Working as a stand-in on a TV show or film project can be a learning experience for many. So many times, stand-ins are very new to the industry or what is expected of them in their jobs.

Because of this, some stand-ins may try so hard to do their jobs well, that they push themselves a little more than necessary.

Here is some general guidance so that you don’t overdo it when you’re standing in — and hurt or exhaust yourself.

Keep Yourself Safe

Recently when standing in, I needed to look up at a camera. We were shooting outside, and the sun was bearing down. This meant one of my eyes was feeling the sun in it.

Some stand-ins might think they need to suffer with blinding sun in their open eyes as they set up a shot. This is not the case.

In my case, I simply closed the eye that was blinded while I did the job. If I had to look away from too much pain, I did, then looked back up when I was ready.

In other words, I did my job as best as I could under the circumstances, but protected myself by closing one eye and also by taking an eye break when I needed before looking back up.

On another stand-in job, I was asked to lean my body weight against a wooden box. As a result, this wooden box was pressing into a nerve on the side of my knee.

When I stepped off set, I had thought my foot was asleep. After my foot never awoke and I lost the ability to dorsiflex my foot, I learned that that time leaning against the box paralyzed me. It ended up being a workers compensation claim and it took three months and physical therapy before I fully recovered from the paralysis that action caused.

At the time, I didn’t know how dangerous what I was asked to do was. Had I known, I would have tried to figure out another solution.

You don’t need to suffer in order to do stand-in work. Do your job as best you can, but not to an unreasonable point. If you are doing something potentially dangerous or harmful, you are not being paid enough to do it.  Take care of yourself as needed.

Avoid the Infinite Action Loop

Some stand-ins think when the camera is on them, they have to mouth the words or keep repeating the actions of their actors in the scene.

In all likelihood, doing this is completely unnecessary when standing in.

Instead, what is completely fine is standing (or sitting) where you are, comfortably but focused. If someone in the production wants you to do the action, then you should do it, and do it once. If they want it done again, they’ll ask you to do it again. You don’t need to keep doing it like stuck in an infinite loop.

Similarly, acting as if you are talking — mouthing dialogue — is unnecessary when standing in. It may even be distracting while you are being lit. Remaining comfortably still works much better.

So, when standing in, you are not doing better when you mouth words or repeat actions. You are doing better when you stay comfortably still and only do actions when asked.

Go to the Bathroom

So many new stand-ins may be so afraid to step off to go to the bathroom, for fear of not being on set when needed.

Although some productions may be more upset not to have a stand-in around when called than other productions, on nearly every set, it is completely understandable to go to the bathroom at a reasonable time, and it is unreasonable not to go to the bathroom for fear of being called to set.

Although there are better and worse times to go to the bathroom, always assume you are entitled to go to the bathroom — not just as a stand-in or employee, but also as a human being.

It may be obvious, but it is a better time to excuse yourself to the bathroom when  you are not standing in on set as opposed when you are supposed to be standing on a mark and production is lining up a shot.

In any event, should you need to go to the bathroom, telling a production assistant (PA) or the 2nd 2nd assistant director (2nd 2nd AD) that you are going to the restroom tends to be all that is necessary when you need to go.  You don’t even need to ask for permission — instead, make it an instruction.  “I am going to the bathroom,” rather than “May I go to the bathroom?”. Almost never will anyone prevent you from doing so.

And in the rare event that you have a bathroom emergency, that situation is an emergency and should also command that kind of respect from production. So, if you are standing in and you have a bathroom emergency, do your best to communicate that to a PA, the 2nd 2nd AD, and if they are not immediately available, another stand-in, that you need to go. In that event, another stand-in or someone from production will usually sub in for you while you are away.

So, don’t stick around on set living in fear that if you go to the bathroom you’ll be called to set or lose your job. Instead, consider it important to go to the bathroom when you need to do so, and tell someone that you are doing that. That way, in the event production needs you when you are away, they know where you are, why you aren’t there, and what they need to do in light of that very reasonable absence.

Conclusion

In all, when you are standing in, you are doing a great job even when you are being safe, standing comfortably still, and using the bathroom when you need to do so. There is no value in a stand-in subjecting him- or herself to dangers that could cause injury, repeating unnecessary actions without being asked to do so, or sticking out a shoot despite nature calling.

The next time you stand in, try this advice and see what happens. You may find you’re still a great stand-in — even if you have a small bladder!

What other tips do you have for stand-ins who seem to try too hard? Post your advice in the comments box below!