The new movie The Fall Guy is jam-packed with dramatic action sequences, highlighting the work of stunt performers who put their lives on the line to entertain audiences. Some say the time has come to honour stunt performers at the Oscars.

Hollywood

Title: Hollywood Explores Recognizing Stunt Performers at the Oscars

Amid the action-packed scenes of the newly released movie "The Fall Guy," the spotlight shines on the vital yet often unseen work of stunt performers. This film's release has ignited a conversation about the importance of honoring these unsung heroes of Hollywood at the Oscars. Stunt performers, acknowledged for their crucial role in entertainment, eagerly await the recognition they believe is long overdue.

Canadian stunt professionals are championing this cause, highlighting the physical toll their job takes. Jean Frenet, a seasoned stunt performer, emphasizes the goal of seamless deception, where the audience remains oblivious to the substitution of actors for stunt doubles. Laurent Chantrain Delvalle, another stunt double, describes the intense risk involved in performing dangerous stunts, underscoring the physical repercussions of their work.

The absence of an Oscar category for stunts has been a sore point within the stunt community. The recognition by other awards, such as the Emmys and the Canadian Screen Awards, underscores the disparity in the film industry's acknowledgment of stunt performers' contributions. Angelica Liscan, who trains aspiring stunt artists, argues that the illusion of danger crafted by stunt performers is critical to the filmmaking process, and deserving of recognition akin to other specialized film professions.

As the Oscars have begun to expand their award categories, the stunt community remains hopeful that their work will soon be celebrated alongside other cinematic achievements. The comparison to the recent inclusion of casting awards reflects a broader effort to recognize all facets of film production that contribute to a movie's success. The campaign emphasizes the essential yet perilous job of stunt performers in creating the action sequences that captivate audiences worldwide.



Hollywood campaigns to add stunts to the Oscars

Stunt after stunt, the promotional tour for The Fall Guy made it clear, it's time to honour Hollywood's unsung heroes. Canadian stunt performers say they're ready. Whether it's falling out of a building or as a Spartan soldier, Jean Frenet is a veteran in a job where success means being not seen. If you watch the movie and you cannot tell the difference between the two, then we did our job really well. This may look like Antonio Banderas, but it's Vancouver's Laurent Chantrain Delvalle. And these two cars are driving down my backside, screaming down at 50 miles an hour. It takes a toll. When you crash, you know, you still get whiplash, your internal organs get smashed around, it's hard on your body. Being snubbed by the Oscars, that's a different kind of pain. When you're not invited to the party, that always hurts a little bit, you know what I mean? And when a movie comes out and it does great and everybody talks about how great it is, but who provided that action? In Toronto, Angelica Liscan is training the next generation of performers, even a certain uncoordinated reporter. She says for too long, stunt people were kept in the shadows. We wanted to believe that it was the actor. We wanted to believe this was the person. And while the Oscars consider adding a category for stunts, it recently added awards for casting. A casting director is not going to die putting two actors together that have great chemistry. So where we're super happy for them, I think it's just people need to really understand and recognize what it is that we do. In the meantime, the Emmys, the Canadian Screen Awards and more are already celebrating those who risk it all for our entertainment. Eli Glasner, CBC News, Toronto.

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