Articlr

Good stunt driving brings together every driving skill you can imagine, then pushes you to use them in unimagined new ways. A successful stunt driver needs not only driving skill, but the ability to set up a stunt and bring to life the sequence of driving that the stunt director or filming director envisions.

Stunt driving also involves precise timing. You must be able to make it all happen at the right time and at the right place. And finally you must have the ability to adapt and bring energy into each new and challenging situation.

A perfect example of required stunt driver skills is the story of my friend's experiences while working on a car commercial. The sequence was to show the car racing through very heavy rain. The creation of this effect was something new. To create the right look necessitated mounting a jet engine at the rear of a truck, shooting water out of a tank and across the car (a true 'film' moment!)

To make the torrential downpour scene work successfully, my friend, the driver, was tearing along a mere foot from the truck - driving a convertible with the roof back and no windshield wipers! With water streaming over the car, in the car, in his face - suffice to say he couldn't see much and recalls the jet fumes made it all the more difficult.

To this day I recall that stunt driving story, as a good example of the punishing circumstances that stunt drivers must be prepared for. To reflect on a crazy situation of my own - I remember during the filming of My Boss's Daughter, I was behind the wheel of a BMW when I had to contend with an Owl shooting in the passenger window, bumping the head of my 'passenger' onto me, before hovering frantically directly in front of my face.

The owl caused me to cross over my side of the road, go up and over the median heading into oncoming traffic. The car finally came to a halt when it crashed through the side of a house! No matter how much you hone your driving skills - it is impossible to prepare for that.

Get involved in stunt driving and you can be sure of only one thing - you will need to draw on every driving skill you have and a few you couldn't imagine you would ever need!

Having as varied a driving background as possible is the best way to prepare yourself for the best job in the world!