Movies

After decades of pushing, stunts will get their own Oscar

BBG News

Following over three decades of relentless advocacy, and with my fair share of bumps and fractures along the way, I’m thrilled to say that the hard-working stunt community in Hollywood will finally receive their due recognition at the Oscars.

The organization known as the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences has declared they will establish a fresh competitive class to recognize exceptional stunt design starting from 2028 during the 100th Oscars ceremony. This inaugural award for stunts will be given out for films launched in 2027. Last year, there was an announcement about another new category – awards for casting directors – which will make its debut at the upcoming 98th Academy Awards next year, marking the first addition of a new class in over two decades.

In a combined statement, the Academy’s CEO, Bill Kramer, and President, Janet Yang, expressed that since the inception of cinema, stunt design has played a vital role in movie production. They are pleased to acknowledge the groundbreaking work of these artistic and technical professionals, and extend their congratulations for their perseverance and devotion which led them to this significant milestone.

The recent announcement signifies a significant milestone for the stunt community in Hollywood, which has been advocating for recognition since the early ’90s. Pioneering stunt coordinator Jack Gill started this movement in 1991 by advocating for an Oscar category specifically for stunts and garnered support from industry giants like Steven Spielberg, Martin Scorsese, Brad Pitt, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. However, the Academy leaders had consistently declined to acknowledge stunts at the Oscars or at their non-televised Scientific and Technical Awards. (With three exceptions: Stunt performer Yakima Canutt received an honorary Academy Award in 1967 for his safety device innovations, while stuntman-turned-director Hal Needham and action star Jackie Chan, known for pioneering Hong Kong action, were honored with lifetime achievement Oscars in 2012 and 2016.)

Movies

Director David Leitch surpasses himself with his latest action-comedy featuring Ryan Gosling and Emily Blunt, but his most significant impact could potentially lie in the future – should the Motion Picture Academy acknowledge his work.

With death-defying stunts in popular films such as “Mad Max: Fury Road,” the “Mission: Impossible” series, and the “Fast and Furious” franchise becoming increasingly complex, it has been argued that these unsung heroes of cinema deserve long-overdue recognition at the Oscars. As Gill stated to The Times last year, “There is no other film industry role that carries such pressure, where lives are on the line.” Stunt performers aren’t interested in walking the red carpet and being actors; instead, they seek acknowledgement from their peers for their work that involves genuine pain, effort, and emotion.

Lately, the campaign has been primarily driven by director David Leitch, a veteran in both performing and organizing stunts, who is known for directing action blockbusters such as “Deadpool 2,” “Bullet Train,” and “John Wick.” In collaboration with his producing partner and wife Kelly McCormick at their production company, 87North Productions, Leitch joined forces with Chris O’Hara, a stunt coordinator and designer from Stunts Unlimited, among others, to prepare presentations for the academy. This information comes from sources familiar with the process.

In last summer’s action-comedy “The Fall Guy,” director Leitch intended to create a movie that would highlight and display the skill and innovation of the stunt industry. The film featured a remarkable “cannon roll” stunt, where a Jeep Cherokee spun an astounding eight and a half times, surpassing any previous movie. By referring to O’Hara’s work on “The Fall Guy” as “stunt design” rather than coordination – a minor but impactful distinction – the filmmakers echoed other crafts acknowledged by the academy, like costume and production design.

After the announcement, Leitch emphasized the essential part that daring action sequences, or “stunts,” have had in creating captivating visual effects across cinema’s timeline.

Stunts play a crucial role in every type of movie, tracing back to our industry’s roots – from the innovative achievements of early legends like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin, to the awe-inspiring creativity demonstrated by modern stunt designers, coordinators, performers, and choreographers. This is a significant milestone that Chris O’Hara and I have been working towards for years. We’ve built upon the tireless efforts of stunt professionals who’ve advocated for acknowledgment throughout the decades. We are deeply thankful for reaching this point.

For years, supporters of a separate stunt category in the Oscars believed it could enhance viewership. However, some academy members had contended that there were not enough stunt professionals within the organization to warrant their own category due to limited numbers. Over the last ten years, though, the number of stunt professionals has more than tripled to over 100 in the organization. In 2023, the academy restructured its branches, moving stunt coordinators – previously classified as members at large – into a newly established production and technology branch alongside various technical and production roles such as chief technology officers, script supervisors, choreographers, and music supervisors.

In the world of stunt performers, the absence of recognition at the Oscars has grown into a persistent source of growing discontent, becoming particularly evident with Quentin Tarantino’s 2019 movie “Once Upon a Time … in Hollywood.” This film marked Brad Pitt’s victory at the Oscars for his portrayal of a seasoned ’60s stuntman, a long-overdue accolade.

Last year, when speaking to The Times, O’Hara – who manages the stunt department for “The Fall Guy” and has previous experience in films like “Jurassic World” and “Baby Driver” – stated that while it is possible to win an Academy Award for acting as a stuntman, it is not possible to win one for actually being one. In simpler terms, he was expressing the idea that while you can be recognized with an award for portraying a stuntman in a movie, you cannot receive recognition for your real-life stunt work.

At the Oscars last year, there was a significant shift in focus, as a special tribute was given to the stunt community. This tribute was presented by the stars of “Fall Guy”, Emily Blunt and Ryan Gosling, and was produced by Leitch and McCormick. Gosling expressed his admiration for the stunt performers and coordinators, stating, “They’ve been a vital part of our industry from the inception of cinema.” He continued, “To the stunt performers and stunt coordinators who make movies enchanting, we pay our respects.” During this tribute, Blunt and Gosling also shared light-hearted banter about their fictional feud from the film “Barbenheimer”.

In 2027, we’ll share the guidelines concerning who is eligible to vote for the upcoming Stunt Award and how the actual presentation of the award will take place, as these details have yet to be finalized.

Read More

2025-04-11 01:31

Previous post Warren Buffett’s Wallet Explodes: $11.5 Billion in 15 Weeks! 🤑
Next post From Changing the World to Cashing In: What Happened to Meghan’s Ambitions?