The International Stunt Academy
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Slåstad, Norway
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 Remember, in every industry you will find good and bad people and practices. For this reason, understanding and discussing the darker aspects of the industry shouldn’t be seen to be discouraging or negative - it’s just a smart conversation to have when preparing to enter this field of work. In this article, and in the training and advice we provide, The ISA's goal is to raise your awareness, equip you with useful skills and knowledge, and help you to own and navigate your career which avoiding problems before they become serious obstacles, rather than leaving you to learn these lessons the hard way, as many experienced professionals have in their early careers. The things we're discussing here are often conversations that happen behind closed doors, where stories are shared of being held back, attacked online, or facing prejudice simply for being young, talented, or advancing quickly - things that can be perceived as a threat by others and cause them to act negatively or in manipulative and harmful ways. By bringing these issues into the open, we hope to inform and empower young and emerging talent, better equipping people recognise and respond to these situations effectively and professionally. This article aims to provide you with an in-depth exploration of some of the realities performers face or encounter, offering the insights and strategies you need to build a successful and sustainable career in the industry, all while maintaining your confidence, safety and integrity. Setting the Stage: Understanding the Nuances of the Stunt Industry
As we dive into the intricacies of how the stunt industry operates, it’s essential to understand that the market is shaped and driven by a variety of forces - some positive, some negative, and some can be a bit of both. We’ll explore specific issues that can impact younger performers and emerging talents, possibly influence your career, and we’ll also highlight behavioural cues that could help to prompt you to pause and reflect before making decisions. Whether you’re presented with what feels like your big break or interacting with a well-known and more established figure who could influence your career options, it’s crucial to approach all situations calmly, thoughtfully, without letting your excitement or clever manipulations to cloud your judgment. However, balance is key. While it’s important to be aware of potential red flags, it’s equally vital to recognize that not every warning sign points to something negative. The industry has many good people who are very vocal about protecting newcomers and established performers from exploitation, just as there are performers who may resist necessary training or critique and speak negatively about good instructors or coordinators because they didn't like the reality of the feedback or a push to improve. This can make it challenging to spot who genuinely has your best interests at heart. To navigate this landscape, focus on patterns of behavior that suggest genuine care and support. For example, consider whether someone compliments your strengths or offers constructive advice without immediately asking for payment. Remember, at The International Stunt Academy, we provide free, accessible information through our blog, with no hidden fees or exclusivity—because we believe in open access to training, education, work opportunities, and that everyone should be given a fair opportunity based upon their skills and merit, and everyone seeking to work deserves access to the information and tools needed to succeed. 1. The Influence of Market Size on Industry Dynamics The stunt industry’s dynamics can vary significantly depending on market size. For example, in smaller markets such as Norway (where we are based), there are less international productions, there is a smaller local production market vs major markets, and this can mean there is far less work available, more competition for it, and the competition can become fierce, often using manipulative behaviours and individuals or groups will seek to gain and maintain control over the available work, how it is farmed and who is allowed to work. Established professionals in these environments may feel threatened by new, talented performers and may take steps to protect their positions by limiting access to opportunities. If their income is supported by offering training and courses then any successful competitor in this area is the greatest threat and may trigger survival instincts and bring out their very worst side. How to Protect Yourself: Be mindful of the specific dynamics at play in your market or the region you're training or seeking work within (Do your research on everyone involved). In smaller markets, you may encounter increaseed competition and increased levels of negativity, fear tactics or secrecy. Seek out mentors and colleagues who value collaboration and fairness rather than those who seem to be driven by creating fear or insecurity. Diversify your connections to avoid over-reliance on any single Stunt Coordinator or network for work and try to gain a balanced opinion of both the good and bad people you're hearing about. There are many ways to achieve the same end result, one persons way might not represent how things are done internationally, and sometimes its better to learn more than one method from more than one person. Also, if you're new to things you may benefit from a different training and conditioning approach they gets you up to speed before then trying more advanced methods or rapid training that is more suited to working professionals. Lastly, just because someone is experienced does not mean they remember what it was like to be new and can nurture grass roots talent. As the actor Eric Robert's recently wrote in a post about this topic, "A group of children experience their parents differently", referring to the point that different people need different mentors or trainers and what's great for one might not be right for others. 2. The Lack of Oversight in a Freelance Industry The stunt industry is largely freelance-based, which means it lacks things that regulate many typical workplaces, such as HR departments and formal structures that help manage, report and tackle inappropriate behaviours. This absence of oversight can easily allow unethical people and practices to go unchecked for years. In addition to this, the fear to speak up or whistleblow in case it damages your career can help negative players to continue unchecked and even help others mistake them for positive forces due to all the people who work with them or achieve some success by tollerating them. The #MeToo movement revealed how negative players and power dynamics in industries like film and television can facilitate, enable and even promote and protect abusive people and behaviours, and the stunt world is no exception. Fear of having your career held back or reputation destroyed, being quietly blacklisted from working or becoming isolated and ostracised by influential players can easily (and too often) prevent performers from speaking up or speaking out, particularly because they’ve invested significant time, effort, and money into their careers and fear losing their investment, progress and ultimately their dream job. How to Protect Yourself: Build a strong network of trusted peers and mentors, and don’t be afraid to seek advice or support if you encounter issues. Document any incidents of inappropriate behavior and when things get serious and repetitional damage is occurring or you suffer online abuse, consider speaking to industry representatives, guilds, unions and seeking legal counsel if necessary. Remember that protecting your integrity and well-being is more important than protecting a potential job or a relationship with an abusive or controlling influencer or commissioner. 3. The Old Guard vs. New Talent: Overcoming Resistance One of the most significant obstacles for new talent in the stunt industry is the resistance from established professionals, often referred to as "The Old Guard." As they get older they have settled into their careers, and it is easy to see how these individuals may become more concerned with maintaining their nice lifestyle — especially as they acquire more financial responsibilities, like homes and families. This means the emergence of younger, fitter, and faster talent can be perceived as a threat to their established stream of work and income and will cause them to take actions to maintain control, assert dominance or lash out at anything they perceive as a threat, whether that is done directly or more likely though others they have control and influence over (typically members of their network, who rely on them for work). This resistance can manifest in several ways:
How to Protect Yourself: Recognise that sometimes resistance to change or criticism of others is rooted in a deep insecurity or fear, and can even be a red flag behaviour for a big ego or narcissistic tendencies. Surround yourself with positive influences who encourage your growth. Be vigilant and carefully read the contracts before you sign, and choose wisely who you trust with your training and career. Seek out organisations and mentors who prioritise and encourage the development of new talent, instead of working to control or limit it. Good people and groups welcome good competition. Negative influencers typically fear and attack it. 4. The Importance of Open Access and Merit-Based Recognition In an ideal industry, opportunities would be accessible to all who are qualified, and recognition would be based on merit. Unfortunately, this is not always the case in the stunt world. Some established professionals may use their influence to control whether productions can proceed, who gets the work, and who gets a cut of the money, making it very difficult for newcomers to break in or causing larger productions to work in other regions where these issues are not a barrier. This can create a toxic environment where talent and hard work are not valued properly and the market is overshadowed by complex politics, infighting and nepotism or favouritism. How to Protect Yourself: Focus on developing your skills and align yourself with Performers, Coordinators, Directors and groups that prioritise fairness, safety, and merit-based recognition. Avoid getting caught up in industry politics or favoritism, and seek out opportunities that allow you to work as an independent, encouraging individuality and open competition. Your talent and dedication should be the factors that determine your success, not who you know, who's ego you serve, or how well you play their games. 5. The High Cost of Getting Started Breaking into the stunt industry requires a significant investment of time, effort, and money. For new performers, this journey can be made harder because of the additional challenges, such as navigating toxic environments or facing exploitation from those looking to take advantage of your talent and ambition. It can be harmful to someone's passions and motivations to think that after all that hard work and investment, you might still have to run a gauntlet of negativity or pay bribes just to get your foot in the door. How to Protect Yourself: Don’t let negative people derail your progress. There is good an bad in all industries, we have to learn to navigate it and not be put off by a few bad players. It’s also natural not to be great at everything when you’re starting out - improvement comes with time and practice. Trust those who offer constructive criticism and encourage you to keep working hard, rather than those who try to tear you down or exploit your insecurities. Surround yourself with people who believe in your potential and are genuinely invested in your development. 6. The Need for Tailored Training When we are new to anything, our training needs do differ from the methods and approaches used for established professionals. To put that another way, don't do a short course in running before you've learned how to walk. It takes time to develop the physical and mental skills, body awareness and levels of precision, calmness and control that are required to excel in stunts, and it’s normal to struggle at the beginning. Unfortunately, some individuals might try to convince you that you’re not good enough, often with the ulterior motive of selling you more training or services. Additionally, pay attention to how training programs market themselves. If the promotional content showcases the instructor and their skill level, rather than showing the performance of their students, it could be a red flag. This might indicate that the instructor is more interested in self-promotion or that their students aren’t performing at a high enough standard to be shown off or featured in their content. How to Protect Yourself: Trust those who acknowledge your potential while encouraging you to keep practicing and improving. Avoid those who use your initial struggles as an excuse to push unnecessary or overpriced training on you. Look for training programs where the students’ performances are front and center—where you see people like yourself performing well, being highlighted, and receiving genuine support and recognition. A good instructor will take pride in their students’ successes and use their achievements as the primary advertisement for their training program. 7. Evaluating Marketing Content: Who’s in the Spotlight? Another important watch-out is how training programs and courses are marketed. Pay attention to whether the promotional content focuses on the instructor or their students. If the videos and materials primarily showcase the instructor’s skills rather than those of their students, it could be a red flag. This might indicate that the instructor is more interested in self-promotion, or that their students aren’t performing at a high enough standard to be featured. How to Protect Yourself: Look for courses where the students are front and center—where you see people like yourself performing well, being highlighted, and receiving genuine support and recognition. A good instructor will take pride in their students’ successes and use their achievements as the primary advertisement for their training program. 8. Learning to Spot Clever Manipulation Tactics Used To Isolate and Control You One of the more insidious tactics employed by manipulative individuals is isolating behavior. If someone insists that you should only train with them, can only work if you work with them, makes you edit your CV or deny skills learned with others to make it seem like they trained you from scratch, or discourages you from working with others, this could be a sign of controlling or narcissistic behaviour. This can be very dangerous and damaging, not only for your career but also your mental wellbeing. Isolating you from the broader industry can be a tactic commonly used to groom, control, or exploit performers, making you dependent on them for not only work opportunities but also for validation or recognition. How to Protect Yourself: Be wary of anyone who discourages you from talking or training with others or exploring different opportunities and question why they are doing this. Are they helping you or trying to own you. Healthy professionals encourage diverse experiences and connections, as they know this broadens your skills and network. If someone is trying to isolate you or cause you to edit your work history or cut off contact with others, it’s a good indicator that they may not have your best interests at heart. 9. The Challenge of Self-Promotion and Avoiding Stagnation To carve out a successful career in the stunt and action industry, young talent must be proactive in self-promotion and avoid getting stuck behind those who restrict or hinder their progress. Navigating the industry requires not just physical skills, but also the ability to professionally market yourself, build a professional network and not rely on others (or blame others for being negative when in fact you haven't done the work you need to do to promote yourself). Strategies for Success:
Navigating the stunt, acting and entertainment industries isn’t just about perfecting your skills; it’s also about being able to read people properly, and evaluate situations sensibly. Here are some red flags to watch out for:
On the flip side, here are some green flags that indicate you’re dealing with someone who has your best interests at heart:
12. The Importance of Professional Boundaries: Where and How Business is Conducted The is a biggie and makes it very easy to spot more established professionals who are choosing to specialise in training, not using that to supplement their performing income or a lack of performing / coordination work. It’s essential to pay attention not only to what people say but also the method of communication (do they have a professional email address, dedicated social profiles, a well detailed website), and especially to where and how they conduct business, training, or meetings. There are many experienced and well-meaning professionals who offer valuable training, mentoring, and support. Some of them may not operate out of a traditional office or large facility. However, it’s important to be cautious if the setting or circumstances raise red flags. Location Matters: Professionals who are serious about their business typically have an established and well setup workplace or training environment. This could be a dedicated training facility, an office, or a well-equipped space that is appropriate to the professional work they do. If someone invites you to meet in their home, a hotel room, or another private, informal setting, this should prompt you to question the appropriateness of the environment and their approach. While it’s not unusual for certain types of training to take place in a backyard or a small personal space, consider whether this location is truly suited to the type of training or work being offered and also what it says about their business. Ask yourself if the environment feels safe, professional, and is correctly equipped for your training needs. Consider the Hours and Atmosphere: The time and nature of meetings can also be telling. Late-night meetings in hotel rooms, invitations to personal dinners, or being showered with early gifts (love bombing) are potential red flags. Yes, the film and entertainments industry can involve early calls, late meetings and irregular hours, or the need to conduct side business outside of daytime shooting hours. But most professionals keep regular business hours and conduct meetings in appropriate, professional settings. If someone insists on meeting late at night or in overly personal settings, it’s worth questioning their motives ad considering your safety and well-being. Remember, professionals are typically busy working, focused on their craft, and maintain clear boundaries between their personal and professional lives. Trust Your Instincts: If something feels off, maybe it is. You have every right to request more information or suggest an alternative meeting place or time. A true professional will respect your boundaries and be accommodating, understanding why you are doing this (probably from their own experience!). Never be pressured or feel afraid to politely say no or just walk away if the situation doesn’t feel right. Other Behaviors to Watch For: Be wary of anyone who pressures you into uncomfortable situations, insists on secrecy, or tries to blur the lines between personal and professional relationships. Professionalism is reflected not just in how someone conducts their business but also in how they respect your time, space, and comfort. Taking Action: Shaping a Better Industry for All The stunt industry is full of incredible people and opportunities, but it's also a landscape where the stakes are high, not everyone is perfect at everything, some people do need to actually work harder and own their career better, and others will manipulate this, meaning the challenges can cause emerging talents to feel pressure or become anxious. As performers, trainers, and professionals, we must not only navigate this environment with caution but also actively contribute to shaping a better industry, where talent is nurtured, fairness prevails, and integrity is valued above all. Your journey in this industry will be defined by the choices you make - who you align with, the opportunities you pursue, and how you respond to the challenges that arise. By being informed and vigilant, you can protect yourself from the pitfalls of exploitation and manipulation. More importantly, you can set a standard for professionalism and fairness in your own career, helping to foster a healthier, more supportive environment for everyone. As you move forward, consider these actions:
Together, we can build a stunt industry that is not only exciting and dynamic but also a place where talent and hard work are truly rewarded, and where the next generation of performers can flourish without fear of exploitation or unfair treatment. Let’s commit to making this vision a reality. Comments are closed.
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