Stuntman craves action
Stuntman Lukas Stoiber is lit on fire for some action scenes. • Photo submitted
By Tom Victoria
On any given day, Lukas Stoiber is set on fire, hit by a car or gets thrown down a stairwell. These and other film sequences are just part of the job for the California stuntman.
Lukas, 23, of Los Angeles adores his job.
“I’m not into stunts for the money or the fame,” he said. “It’s because I have a deep passion for it.”
Lukas explained there is an artistry in using one’s body to create a scene.
“It’s never boring,” he said.
For some stunts, Lukas is engulfed in flames.
“I’ve been lit on fire 12 times,” he said. “My longest burn was 23 seconds. And that was a full body burn, meaning front and back, completely engulfed in flames. In the scene, I tripped backward intentionally, falling onto my back, writhing on the ground for a bit until I turn around signaling the fire safety team to put me out.”
Lukas also takes all kinds of falls.
“Most recently, I’ve crashed through a bannister,” he said. “I fell like 8 feet down some stairs.”
Lukas flies into action with the cameras rolling. • Photo submitted
Lukas also has been hit by cars, felled by simulated bullet shots and slammed against a wall by simulated supernatural forces.
“I make an effort to know many different stunts as I can,” he said. “You can call me and I’ll be able to do it. And if I can’t, I’ll recommend my best guys who can.”
Lukas can handle any type of fight scene as he is trained in different styles, including martial arts. He was trained by Herb Perez, the 1992 Olympic gold medalist, and holds a 4th Degree Black Belt in Tae Kwon Do as well as a national champion title in Bo staff.
The one thing he turned down doing is a wheelie on a motorcycle. Lukas said that stunt is the only one he has refused to do because it’s such a specialty skill.
“I cannot pop a wheelie, yet,” he said.
Lukas stressed the need for safety when performing stunts.
“There are safe ways to do dangerous things,” he said.
Lukas explained how the preferable way to be “hit” by a car is via a harness and wire pulling the stuntman away before impact.
Lukas also is an actor. • Photo by Arthur Bryan Marroquin
“In this example, you never make contact with the car,” he said. “Sometimes, you have to bite the bullet and just get hit by the car, but longevity is key and productions will do what they can to keep the performer safe.”
Punches can be faked with camera angles and specialty shots include having the fist already touching the other person’s face when cameras roll.
“You can fake a lot,” Lukas said.
When going through the break-away bannister, he used his chest, arm, knee and ankle to push off the wall.
Stuntmen wear padding when possible, but that’s not always feasible. And bruises are not uncommon. Lukas’ injuries include dislocating the same shoulder two different times. In both cases, he popped it back in place himself.
Lukas said even doing the same stunt throughout a week isn’t monotonous.
“Each time still is different because of all the moving parts and multiple departments coming together in synchrony,” he said. “You’re meeting new people, learning something new.”
Lukas is a 4th degree black belt in Tae Kwon Do. • Photo by Arthur Bryan Marroquin
Lukas trained himself how to do nearly every stunt in his arsenal. He watches videos, then practices the move until he nails it.
“I am self-taught off YouTube,” Lukas said. “So there’s a lot of trial and error.”
He has filmed doing stunts to create reels that show what he can do. Lukas explained the reel not only shows he can perform the stunts, but that he understands camera work, editing, sound design and how to execute a vision from beginning to end.
When Lukas needs to stage a new stunt, he pulls out the phone.
“I’ll be texting my best friend ‘Hey, I need you to hit me in the face with a fire extinguisher,’” Lukas said.
He created a 30-second reel titled “Denim Kills” that shows him tripping head first into a real fire pit, setting himself on fire, falling, feigning a head impact, crawling while ablaze, dousing himself with water and delivering a line.
“That checks off a ton of skills in one video,” Lukas said.
A significant factor in stunt work is being able to look like a double for the actor. For one role, Lukas had to shave his head. Consequently, scheduling work also entails keeping track of how he’ll need to look for each assignment.
Lukas always was more active than the average person as evidenced when he was climbing the walls at 12 years old. • Photo submitted
Lukas said stuntmen need to follow set etiquette and work well with others.
“You cannot be arrogant,” he said.
Lukas became fascinated by stunt work at 6 years old.
“I was watching Jackie Chan in ‘Rush Hour’ jumping from building to building and fighting dudes and flipping and all this other stuff,” he said. “At that moment, I knew that’s what I had to with my life. And at that time, I didn’t even know you could get paid for it.”
That desire only intensified as he observed others deal with the daily grind of their jobs sitting at their computers stressed out only to go home and do it again the next day.
“I don’t want to do that,” he recalled thinking. “I want to have fun and create.”
Upon graduating high school at 18, Lukas relocated from Foster City, California, to the Van Nuys area of L.A. to pursue his dream. He credits careful planning with his quick start in the business.
“Having a clear goal helped a lot,” Lukas said.
The stuntman doesn’t restrict himself to the risky scenes, he also is an actor.
“I love bringing stories and emotions to people,” Lukas said.
Lukas has worked in 59 productions, 40 of which for stunt work. • Photo by Anna Kuperschmidt
He employs various techniques to remember lines, including reading all of his lines multiple times, writing them out, rehearsing them with someone else and recording himself saying them.
Lukas isn’t satisfied with just knowing what to do in front of the camera. He wants to learn all facets of film-making, including lighting, set design, rigging and directing. Lukas said that comprehensive knowledge will help filming run smoother now and prepare him for being a stunt coordinator and second unit director someday.
“I want to know how you feel and be able to give you proper, realistic instruction and not expect crazy things from you,” Lukas said about dealing with all departments in a production.
Lukas has worked in 59 productions. He estimates roughly 40 were specifically for stunt work.
His talents have been employed for other work, including puppeteering Juliet the triceratops at Jurassic World and performing as a Durmstrang in the Harry Potter show at Universal Studios
At home, Lukas has a creature not quite as fierce as those faced by Alan Grant or Harry — a bearded dragon named Toothless.
Lukas said his motivation to practice stunts has never wavered.
Lukas said possessing the necessary skills isn't enough to secure stunt work as one has to be a convincing doppleganger for the respective actor. • Photo by Arthur Bryan Marroquin
“Fortunately, I’ve never gotten bored of practicing stunts, especially the basics,” he said. “Foundation is key. Your basics have to be perfect. Should I ever get tired of it, I’ll practice something else that’s similar or completely change it up. Your progress isn’t going anywhere unless you abandon it.”
Lukas advised aspiring stuntmen to develop people skills and decorum.
“You can learn literally any stunt you want to do on YouTube,” he said. “Social skills, making strong connections with people who can support you and, in turn, you them, and setiquette —set etiquette: how you behave on a set and how valuable of a crew member you can be — are among the things you can’t learn on YouTube. It’s true what they say, ‘Connections are everything.’”
Lukas recommended picking up all aspects of film-making.
“Learn everything you can,” he said. “If you have an in, you can always transition to what you really want to do somehow. Getting started in the industry is the hardest thing. Additionally, learn, if you haven’t already, that you are never too good to say no to help. Know who to ask.”
For Lukas, the value of his job is all about contributing to a production.
“Whether my contribution is acting my heart out in front of the camera, designing a fight scene or simply running coffee to the actors as a production assistant, knowing that I was a part of something that made someone truly feel something is what it’s all about for me.”
Lukas' stuntman Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/stoiberstunts/
Lukas' actor Instagram: instagram.com/lukasstoiberofficial/
Lukas' website: https://www.stoiberstunts.com/