and nothing here knows that a particular employer wants a particular certificate. Treat Table 3 as a starting point for your own research rather than a syllabus. The full method states what these figures can and cannot tell you.