Veteran stunt coordinators Vic Armstrong and Chris O'Hara took the stage at the Round Top Film Festival, sharing stories of their high-octane careers and insights into the art of stunt design. The two industry legends, who were honored with a Lifetime Achievement Award and Maverick Stunt Award, respectively, regaled the audience with tales from behind the scenes of some of the most iconic action films in history.
For Armstrong, 60 years of experience have seen him tackle some of the most daring stunts in cinema. From doubling Christopher Reeve as Superman to performing death-defying feats on set, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible in front of and behind the camera.
O'Hara, meanwhile, has earned a reputation for his innovative approach to stunt design. His work on 2024's "The Fall Guy" – an action-comedy starring Ryan Gosling as a stuntman – broke a Guinness World Record with its eight-and-a-half-turn car roll. The stunt was the result of meticulous planning and precise execution, but O'Hara insists that it wasn't just about setting records.
"We had to do ours on a beach on flat ground," he explained. "It was downhill so it created more energy for it to keep going." The outcome was breathtaking – a testament to O'Hara's skill as both stunt coordinator and director.
As the conversation turned to recent technological advancements in the industry, Armstrong expressed his ambivalence about the rise of AI-powered stunts. While acknowledging its potential benefits, he also warned against relying too heavily on digital effects at the expense of human risk-takers.
"There already are very few reasons to hit a guy with a car," said O'Hara's fellow stunt pro Shane Habberstad. "There has to be a very specific thing to do certain stunts where people can get hurt." The panelists agreed that, while AI can augment and enhance the viewing experience, it should never replace human ingenuity and bravery.
As the evening drew to a close, Armstrong reflected on his own journey as a stunt veteran. "I have this love-hate relationship with visual effects," he admitted. "Morphine in the right dose for the right ailment is an absolute godsend. Used and abused, it's a killer." Despite some reservations about relying too heavily on digital tools, Armstrong acknowledged that AI has already transformed the industry in profound ways.
As the audience departed, they left with a deeper appreciation for the craft of stunt design and a glimpse into the fascinating world of Hollywood's most skilled risk-takers.
For Armstrong, 60 years of experience have seen him tackle some of the most daring stunts in cinema. From doubling Christopher Reeve as Superman to performing death-defying feats on set, he has consistently pushed the boundaries of what's possible in front of and behind the camera.
O'Hara, meanwhile, has earned a reputation for his innovative approach to stunt design. His work on 2024's "The Fall Guy" – an action-comedy starring Ryan Gosling as a stuntman – broke a Guinness World Record with its eight-and-a-half-turn car roll. The stunt was the result of meticulous planning and precise execution, but O'Hara insists that it wasn't just about setting records.
"We had to do ours on a beach on flat ground," he explained. "It was downhill so it created more energy for it to keep going." The outcome was breathtaking – a testament to O'Hara's skill as both stunt coordinator and director.
As the conversation turned to recent technological advancements in the industry, Armstrong expressed his ambivalence about the rise of AI-powered stunts. While acknowledging its potential benefits, he also warned against relying too heavily on digital effects at the expense of human risk-takers.
"There already are very few reasons to hit a guy with a car," said O'Hara's fellow stunt pro Shane Habberstad. "There has to be a very specific thing to do certain stunts where people can get hurt." The panelists agreed that, while AI can augment and enhance the viewing experience, it should never replace human ingenuity and bravery.
As the evening drew to a close, Armstrong reflected on his own journey as a stunt veteran. "I have this love-hate relationship with visual effects," he admitted. "Morphine in the right dose for the right ailment is an absolute godsend. Used and abused, it's a killer." Despite some reservations about relying too heavily on digital tools, Armstrong acknowledged that AI has already transformed the industry in profound ways.
As the audience departed, they left with a deeper appreciation for the craft of stunt design and a glimpse into the fascinating world of Hollywood's most skilled risk-takers.
he's right that digital effects have their benefits but shouldn't completely replace human performers who can still get hurt trying to do crazy stunts 
on the other hand, o'hara's approach to designing stunts for "the fall guy" was genius 
i mean, an 8.5 turn car roll on a beach? that's insane 
what armstrong should be worried about is how ai might change the whole dynamic of stunt design and who benefits from it 
! 60+ years in the industry is insane, especially when you think about all the crazy stunts they've pulled off 
like doubling Christopher Reeve as Superman? Mind blown! 
I feel like we're losing the art of actual human risk-taking with all these advancements in tech 
His love-hate relationship with visual effects is so relatable! I'm just glad we get to see more of their work & learn from them 
! Vic Armstrong's 60 years of experience is insane 
, and Chris O'Hara's innovative approach to stunt design is giving me all the feels 
. I mean, an 8.5-turn car roll? That's like something out of a dream world 
. Shane Habberstad said it best: "there has to be a very specific thing to do certain stunts where people can get hurt" 
#StuntHeroes #FilmFest #ActionPioneers
Stunt coordinators Vic Armstrong and Chris O'Hara were basically the real-life superheroes we never knew existed 
. But for real though, it's dope to see these legends keeping it old-school while still acknowledging the value of tech advancements 
. 60 years of Vic is still impressive but I mean what's next? 
. Less risk, less reward, that's not how it works in this industry. Shane Habberstad said it right, if you're gonna do it on screen, why put someone in harm's way? I don't think we'll ever see a time when AI replaces human stunt pros entirely... but I wouldn't count on it 
It's all about compromise now. Give me some old-school stunts any day... 
. Vic Armstrong's 60 years of experience is insane! 
. That's so true! While I'm not gonna lie, I'm still a bit old-school when it comes to stunts – there's something beautiful about real risk-takers doing crazy stuff on set 
.
The thing that really got me was how they're all trying to balance technology with human risk-takers, because at the end of the day it’s not just about saving money or time, it's about creating something real and thrilling for the audience.