After many years of discussions, the Academy of Cinematographic Arts and Sciences established a special award for stunt designers, which will be presented at the 100th Oscars.
In a joint statement, Academy Director General Bill Kramer and President Janet Young noted:
"From the very first days of cinema, staging tricks was an important part of cinema. We are proud to acknowledge the innovative work of these technical and creative professionals."
One of the main initiators of the new nomination was director David Leach, who directed the film "The Fall," dedicated to stuntmen. Starting as Brad Pitt's understudy, and then filming the full-fledged stunts of John Wick and Deadpool 2, Leach, along with stunt coordinator Chris O'Hara, made several appearances before the Academy with this offer.
"Stricks are important for all genres of cinema," said Leich. — From the innovative works of Keaton, Lloyd, and Chaplin to contemporary stage designers, this art deserves recognition. We worked on this for years, relying on the efforts of many generations of stuntmen.
Notably, other awards have long been recognizing the work of stunt performers: the Emmy awards for coordinating and performing stunts, and the Film Actors Guild (SAG) honors the best stunt ensemble. Now, with a delay, but "Oscar" will join this list, giving the stuntmen a chance to earn deserved recognition.