Application
One or more performers in screen productions may be required to complete fight routines or falls in line with production and safety requirements. Hazardous action sequences are performed only by recognised stunt actors and performers, under the strict guidance of stunt coordinators, armourers and fight directors. These key personnel are responsible for liaising on behalf of performers with directors, producers, location managers, other stunt and fight performers, cast members and specialist production staff. Fight and fall sequences have broader application in live theatre and other entertainment activities, such as theme park performances, and are often combined with other hazardous performance work using vehicles, animals or elements. The role of hazardous action sequence performers is to ensure that the set up, rehearsal, performance and review of hazardous action sequences comply with production requirements, as well as screen safety and industry codes of practice. Performers are responsible for ensuring that all aspects of action sequences they perform minimise risk to themselves and other cast and crew members. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Prepare for execution of hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls | 1. Notify relevant personnel of your arrival on location 2. Confirm with relevant personnel your capacity to deliver all specific hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls 3. Note all camera locations for coverage of the hazardous action sequences 4. Review skills requirements and experience of self and other specialist personnel for relevance to proposed sequences 5. Evaluate all hazardous action sequences to determine most appropriate physical warm-up activity required 6. Familiarise self with all props, set and equipment to be used in hazardous action sequences and confirm their technical suitability with cast and crew 7. Recall positioning and movement of all personnel involved in hazardous action sequences to support ease of visual continuity and editing 8. Consider and review alternative execution methods for specific hazardous action sequences 9. Confirm with relevant personnel that planned hazardous action sequences comply with legal and regulatory requirements |
Participate in dedicated personnel briefings | 10. Review all hazardous action sequence information 11. Attend briefings of relevant personnel and confirm communication methods, chain of command, cues, and abort and emergency action procedures 12. Check available technical specifications for all production materials to be used and advise relevant personnel of issues arising |
Set up, check and prepare production area | 13. Unload, position and assemble production materials to be used in specific hazardous action sequences 14. Check that all equipment and handling procedures comply with given technical specifications in terms of required safety standards and regulatory requirements and notify relevant personnel of emergent issues 15. Review camera positions for latent safety issues 16. Prepare body for hazardous action sequences performance through relevant warm-up activities 17. Confirm with relevant personnel that hazardous action sequences meet stylistic production requirements 18. Ensure that production areas are clear of unwanted objects and personnel |
Safety test hazardous action sequences | 19. Identify and recall relevant spot marks and other visual cues to assist in positioning during hazardous action sequences 20. Reconfirm that all personal protective equipment (PPE) and other specified safety equipment is fitted and functioning correctly 21. If possible within budgetary and safety constraints, determine the operation of hazardous action sequences by test, demonstration, simulation or rehearsal 22. Advise relevant personnel of any revision to planned hazardous action sequences identified through test, demonstration, simulation or rehearsal 23. Abort hazardous action sequences where unacceptable risk arises and advise relevant personnel |
Safely perform hazardous action sequences | 24. Comply with relevant PPE requirements 25. Confirm with relevant personnel where specific production requirements involve other high-risk activities 26. Recheck that areas are clear of unwanted objects and personnel 27. Execute sequences according to agreed production schedules and cues 28. Follow all safety controls and regulatory requirements during execution of sequences 29. Implement alternative safeguards for all production personnel where variations occur to agreed production plans 30. Abort hazardous action sequences where unacceptable risk arises during execution and advise relevant personnel 31. Ensure that continuity for hazardous action sequences is maintained throughout execution |
Respond to emergency situations | 32. Abort activities and implement emergency plans in the event of accidents 33. Clear sites of all personnel and if possible remove items that may cause further injury 34. Identify items or locations that may need to be isolated for safety and investigatory activities post-emergency situation 35. Advise relevant personnel of the emergency situation according to established procedures |
Secure locations on completion of hazardous action sequences | 36. Collect, check inventory of, transport and store production materials used in the execution of hazardous action sequences in compliance with enterprise and regulatory requirements 37. Inspect locations to ensure they are left in a safe and secure state, in compliance with regulatory requirements 38. Participate in post-sequence evaluations with relevant personnel and provide feedback in order to guide future productions 39. Complete personal logbook and contribute to any final written reports as required |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
communication skills sufficient to: engage with relevant screen production cast and crew members through designated verbal and non-verbal communication channels interpret call sheets, scripts, artistic direction, production schedules, technical reports, safety briefings, and licensing and regulatory documents explain specific skills requirements of hazardous action sequences to cast and crew in order to minimise risk teamwork skills that demonstrate an understanding of the collective nature of screen productions, especially where a number of hazardous action sequences are occurring simultaneously during screen productions problem-solving skills sufficient to make valid determinations as to a performer's ability to perform a planned fight or fall hazardous action sequence based on experience, observation and awareness of relevant industry codes and legislative requirements organisational and planning skills sufficient to: implement relevant licensing and government regulatory requirements implement relevant emergency and medical service procedures external to screen productions use information management systems that address safety and security establish parameters in delivery of sequences that maximise continuity contribute to planning, set up, rehearsal, execution, evaluation and bump out associated with hazardous action sequences involving a range of fights and falls well-developed self-management skills sufficient to: work under pressure and in adverse situations contribute to accurate, appropriate and timely records and documentation meet production deadlines and schedules document own performance and skills in the context of promoting oneself for future employment technical skills sufficient to: use documentation systems that support production requirements in relation to hazardous action sequences using fights and falls select and apply fight movements and procedures appropriate to the genre of specified screen productions |
Required knowledge |
industry knowledge, including: familiarity with screen production techniques, camera positions and equipment organisational culture, etiquette, structure and roles and responsibilities of film crew and specialist production and location management personnel involved in screen productions issues and challenges that arise in executing hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls access procedures and protocols for engaging with emergency and medical services communication channels employed on location common industry hazards in relation to fights and falls, their potential for causing harm, and strategies for minimising potential harm to performers and crew safety implications regarding all camera, sound and lighting equipment to be used in hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls safety practices required to remove, isolate or minimise hazards on set relevant OHS legislation and regulations as they relate to safe transport and use of sets, props and armour applied knowledge of the Australian Recommended Safety Code for Film and Television specific licensing requirements for stunt coordinators and fight directors as identified in the Media, Entertainment and Arts Alliance (MEAA) and film industry codes of practice |
Evidence Required
The Evidence Guide provides advice on assessment and must be read in conjunction with the performance criteria, required skills and knowledge, range statement and the Assessment Guidelines for the Training Package. | |
Overview of assessment | |
Critical aspects for assessment and evidence required to demonstrate competency in this unit | Evidence of the following is essential: safe execution of hazardous action sequences using fights and falls that demonstrate: compliance with all licensing, regulatory and industry codes of practice and safety regulations safe work practices understanding of screen production processes in relation to performing hazardous action sequences ability to follow correct procedures in relation to setting up, performing and evaluating hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls ability to make judgements based on the degree of risk associated with hazardous action sequences effective verbal and written communication skills in the context of executing hazardous action sequences using fights and falls. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure that a sufficient range of hazardous action sequences are covered that address all aspects of stunt performance (falls, fights and combat) as determined by MEAA requirements. Assessment should occur wherever possible in an integrated manner with similar hazardous action sequence units that support learners to meet relevant licensing and regulatory requirements. Assessment must also ensure: access to a real or simulated workplace environment that reproduces all the elements of a production requiring hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls access to regulatory information as listed in the range statement access to appropriate learning and assessment support when required use of culturally appropriate processes and techniques appropriate to the language and literacy capacity of learners and the work being performed. |
Method of assessment | A range of assessment methods should be used to assess practical skills and knowledge. The following examples are appropriate for this unit: direct questioning combined with review of portfolios of evidence and third-party workplace reports of on-the-job performance direct observation and questioning of the candidate on location as he/she prepares for and performs hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls written or oral questioning to test knowledge as listed in the required skills and knowledge section of this unit. |
Guidance information for assessment | Holistic assessment with other units relevant to the industry sector, workplace and job role is recommended, for example: BSBPMG407B Apply risk management techniques CUFHAZ401A Perform hazardous action sequences using vehicles CUFHAZ403A Perform hazardous action sequences involving natural elements CUFHAZ404A Perform hazardous action sequences involving animals. |
Range Statement
The range statement relates to the unit of competency as a whole. It allows for different work environments and situations that may affect performance. Bold italicised wording, if used in the performance criteria, is detailed below. Essential operating conditions that may be present with training and assessment (depending on the work situation, needs of the candidate, accessibility of the item, and local industry and regional contexts) may also be included. | |
Relevant personnel may include: | actor, extra and stand-in performer armourer fire and safety officer first assistant director floor manager head of department lighting, sound and camera personnel location or unit manager make-up and wardrobe personnel medic other specialist technical staff production staff pyrotechnic effects operator site safety officer special effects production personnel specialist rigging, scaffolding and crane or lift operator stunt coordinator stunt performer transportation provider and crew. |
Locations may include: | built or natural environments day and night interior and exterior studio. |
Regulatory requirements may include: | air traffic or maritime authority requirements in relation to air traffic corridors, ports and rivers commonwealth, state and territory departments and agencies overseeing OHS regulations, e.g. WorkCover crowd control requirements, where the production may involve members of the public as participants or observers environmental planning staff in relation to noise levels, smoke and other special effects release and clean up licensing bodies for relevant high-risk occupations involving such things as explosives, rigging, scaffolding, pressure vessels, forklifts and crane or lift operations licensing requirements for transporting, setting up, storing and discharging firearms, blank ammunition and pyrotechnic effects MEAA requirements under stunt performer grading systems police, emergency and medical service providers provision and use of specific PPE and other related safety equipment relevant local and state government environmental planning and construction legislation and regulations relevant national and international standards bodies responsible for guidelines and codes of practice, e.g. EPA guidelines, the Building Code of Australia and transport departments for vehicle licensing security-related legislation in regards to the release of special effects. |
Information may include: | camera and equipment track and rigging requirements cast and crew lists costume and theatrical make-up requirements documentation of relevant licences and regulatory compliance requirements needed by all stunt supervisors, performers, armourers and fight directors lighting and sound equipment and rigging requirements location lists and access requirements pre-production safety reports production schedules scripts set and props construction and transportation specifications relevant to specific hazardous action sequences special effects specifications stunt and action sequence details weapons and ammunition management, including: inventories of live and blank ammunition weapons capability statements and records instructional manuals on weapons handling licences and regulatory requirements weapon quarantining procedures armour on-site and off-site transport and magazine storage protocols. |
Cues may be: | computer generated given live or via communications equipment spoken visual. |
Reasons to abort sequences may include: | accident and incident equipment failure loss or lack of communication risk to broader public and environment risk to cast, crew and production equipment unfavourable weather conditions, such as: fog, mist or rain high wind velocity bad light water temperature. |
Warm-up activities may include: | breathing mental and emotional preparation practice sessions practice with weaponry and props running stretches swimming. |
Personal protective equipment may include: | air supplies airbags and boxes body suits helmets, boots and gloves knee and shoulder pads neck braces period and contemporary body armour rappelling and abseiling equipment safety goggles safety harnesses and lines skin suits any other safety equipment. |
Productions may include: | animated productions commercials documentaries educational resources feature films filmed events or performances music video short films television productions of any type. |
Sectors
Unit sector |
Competency Field
Media and entertainment production - hazardous action |
Employability Skills
This unit contains employability skills. |
Licensing Information
Not applicable.