What is Stunt performer?
[[Image:Stunt Pyrotechnics Luc Viatour.jpg|right|thumb|]] A '''stunt performer''', also called a '''stuntman''' or '''stuntwoman''', is a person who performs dangerous acts usually within the [[television]] or [[movie]] [[production]] [[industry]]. In this line of work the stuntman (or woman) is paid to do those actions that are deemed too [[danger|dangerous]] for the regular [[actor]] to perform, these include jumping from a height, falling down, being in a [[car]] [[accident|crash]], or pretending to fight with [[weapon]]s such as [[sword]]s or [[knife|knives]]. These stunts are usually presented as a small feature within a larger production. The stunts are done with [[safety]] [[:wikt:equipment|equipment]], but also without them. [[Action movie]]s, [[adventure movie]]s, [[war movie]]s, [[martial arts]] movies, [[thriller movie]]s and [[crime movie]]s and [[television series]] use many stunt performers to do the dangerous actions depicted in the movies or series. Some actors such as [[Jackie Chan]] are also stunt performers who perform this kind of work. There are, however, other stunt performers that present dangerous stunts to a live audience in [[show]]s rather than as part of a larger story in movies or television series. Sometimes these are as standalone effects and sometimes as a feature within a larger stunt show. [[Escape artists]], [[sword swallowers]] and other [[circus]] and [[sideshow]] acts are an example of this. These types of stunt performers can be found scattered throughout history with one of the most famous from the last Century being escape artist [[Harry Houdini]]. ==Working as a stuntman== Stunt work is dangerous regardless of whether you work in movie, television or within a live stunt show. Stuntmen are often hurt during the stunts they perform and in some cases stuntmen have even been killed. Stunt work is not steady work. Stuntmen who work in movie are only employed on a movie-by-movie basis, sometimes they are needed for a number of months if they are lucky to double for the le