Movies - TV
John Wick Director Thinks There Should Be an Oscar For Stunts, And He's Right
By VALERIE ETTENHOFER
“John Wick” filmmaker and veteran stunt performer Chad Stahelski is facing off against an awards system that still doesn't recognize stunt work nearly a century into its existence. In an interview with Deadline, Stahelski was asked to “make the case” for the Oscars to “reconsider” adding a stunts category, a question that garnered an appropriately strong response from him.
Stahelski said, “If all the smart people at the Academy and all our smart [stunt] people sit down at a table, we can figure it out and make it happen. So I'm asking you to throw down the gauntlet to help make it happen.” The "you" in question here seems to be directed at Deadline as well as other outlets that could help shape the conversation about the award-worthiness of stunts.
Conversations about an Oscar for stunts have been happening for years, but Stahelski thinks it’s time for the Academy to include the category. “No one's gonna deny that we are at least equal to every other department,’ said the director. “We're part of every film, as much part of Hollywood lore as music, costumes, technical achievements, directing, or cinematography.”