The British Stunt Register Grading Scheme
The British Stunt Register (BSR) was established to continue the administration of the recognised career structure for Stunt Performers and Coordinators in the UK. We continued the JISC / JIGS scheme that many of our film and television industry colleagues were familiar with, but now that the JISC has dissolved, the British Stunt Register has conducted the long overdue review and overhauled this Grading Scheme. We promote even higher safety standards through the establishment of our clearer industry-wide competencies and skill development. The criteria is rigorously applied and HEALTH & SAFETY TRAINING IS NOW A MANDATORY CONDITION OF MEMBERSHIP – members must progress through the BSR-specific stunt safety training in order to comply. The Grading Scheme is a peer review based system administered by a committee made up of Full Members (Action Coordinators), Key Stunt Performers, Senior and experienced Stunt Performers. Each application to join or for upgrade is evidence-based and thoroughly checked. No other grading scheme in the world ensures the high level of performance, skill and safety as The British Stunt Register. The few former JISC members who didn’t migrate to the BSR may have similar training or qualifications and producers need to ensure their chosen coordinator is competent. A producer’s first port of call to populate their stunt team or cast a double should be a Stunt Coordinator, so here in reverse order are the grade descriptions:
FULL MEMBER (CO-ORDINATOR)
FULL MEMBER (CO-ORDINATOR)
Full members have acquired the experience of all the other grades of the Register. They often continue to perform for the camera themselves, and have demonstrated that they have undertaken sufficient relevant work to take on such responsibilities as a Stunt/Action Coordinator. All Full Members are required to participate in the BSR Level 4 Health & Safety course and to undergo a refresher course periodically. So far approximately 50% of our Full Members have earned the certificate since the seminars were first made available from the late summer of 2019.
- Full Member status can be achieved in 8 years, though it typically takes longer.
- A Stunt/Action Coordinator is required to remain familiar with current health and safety requirements, accident/incident reports and the completion of risk assessment forms and maintain relevant qualifications. In doing so he/she will have a duty of care to all artists and film crew on the set where stunts and action sequences are undertaken and that risk assessments are completed before any stunt work is undertaken.
- The responsibility for care, risk assessment and control measures, plus culpability in the event of an incident, is not solely that of the Head of the Stunt Department or Action Coordinator. In the event of an investigation, the HSE and/or a court of law, may deem members of the production department culpable if for example (but not exclusively) guilty knowledge, lack of safety provision, or disregard for UK Health & Safety regulations and guidelines are found to be factors. Measures that are reasonably practicable must be taken.
- For full details of the upgrade criteria, please see Resources.
KEY STUNT PERFORMER
KEY STUNT PERFORMER
Key Stunt Performer is a new grade which recognises experience gained to Senior Stunt Performer level and is a bridge to the uppermost tier. As an ensemble performer they must be supervised by a BSR Full Member or equivalently experienced Stunt Action Coordinator deemed competent by the Production. They may also perform and risk assess alone, as long as no one else is involved (self-coordinating). But significantly, a Key Stunt Performer may ‘assistant coordinate‘; run the floor and rehearsals while under supervision of the stunt coordinator .
- Upgrade to Key Stunt Performer may only be considered after the BSR Level 3 Health & Safety certificate is gained. The member will have fulfilled all the criteria of the grades below including the designated 2 years at Senior Stunt Performer with Solo Days /Core Team contracts.
- While at Key, if a member wishes to progress to the uppermost tier of membership and so to H.O.D/Action Coordinator, they will remain at this level for no less than 2 years, acquire no less than 160 contracted stunt days, 10 Solo Days with Risk Assessments, and meet the points requirement for extra Solo Days or Assisting.
- For full details of the upgrade criteria, please see Resources.
SENIOR STUNT PERFORMER
SENIOR STUNT PERFORMER
(Formerly KNOWN AS “intermediate”)
Senior Stunt Performers have experience enough to perform a stunt alone – they can “self-coordinate“ when no-one else is involved, and they would conduct their own Risk Assessment, which must be counter-signed by a suitable member of the Production crew. This grade is a new name for the “Intermediate” grade of the former JISC / JIGS grading scheme. Senior Stunt Performers are not restricted to working alone by moving to this grade and may chose to continue to work within stunt teams.
- A Stunt Performer will have participated in the BSR Level 2 Health & Safety course prior to upgrade to Senior Stunt Performer.
- So far, they will have a minimum of 4 years experience under their belts and recognised by the stunt register They will remain at Senior Stunt Performer grade for no less than 2 years.
- Senior Stunt Performers will acquire at least another 120 stunts days at this grade with a choice of optional additions: combinations of Solo Days and Core Team contracts, in order to apply for the next tier of membership (above) if they wish to do so.
- For full details of the upgrade criteria, please see Resources.
STUNT PERFORMER
STUNT PERFORMER
Our recognised Stunt Performer grade is awarded when a minimum of 1 year has been spent at probationary level gaining evidence of experience in the craft of stunt work. The prior JISC/JIGS scheme held professionals who could be categorised here under the other label ‘Probationary’. Stunt Performers must be supervised by a BSR Full Member/Action Coordinator, or an equivalently experienced and qualified Stunt Professional deemed competent by the Production.
- After a period of not less than 1 year, a Probationary member may apply to become a Stunt Performer of the Register once they have achieved the criteria set out below.
- For upgrade to Stunt Performer, Probationary Members must submit copies of their log book(s) / work record sheets as well as contracts to show that during their probationary term they worked no less than 60 stunt days in front of camera.
- At the Stunt Performer grade a member will hold the Level 1 Health & Safety course certificate.
- A minimum of 3 years are required at Stunt Performer grade, and they must accrue 160 contracted stunt days – 40 of which must be Identifiable Stunts. Stunt Performers are then eligible to sit the Level 2 Health & Safety seminar and apply for upgrade to Senior Stunt Performer (above).
- For full details of the upgrade criteria, please see Resources.
PROBATIONARY STUNT PERFORMER
PROBATIONARY STUNT PERFORMER
Probationary members are new entrants to the stunt profession. They will have experience of working in front of camera and will have specific skills relevant to stunt performance. For Health & Safety purposes they must be supervised by a BSR Stunt/Action Coordinator.
- To become a probationary member, applicants must fulfil The British Stunt Register Application Requirements. As part of this criteria, applicants must demonstrate a high level of skill across six different disciplines. Video evidence as well as documentary evidence is required. Each discipline falls into one of seven categories:
- Fighting – Riding and Driving – Falling – Water – Strength and Agility – Miscellaneous – and ‘Stunt Career’ is recognised if the applicant is already a seasoned professional.
- A Martial Art (Fighting) is compulsory and applicants must gain the required standard in each discipline covering at least four of the other categories.
- The skills gained through the training of these disciplines are the foundation of a stunt performer’s career and will inform the stunt coordinator in selecting the correct performer for the job.
- Probationary members of the Register may only work under the supervision of a suitably qualified BSR / (former) JISC registered Stunt/Action Coordinator.
- They are encouraged to attend film/TV shoots as observers, in order to broaden their knowledge of the profession.
- Successful applicants must complete the Level 1 Health & Safety Stunt Course.
- Probationaries are presented with a log book in order to record their experience and developing knowledge. This will be used as evidence when applying for upgrade to Stunt Performer.
- A minimum of 1 year will be spent at this grade during which period 60 contracted stunt days must be acquired in order to be eligible for upgrade.
- For full details of the pre-membership training required and joining criteria, please see how to join.
