Application
One or more performers in screen productions may be required to complete sequences involving animals, 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, fight directors and animal handlers. 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. Animal 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 any animal, themselves and other cast and crew members. |
Elements and Performance Criteria
ELEMENT | PERFORMANCE CRITERIA |
Prepare for execution of hazardous action sequences involving animals | 1. Notify relevant personnel of your arrival on location 2. Assess condition and temperament of animals and familiarise all personnel with commands and cues 3. Confirm with relevant personnel your capacity to deliver all specific hazardous action sequences 4. Note all camera locations for coverage of the hazardous action sequences 5. Review skills requirements and experience of self and other specialist personnel for relevance to proposed sequences 6. Evaluate all hazardous action sequences to determine most appropriate physical warm-up activity required 7. Familiarise self with all props, sets and equipment dedicated to hazardous action sequences involving animals and confirm technical suitability with relevant personnel 8. Recall positioning and movement of all personnel and animals involved in hazardous action sequences to support ease of visual continuity and editing 9. Consider and review alternative execution methods for specific hazardous action sequences 10. Confirm with relevant personnel that the planned hazardous action sequences comply with legal and regulatory requirements |
Participate in dedicated personnel briefings | 11. Review all hazardous action sequence information 12. Attend briefings of relevant personnel and confirm communication methods, chain of command, cues, and abort and emergency action procedures 13. 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 | 14. Unload, secure and supervise animals and production materials to be used in specific hazardous action sequences 15. Check that all equipment and animal handling procedures comply with given technical specifications in terms of required safety standards and regulatory requirements and notify relevant personnel of emergent issues 16. Review camera positions for latent safety issues 17. Prepare body for hazardous action sequences performance through relevant warm-up activities 18. Confirm with relevant personnel that hazardous action sequences meet stylistic production requirements 19. Ensure that production areas are clear of unwanted objects and personnel |
Safely test hazardous action sequences | 20. Identify and recall relevant spot marks and other visual cues to assist in positioning during hazardous action sequences 21. Reconfirm that all personal protective equipment (PPE) and other specified safety equipment is fitted and functioning correctly 22. If possible within budgetary and safety constraints, determine the operation of hazardous action sequences by test, demonstration, simulation or rehearsal 23. Advise relevant personnel of any revision to planned hazardous action sequences identified through test, demonstration, simulation or rehearsal 24. Abort hazardous action sequences where unacceptable risk arises and advise relevant personnel |
Safely perform hazardous action sequences | 25. Comply with relevant PPE requirements 26. Reconfirm with relevant personnel where specific production requirements involve other high-risk activities 27. Recheck that areas are clear of unwanted objects and personnel 28. Execute sequences according to agreed production schedules and cues 29. Follow all safety controls and regulatory requirements during execution of sequences 30. Implement alternative safeguards for all production personnel where variations occur to agreed production plans 31. Abort hazardous action sequences where unacceptable risk arises during execution and advise relevant personnel 32. Ensure that continuity for hazardous action sequences is maintained throughout execution |
Respond to emergency situations | 33. Abort activities and implement emergency plans in the event of accidents 34. Clear sites of all personnel and if possible remove items that may cause further injury 35. Identify items or locations that may need to be isolated for safety and investigatory activities post-emergency situation 36. Advise relevant personnel of the emergency situation according to established procedures |
Secure locations on completion of hazardous action sequences | 37. Collect, check inventory of, transport and store all production materials used in the execution of hazardous action sequences in compliance with regulatory requirements 38. Inspect locations to ensure they are left in a safe and secure state, in compliance with regulatory requirements 39. Assess condition of animals used in hazardous action sequences and advise animal handlers of any issues arising from staging of hazardous action sequences 40. Participate in post-sequence evaluations with relevant personnel and provide feedback in order to guide future productions 41. Complete personal logbook and contribute to final written reports as required |
Required Skills
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Required skills |
problem-solving skills sufficient to make valid determinations of a performer's ability to perform a planned hazardous action sequence involving animals based on experience, observation and awareness of relevant industry codes and legislative requirements 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 communication skills sufficient to: engage with relevant screen production cast and crew 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 to all staff and animals involved organisational and planning skills sufficient to: implement licensing and government regulatory requirements and emergency veterinary and medical service procedures use information management systems that address safety and security establish parameters in delivery of sequences that maximise continuity contribute to the planning, set up, rehearsal, execution, evaluation and bump out associated with hazardous action sequences involving a range of animals and other performers 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 involving animals select and apply movements and procedures appropriate to the effective control of animals and the genre of screen production |
Required knowledge |
industry knowledge, including: familiarity with screen production techniques, camera positions and equipment organisational culture, etiquette and 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 animals access procedures and protocols for engaging with emergency veterinary and medical services communication channels employed on location safety implications regarding all camera, sound and lighting equipment to be used in hazardous action sequences involving animals 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 animals and other sets, props and armour common industry hazards in relation to working with animals, their potential for causing harm, and strategies for minimising potential harm to human and non-human performers applied knowledge of the Australian Recommended Safety Code for Film and Television and animal welfare codes 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 involving animals 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 involving animals ability to follow correct procedures in relation to setting up, performing and evaluating hazardous action sequences involving animals ability to make judgements based on the degree of risk associated with hazardous action sequences involving animals effective verbal and written communication skills in the context of executing hazardous action sequences involving animals. |
Context of and specific resources for assessment | Assessment must ensure that a sufficient range of hazardous action sequences involving animals are covered and that all MEAA requirements are met. Assessment should occur wherever possible in an integrated manner with similar hazardous action sequences 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 animals 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 animals 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 CUFHAZ402A Perform hazardous action sequences involving fights and falls CUFHAZ403A Perform hazardous action sequences involving natural elements. |
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 animal handler and wrangler 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. |
Animals used in productions may include: | creatures trained for performance: birds fish mammals arachnids crustaceans reptiles domestic animals domesticated animals imitation animals: decoys animatronics puppets computer generated imagery of animals and creatures undomesticated (wild) animals untrained animals. |
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 and animal welfare requirements relating to the safe transport and handling of animals to be used during screen production 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 veterinary 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 security-related legislation in regards to the release of special effects |
Information may include: | animal management armour on-site and off-site transport and magazine storage protocols camera and equipment track and rigging requirements cast and crew lists command prompt lists for specific trained animals costume and theatrical make-up requirements documentation of animal transport, storage and handling requirements specific to species involved documentation of relevant licences and regulatory compliance requirements needed by stunt supervisors, performers, animal handlers, 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: inventories of blank ammunition weapons capability statements and records instructional manuals on weapons handling licences and regulatory requirements weapons quarantining procedures. |
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 animals, cast, crew and production equipment risk to broader public and environment unfavourable weather conditions, such as: fog, mist or rain high wind velocity bad light water temperature. |
Warm-up activities may include: | breathing familiarising animals with required tasks on location mental and emotional preparation practice session 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.