New Interview with Inside Stunts

Dear Vic,
I have just read your Inside Stunts article with great interest and it really struck a cord with me, particularly your views on how difficult it is to get on the register.

I have been training to get on the register since leaving university; starting with just one day a week and slowly training more and more as and when I can afford it. Since I started not a day has gone by when I have not dreamed of qualifying as a stunt performer, not a day has not gone by when I did not scour the internet for information on the industry, look up physics solutions to movie stunts and analyse the work of other co-ordinators. Anything I could to help me feel like I was getting closer to my dream on the days I could not train or was working to pay for the training.

So far, my training highlight was taking a 9 month career break to take part in a live action stunt show at one of the UKs theme park (working with Blue Moore, who I think you know)…..even though it would not count towards my qualifications.

I loved working at that park, even though I was doing the same stunts in the same show every day (I was in over 200 performances). But my time was well used, I spoke to the rest of the stunt team, made friends and learnt the stunts their parts required.

I have now been training for 5 years, 3 of them very hard (costs prevented me for training at peak levels before now). I am now doing gymnastics, high diving, trampolining and swimming sessions every week + gym training (something in the order of 6 – 8 training sessions per week)…however, due to the very high standards that are required, I still have not qualified.

I’m sure you can appreciate the levels of passion needed to be in the industry, and the extreme frustration that builds as you invest time and money into training only to see the time slipping by and wondering if you will every qualify?

I would estimate that I am currently half way through my qualifications set (I would be further, but changes to the requirements have put me back somewhat).

I am keen, passionate, focused and not without potential (I would hope).

I just wanted to know if you had any suggestions or could offer any help with achieving my dream.

If you read this I would appreciate it if you could get in touch and let me know what you think at chrisf.email@googlemail.com

Many thanks and best of luck with you fantastic work

Chris

I can’t read your Inside Stunts, dont know why O(>_<”)O Maybe, I dont have the reader program :/ Well, it seems like you’re really busy with filming haha Good good, hope you and the Mummy3 team have a fun and happy time in China! (^-^)/

PS. Your car looks so cool and luxury!

Hey Vic, I’ve just read the article (I had to download adobe acrobat to do so). I was amazed at your background with horses. I only have one experience of riding a horse when a group of us went for a riding lesson. After having about 20 minutes tuition on how to use the reins etc they took us out, accross a field, into a wood, accross a stream, where one rider promptly fell off when her horse dipped its head. We came back the same way but when we got to the field a dog ran into the field and my horse took off at a gallop (would have been good if I’d been taught how to gallop).
So there we were, galloping accross the field, with me desperately trying to pull the blessed horse up. I was determined I wasn’t going to fall off and I didn’t. Eventually I pulled her up before she got to the fence at the top of the field. They told me afterwards that they’d given me the quietest horse (because I’ve only got one hand and they thought she’d be easier for me to control). Needless to say, I have never been on a horse’s back since. All respect to you for all those stunts… but you won’t get me on a horse again!