What It Takes To Be A Stunt Person

Monique Ganderton has been fighting and falling in films and TV for the past 15 years as a stunt performer. She was most recently a stunt double for Charlize Theron and named as Marvel's first female stunt coordinator. Ganderton tells us how the action comes to life in movies.
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Following is a transcript of the video.
Monique Ganderton: I've been working for, you know, 15 years as a stunt performer on a variety of sets all over the world. Majority of the day is you're fighting and falling.
"Atomic Blonde"...I am so proud of that movie. So, we had this stairwell scene, this fight, that in the script was she shoots two guys. But, you know, we were talking to Dave and we were like, "Hey, you know, what if we do this epic fight scene?" We actually went to the stairwell and we shot it how we would shoot it on set. So, we call this a previs, a stunt previs, and then we have Charlize go in and shoot the first section until it was good, sometimes 15 to 20 takes for each section, because it had to be perfect. They put me in when it was the - you know, throwing - getting thrown down the stairs, and getting thrown into the wall, and then back to Charlize's section. I'm so proud of that sequence. I think we really accomplished something incredible.
She's beautiful, but she is tough. She wants to be good. She wants to do everything. And she was there, all the time, in the gym with us, and you know, the Tom Cruises and the Angelina Jolies and Charlize and Keanu, like, they're all very athletic and very talented. The problem is they can't do all their own stunts because of liability, and, you know, you can't - you just can't do that.
I get excited, but I'm not nervous. I don't fear the stunt. And I just go through the stunt in my mind. I make sure everything - all the rigging looks good. And then you just go, "Okay, cool, call action." Like, "I'm ready, let's do this."
So, I probably worked for 10 years without my family really knowing what I was doing. Now my mom works in film, though, so she sees everything. She once brought me my grenade launcher. That was pretty hilarious. Like, "Mom, I need my grenade launcher!"
My story is: I was modeling, and so, all the models were taking acting classes, and they were, you know, being extras on set to make extra money. And I saw this girl roll down some stairs, and shoot some guns, and beat up some dudes, and I was like, "I want to do that."
You know, most of my training was in the park by myself, running and falling over and over and over again until it felt natural. I have probably fallen thousands of times.
Sometimes I am the only woman in the room. There's definitely a lack of female leadership in our stunt industry. So, you know, you're falling, but you're falling in a skirt all the time. You know, I go into the costumes, and I go, "No skirts. We're going to do pants now." But I think it's changing, and I was the first female stunt coordinator that Marvel has hired. As a stunt coordinator, you're taking on the responsibility of designing all the action, the stunt action, making sure it's as safe as possible, and then coming up with some really creative way to tell the story through action.
The riskiest stunt, I think, that I've done is in - we were shooting in Bulgaria, and I was driving a two-horse chariot at a full gallop. I had to jump from the chariot to the horse and it was just me in the chariot. That one got me going, like, "Whew, okay." As soon as they call action, you just, you have to commit.

[@PowahSlapEntertainmint]

Looks like I'm gonna need a stunt person for my stunt person.

[@elenarexach9236]

PowahSlap Entertainmint I’ve seen your comments on like every video I’ve been watching!

[@bellenesatan]

@@elenarexach9236 because you have similar preferences.

[@freebird1721]

​@@bellenesatan I’ve seen your comments on like every video I’ve been watching!

[@vDipsy841]

@@freebird1721 because you have similar perferences.

[@chaospixie7863]

If she sees someone she likes, she can pull a stunt and say: "I think I'm falling for you" ;)

[@cassiecampbell2017]

I have been looking for a job that would satisfy my thirst for adrenaline while doing something in the film industry. Basically, you just get to do all the fun part of acting AND you get paid for it. Ok, that's it, I want to be a stunt performer when I grow up.

[@SeanFortune1]

Good luck!

[@Starlok007]

Good luck to you !!

[@apoxalypsewhen]

Alright , you need advanced skills in parkour , gymnastics , boxing/martial arts , skydiving , driving , climbing and to go to the gym almost everyday to train yout strength AND cardio. Still think you got what it takes ?

[@YoungIroh]

​@@apoxalypsewhenI only have the will. But that's all you need

[@mikee3261]

@@apoxalypsewhen why wouldn’t she be ? because you are lazy and fearful you trying to project it on others ?

[@Cynquivy]

I cant even walk backwards howd tf would i do this

[@RubyDyane]

Alpha Mayfair 🤣🤣

[@andrewglinski4722]

But yet you’re hanging upside down

[@ellitheus4981]

What It takes to be a *woman* stunt performer

[@figuraine]

SERIOUSLY

[@sheandtheothers]

hahahahhaahhahahahha I can't even walk backwards..... we get it. Us neither.

[@Mae_day1]

"Mom I need my grenade launcher!" the best line ever 😂

[@NachoTV]

If only we could have someone take a test for us...a test double

[@ravikishan4499]

That blush in her face says it all she loves what she is doing

[@rainbrain2077]

Hey you ! scrolling down the comments... wish u have a good day

[@Stfunoah]

1:49 My Grenade launcher

[@itsjiminsnonexistentjams1221]

The fact some stunt performers make less than $5000. A YEAR makes me mad

[@gigiali5318]

I feel so proud of her.💃🏿💪🏿😎 girl power for real.

[@klbzplb]

I swear these videos are so good and informative lol as soon as spring starts, im going to do some falling on purpose

[@sheandtheothers]

Atomic Blonde was awesome and the fight scenes were EPIC we love it!

[@KathyJeanActress]

Excellent information. Thank you.

[@GrannyIsAlive]

It can hurt your old back :v

[@neongalaxygamer9194]

LOL UR PROFILE PIC AND NAME IS GRANNY AND WHAT UR SAYING IS RELATED TO OLD PEOPLE LIKE GRANNY XD

[@imacrazystrangerthingsfan8420]

Lol

[@sebita6376]

si hablas español pa que te haces

[@xxxthatweridgamergirl764su3]

Can’t even do a cartwheel 🤸‍♀️ 👌👌👌👌👌👀

[@ActraStunts]

im in!! just awesomeness!

[@ATPengi]

I used to hate seeing people fighting but when looking back I started to get interested on how they fighting.I also want to learn how to fight too.

[@tom-rq9oi]

lol that seems like a cool job

[@EnignomoYT]

So powerful and strong womym

[@BrianX1333]

How would you find a job as a stunt double? Sounds interesting. Is the pay good as well?

[@CherylMuir]

Shout-out to all the stunt people. We see you 👏👏👏

[@fostercomedy9014]

What would you recommend for someone trying to get into stunt work?

[@lovellmendez2207]

Wow. And they don't really hit the person they're fighting. I'd forget and end up in jail. I'm telling ya, the adrenaline man

[@coddiwomple9510]

Stunt drivers are the real hardcore.

[@Hannah-pn1bx]

What is some advice for someone wanting to get into becoming a stunt dubble?

[@katerineeerees6496]

I wish I was that brave😜

[@icy4053]

Lots of energy that’s what lol

[@cheemsg.i.7130]

0:37 Any links to the stunt previs clips?I went to their YT channel and didn't find anything

[@SemenitAja]

Keren banget

[@tiltingatentropy1215]

I'm great at falling; its the landing that is problematic.

[@valxrot]

Damn I wanna be a stunt woman now XDD

[@monafaskar9680]

*FOOOOooooooooooodddd!!*

[@yara9747]

2:23 the wall bounces back a little bit

[@zeref8104]

Wow

[@zombiezgamer2690]

This is definitely what I'm gonna do when I'm older

[@FrancoUFC]

How is it going?

[@GoddessGothicLolita]

Of all the "women empowerment" videos i have seen on youtube. this by far is the best example of female empowerment in a career. She is rolling with the big boys! BRAVO

[@makarina98]

she's so cool

[@simonj5662]

Wow! Beautiful, strong, and marvelous woman

[@jessicabell8633]

Isa ❤❤

[@lucasleplain3486]

I really want to become a stunt double, what do i need to do to get closer to my dream?

[@user-ir8mf7km6w]

I worked on a few shoots in Los Angeles and the biggest divas on set were the stunt men.

[@fredlee4745]

Wait, what about those who get hit by those stunt people....

[@justaracoonchillinginatoilet69]

It takes a big set of balls to be a stunt person. Kudos to them

[@richardteare5534]

Not in this persons case. She clearly identifies as female. No balls needed😁✊🏾

[@justaracoonchillinginatoilet69]

@@richardteare5534 why did you take my comment seriously

[@richardteare5534]

@@justaracoonchillinginatoilet69 I didn’t. I thought it was quite a witty response🤔Maybe I should have just written “No balls needed” do you think?

[@ih1521]

That’s badass

[@breunique1468]

I couldn’t do it but I hope they get paid a lot of money

[@zeref8104]

Hi

[@halfword]

If I was an actor I would do all my stunts...

[@halfword]

Unknown Name but they wouldn’t care about me

[@LpJavi13]

Many actors want to do their stunts, some because it will help them with the character, others because maybe standing around and doing a scene talking isn't enough for them. Their contracts is what prevent them from doing this or the stunt performer.

[@heavymetalgoddess1]

I would love to be a stunt women

[@aikighost]

Seems like an awesome person.

[@charlessmith263]

A female stunt performer, so inspired by a French stunt coordinator for years, Remy Julienne, in French this is called "la cascadeuse".

[@oogity-swoogity]

i like pancakes

[@kemziclestudios6489]

yq stronk prolly but with syrup nothing can match pancakes

[@israelsoto7049]

I only commented because there were 79 comments had to be even number lol

[@pennywise2405]

Hm❤

[@xyber549]

You will have to be one with the stair.

[@charliehier8865]

Stunt people are actually clones.

[@greven8738]

I want to be like the badass killer in movies like Harley Quinn I wanna be Harley Quinn in a future movie

[@elhananfriedman-theofficia4727]

ראשטן

[@visibleconfusion9894]

A cry when i stub my toe, doing this job must be difficult

[@reinajensen6384]

I would never be able to do that🤣🤣

[@oxytocingiver6134]

ايايلايتيه

[@RoseRosita]

It's gonna take a lot of tries

[@idiotthings1618]

Pour les français sur la miniature j’ai cru que c’était Brigitte Macron.(bourrée)

[@dattaprashant1331]

14th

[@themeatballmann]

*Is mayonnaise a instrument?*

[@monafaskar9680]

*did you get this question from kyutie?*

[@yobruh6029]

Wut yo definition of an instrument.

[@themeatballmann]

@@yobruh6029 Something that makes *art* .

[@themeatballmann]

@@monafaskar9680Who's that?

[@justjack9849]

Seems easy enough

[@figuraine]

Hoopla

[@z0sx10]

balls

[@Jensen-C]

of course she turned it into a gneder thing

[@carolederent7638]

Are you having a stroke?

[@Senura101]

Fking dinosaurs 🦖 😑

[@drpeeper8326]

100th comment

[@greedyelites]

Never date astunt double they like pain😬

[@berrytania7401]

Another career, gone.

[@subseeker]

Was a SHITTY movie, anyway, hated it

[@subseeker]

Only stupidity. NOTHING more, NOTHING less.