'Mission: Impossible' Stuntman's 4 Tips for Breaking into the Biz

tombike

Looking for some advice on breaking into a job in Hollywood? Why not listen to the guy Tom Cruise trusts with his life.

Wade Eastwood, the stunt coordinator for "Mission Impossible -- Rogue Nation," orchestrated some of the most spectacular stunts in movie history.

The most harrowing sequence has Cruise clinging from an airplane as it lifts off. That's really Cruise and he's really on the side of an airplane in flight (although the audience doesn't see the harness tethering him to the fuselage).

Eastwood coordinated that stunt.

A South African native who first got his thrills as a race car driver, Eastwood, 44, is one of Hollywood's top stunt coordinators, with credits including James Bond films and the recently completed thriller "Inferno" based on the Dan Brown bestseller.

Wade Eastwood

Eastwood offers Made in Hollywood: Teen this advice for breaking into the stunt business:

1. Be Realistic

"Kids love the idea and the image of the job, but they don't have the natural ability or the passion for the actual job," says Eastwood. "If you don't have the natural ability, I would say forget it."

2. Have Athletic Talent

With the physical demands of the job, you need to know your body. "You need to have a natural athletic ability," he says.

3. Do Your Homework

"You find out where the other stunt guys are training and you ask questions," he says. "You find out which productions are shooting. You see many production lists and you find out who the stunt coordinator is. You put a resume together and try to get a break."

4. Be Persistent

"Never give up," he says. "I got told in the beginning, 'No, no, no, never, we're not interested.' You've just got to push through all that. If you truly have the ability and the passion for it, go for it. You will do it."

Watch the behind-the-scenes video of the making of the plane stunt Wade Eastwood and Tom Cruise:

https://youtu.be/4JM9J0zW7lM