To the editor: As an assistant director with more than 40 years of work in the film and television industry, I wholeheartedly support columnist LZ Granderson's call to create an Academy Award for stuntmen and stuntmen.
The organization that puts on the Oscars is the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, and stunt work is a perfect (and dangerous) combination of art and science. No one jumps off a five-story building, runs through fiery explosions, or attempts to jump from a low-flying helicopter onto a speeding train without thorough consideration of speed, distance, and impact.
And, by the way, it has to seem credible and exciting to the audience.
The stuntmen I have worked with are talented, dedicated, and completely match my personal definition of true film professionals. They prepare, rehearse and work efficiently and safely, they do it right the first time (often in situations where “taking two” is not an option), and they know immediately what to do if things go wrong (such as when a car going 70 mph suddenly loses the brakes).
Specialists deserve more from the Academy. They deserve their own category and their own statuette.
Louis Race, Los Angeles
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To the editor: I respectfully disagree with Granderson's request that the Academy award an Oscar for his stunt work.
We go to the movies to escape, visit distant galaxies, or catch a glimpse of a real family. At the moment, we're led to believe that our favorite actors are the ones jumping off that bridge or fighting off invading aliens. In my view, emphasizing stunts would be akin to magicians telling their audience how their tricks work before performing them.
The specialist community knows the best and the brightest. Hopefully, its members are well compensated for the risks they take to keep the magic alive. The fact that they work in relative anonymity is part of the job.
If I choose to believe that it's actually Harrison Ford jumping off that cliff, that will keep me coming back for more.
Stephen Lash, Carlsbad
