Stunt Players Directory
The professional directory and advocacy organization representing stunt performers working in film and television in the United States, operating within the SAG-AFTRA stunt community.
Overview
The Stunt Players Directory is the professional directory and community organization representing stunt performers working in film and television in the United States. The organization maintains a searchable database of stunt professionals -- stunt performers, stunt coordinators, and second unit directors -- that casting directors, producers, and stunt coordinators use to find qualified stunt talent for specific physical requirements. Stunt performers working in the US are covered as performers under SAG-AFTRA agreements, giving them labor protections similar to those covering principal actors.
Stunt performance is one of the most physically demanding and safety-critical roles in film production. Stunt performers execute dangerous physical actions -- vehicle work, falls, fire effects, combat, and aerial work -- that would expose actors to unacceptable injury risk. The stunt coordinator designs the action sequences, assesses the safety requirements for each gag (the industry term for a stunt), selects and coordinates the stunt performers executing the work, and oversees the safety protocols that protect everyone involved.
Stunt Coordinator and Second Unit Director
The stunt coordinator is the key creative and safety leadership role in stunt work. A senior stunt coordinator on an action-heavy production may also function as the second unit director, overseeing the shooting unit that captures the action sequences while the primary unit shoots dialogue and character scenes. This dual role -- creative director and safety officer -- requires both filmmaking judgment and deep physical expertise.
The stunt coordinator's relationship with the director, DP, and first AD is critical to the planning and execution of action sequences. Effective stunt coordination requires early involvement in production planning, clear communication about what is physically achievable and at what cost, and the ability to translate directorial intent into safe, executable physical performance.
Stunt Safety
Stunt safety is the central professional concern of the stunt community. The industry has developed detailed protocols -- pre-rigging inspections, rehearsal requirements, medical standby, and communication procedures -- that govern how stunts are planned and executed. These protocols exist because the consequences of failure in stunt work can be fatal, and the industry has experienced high-profile accidents that have spurred both regulatory and professional attention to safety standards.
For productions planning action sequences, the stunt coordinator's safety assessment is not optional pre-production overhead -- it is the professional judgment that determines whether planned action is achievable safely within the production's schedule and budget constraints.
What Filmmakers Should Know
For directors planning action sequences, the stunt coordinator should be involved from the script development stage -- well before production begins. A stunt coordinator who reviews the action script can identify safety concerns, suggest practical alternatives, and provide budget guidance that allows the director to make informed creative and financial decisions before the production is locked into an impractical approach.
For SAG-AFTRA compliance purposes, stunt performers are paid under SAG-AFTRA stunt adjustment rates that reflect the specific nature of each gag, with additional adjustments for particularly dangerous work. Understanding stunt adjustment rate structures is essential for budgeting action-heavy productions accurately.
See Also
For the SAG-AFTRA performer agreements that cover stunt workers, see SAG-AFTRA in this directory. For the Taurus World Stunt Awards recognizing stunt achievement, see the Film Awards Directory.
