Double
Definition
A Double is a person who substitutes for an actor in certain situations. A "stunt double" performs dangerous physical actions (fights, falls, car chases) in place of the principal actor. A "body double" substitutes for an actor in shots where only a specific part of the body (hands, back, legs) is visible. A "photo double" or "stand-in" resembles the actor in height, build, and coloring and is used during the lighting and camera setup process so that the principal actor does not have to stand under the lights while the crew prepares the shot.
Contextual Usage
The stunt coordinator briefs the stunt double before the car crash sequence: "The principal actor will be in the car for the close-ups and the dialogue scenes. But for the actual impact and the roll, we'll use you. We've rehearsed the sequence thoroughly, and we have all the safety measures in place. Let's do one more rehearsal at half speed before we go for the real take."
About this section
Production — or "principal photography" — is the phase in which the film or video is actually shot. It is the most visible and, typically, the most expensive phase of the entire process. Every day on ...
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