John has said this before, and I’m more than happy to pick up the torch and say it too. Stunt-people do not get enough recognition. Actually, they get next to none. They are a huge part of what makes your favourite action scene look great, or even scenes that you wouldn’t think a stunt double was needed, or where you think that CGI is used, you just might see them there and not know it.
Like Tom Welling’s stunt double Chris Savour from the TV series Smallville. According to IMDB, he’s currently fighting for his life after a scene went wrong.
Smallville star Tom Welling’s stunt double Chris Sayour is fighting for his life in a Vancouver, Canada hospital after falling from a tower while filming a scene Tuesday. The veteran stunt coordinator accidentally fell almost 40 feet, according to police reports. Sayour, 35, was airlifted to hospital in New Westminster and treated for “multiple fractures and internal injuries,” according to a statement. In a statement from the WB network behind the Superman series, bosses write, “Our thoughts and prayers are with Christopher and his family during this difficult time and we wish him a full recovery.” Production was halted yesterday after the accident. It was expected to resume yesterday.
The amazing thing about these people is that when they are hurt they often just carry on, or pretend that nothing is wrong until they get off set just so the movie can continue. See the Oldboy audio commentary for an example where the stunt double was badly hurt, walked off set saying nothing and retired from stunt work immediately after due to injury. Or check out the many stories from Jackie Chan’s stunt team. Their main priority is to give the movie a great stunt scene, make sure no one is hurt, and even if they are to get off set and let the filming continue.
As said before, these people deserve awards and accolades, and I’m sure I speak for us all when I say our thoughts are with Savour and his family and friends.
