Module 4A Film Fest Stunts 300 / Warner Bros Pictures need to use to guarantee their safety Lately, the uses of technology and special effects have had a beneficial influence on stunts’ performances, making some activities safer and, in some cases, even unnecessary It is also true that the latest developments have reduced the number of stunts on stage For example, in the film 300 –in which the Spartan Army of 300 troops defeat a Persian invasion– only 44 stunt people acted in fighting scenes The images were reproduced and included in the film, giving the idea that there were thousand of warriors But working as a stunt has many other advantages too Many activities require to train in groups and give performers the opportunity to learn from other people’s experience and knowledge Moreover, they take lessons while engaging in thrilling adventures And the best part is that it is a well-paid job! Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A / Richmond 2011 Action, adventure, crime, epics, horror and many other film genres are fraught with perils Some stars dare to take the risk and face the hazards of their jobs, like Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible and Viggo Mortensen in The Lord of the Rings, for instance However, they are an exception Most of the times, their roles are played by stunt doubles They replace film stars in scenes that are very dangerous and also demand great skills During a film, they are exposed to situations that threaten their lives They may be set on fire or get shot Due to this reason, stunts need specialised training in different activities There are institutions that prepare them in a variety of extreme sports, such as skydiving, acrobatics and martial arts In this way, they improve their abilities and acquire new skills too Some stunts try to cover a wide range of activities while others specialise in a few Whatever they do, they all have to be prepared to work with caution since their lives are continuously at risk While training, stunts become aware of body movements, roping techniques and film fighting Besides, they become acquainted with the equipment they Activities 1 Read the text and complete the phrases a Stunt performers are b Stunts some hazardous sports like c Some advantages of being a stunt are English Toolkit - Sports Module 4A 2 Match the verb in column A with its complement in column B A B a take 1 their safety b threaten 2 their abilities c engage 3 the risk d guarantee 4 the hazards e face 5 their lives f improve 6 in thrilling adventures Films 4 Discuss the following question in groups, take down notes and then share your ideas with the rest of the class Why you think that stunts replace film stars in scenes that involve risk? 5 Work in groups Write an advertisement asking for stunts to work in an action film What activities will they have to do? What skills are required? English Toolkit - Sports Photocopiable © Ediciones Santillana S.A / Richmond 2011 3 Find words related to the topic of films