The web gods have allowed me my own little folio in cyber space to babble a bit so I figured what the hell, might as well take advantage of it. So, to those of you that have ventured to this page...WELCOME. Here I hope you find some answers to your frequently asked questions, and a bit of philosophical chatter about my view on a career in precision / stunt driving and being a feature film stunt person in general.
Driving for film and television is like any other job people do that have a burning passion for. To do it for the love of the craft, not for the money. Money has a tendency to skew the motive. Yes, we get paid well, but that is the last reason many of the drivers I know do it, including myself. We do it because we have an internal torch that drives us to be the best; to challenge ourselves; to walk the edge between sane and insane; not only to dance with the devil, but lead! To take us to a realm that holds new excitement and looking for a new lesson to be taught. Some of those lessons can be painful and difficult to accept. A bruised heart is one of those things that you don’t ever want to experience, not to mention broken ribs (front and back) 3 broken collar bones, broken legs, fractured neck, concussions, cracked pelvis and hip, broken foot, and yes, that ever painful broken thumb.
These growing pains and lessons can make those of us willing to tango pay the ultimate price; the ultimate reflection of commitment. Sadly this devotion has taken the lives of some amazing talent. Learning never stops no matter what the cost.
An old Irish adage says: “For every teacher must be taught”. Those of us that teach the craft of aggressive driving are still learning everyday. Right and wrong are seperated by a very small part of your decision making process. It’s an amazing journey and IF you allow the simple non-threatening ‘mistakes’ be part of your learning process, the greatest teacher of them all will soon appear . . . experience!
These magical doors of the film industry may take years to break down. If the risk of failure is the first thing you think of . . . try another career! If the journey gets you excited and makes you want it that much more . . . take the leap and kick ass. Listen at every chance you get, absorb and learn. Remember: for every ‘no’ that you receive, it is placed on the foundation you are building; a strong solid base is developing to move forward from.
This is an amazing place to live . . . a place to play in the shadow of dreams. Never quit...never surrender. If one door closes ~ and they will ~ find another path that will lead you to the same destination. I hope that I get the chance to meet and hopefully one-day work with each and every one of you. But above all else, enjoy your journey. Take it with pride and acceptance that it won‘t be easy!
Hopefully one day you too can sit in a darkened movie theater and right there in front of you ~ usually alone because everyone else has left ~ you see your name scroll up the screen. What an amazing feeling to experience the emotion your stunts did to those that surrounded you in the theatre. Was it worth the pain, the time, the effort? Worth the years of frustration? If you answered no . . . then learn to say, “would you like to super size those fries?” If you answered yes . . .welcome to my world, welcome to YOUR life!
Best Wishes and Safe Home, Stephen Buckley
Frequently Asked Questions:
Does the Motorsports Driving Academy offer job placement: No. There are few ~ if any ~ driving schools that offer job placement. The ability to land a driving job is based on experience. Plus, it doesn’t hurt to know people that can hire you. The Academy will help guide you in the right direction, but it is up to you to find the available jobs and to be hired. The Academy's sole purpose is to give you a solid working knowledge of the industry and allow you to get the basic skills to land that first job.
Will simulator training be the same as traditional training: Yes, and no. The only down aspect of simulators (unless you have a million dollar simulator) is the lack of vehicle movement, weight transfer. Movement is replicated on the screen but not physically. In regard to driver input, active and reactive response is just as good, if not better. The primary advantage to simulators is the ability to create training elements at the flip of a switch; repetition is the key to understanding vehicle control. The simulator allows 10 times the amount of reps on a specific situation and control factor -- plus, mistakes can be made in a safe and secure setting. PLEASE NOTE THAT THE SIMULATOR IS ONLY USED FOR EVOC (EMERGENCY VEHICLE OPERATIONS COURSE) SESSIONS NOW AND NOT OUR STUNT DRIVING SESSIONS.
Other than films, where can I apply my abilities: TV shows, commercials, touring thrill shows, factory demo teams, and factory safety test drivers.
Will this experience help me become a better driver on the street: Yes, in specific situations. For younger drivers it will enable them to experience skids and slids and how to correct them before experiencing them on the street for the first time where lives are at stake. We instruct drivers on the correct focal points and steering techniques. Brake and throttle control; all of which will make all of us better drivers. The one thing these techniques are not used for are any and all illegal vehicle acts.
Do I have to belong to the Screen Actors Guild (SAG): Well, yes and no. To work in films and television it is necessary to belong to either SAG or AFTRA. Please go to the Screen Actors Guild web page to find out the details of joining the union(s). There are non-union films that you can work on without belonging to the Screen Actors Guild - to work in the live venue section of driving it is simply a matter of being hired.
What do Stunt Drivers get paid: It really depends on the budget. Low budget non-union films pay squat. You’d be lucky to get $100.00 a day and chips and dip at the lunch wagon. Low budget union films pay less than their big brother but it’s a great way of gathering experience. Anywhere from $150.00 a day to $300.00 a day. If the film isn’t a low budget signatory film, the day rate for stunt drivers ~ and stunt performers ~ is over $600.00 a day.
What is a stunt adjustment: Stunt coordinators will pay a stunt adjustment (aka: stunt bump) to a stunt performer based on the difficulty of the stunt. This is over and above the day rate. Adjustments can be anywhere from $200.00 up to thousands.
What is the best age to start: There is no right age to start. As long as that passion and desire burns with-in, start now! Yes, the younger you are the better, but you can really start at any age.
Is it true that those that can't...teach?: We have all heard this saying and no, it is not true. In fact, it's the very opposite. Those that can, and very well we might add are the best ones to learn from. After all, if WE didn't who would?
Is $1200.00 a lot to pay for specialized driving instruction: There are some amazing driving schools all over the world. Some cost over $5000 for 5 days of instruction; other cost as little as a few hundred. We teach you to use YOUR ability and not the car's desire to adhere to physical dynamics to do what needs to be done. Knowledge has never been cheap to aquire, and we understand that. But then again, operating a stunt driving school isn't cheap either :-)
