In tow years the Academy Awards and Oscar turn 100.
In celebration, the Academy Awards are adding a new category – Achievement in Stunt Design.
Currently the SAG (Screen Actors Guild) Awards and the Emmy Awards are the only Hollywood Awards that honour stunt artists; but after many years of work, the Academy Awards will pay homage to the men and women who put it all on the line to make the dangerous action look easy.
Academy President Janet Yang and CEO Bill Kramer issued a join statement saying, “since the early days of cinema, stunt design has been an integral part of filmmaking. We are proud to honor the innovative work of these technical and creative artists, and we congratulate them for their commitment and dedication in reaching this momentous occasion.”
In the 80’s Lee Majors starred in a series titled “The Fall Guy” – a show about a stunt artist. In 2024 David Leitch – a former stunt artist – directed a film by the same name.
In a statement Leitch said, “stunts are essential to every genre of film and rooted deep in our industry’s history — from the groundbreaking work of early pioneers like Buster Keaton, Harold Lloyd, and Charlie Chaplin, to the inspiring artistry of today’s stunt designers, coordinators, performers, and choreographers. Chris O’Hara and I have spent years working to bring this moment to life, standing on the shoulders of the stunt professionals who’ve fought tirelessly for recognition over the decades. We are incredibly grateful.”
Chris O’Hara added, “to be seen by the film community as stunt designers hopefully brings more light to what we really do. Back in the day, stunt guys were the cowboys. Now we are creative. We create amazing things, just like a production designer does or a costume designer does.”