SEE THE FULL HOUR VIDEO AT:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0n_LZGl6jd8
Stunt Reel: STUNT REEL: http://youtu.be/hSfXsmNZkoc NOMINATIONS: SAG Best Stunt Ensemble 2007 I Am Legend SAG Best Stunt Ensemble 2008 Indiana Jones Kingdom of the Crystal Skull Tina McKissick was raised on a farm in Georgia with plenty of horses and dirt bikes to ride and haylofts to jump from. She used these experiences to earn her first stunt job in 1998 on Forces of Nature with Sandra Bullock in Savannah. After moving to New York in 2001 she went on to stunt double for The Olsen Twins, Kelly Ripa, Jessica Simpson, Dakota Fanning, Kristen Bell, Hillary Duff and most recently Melissa McCarthy in Ghostbusters among many others. Tina is also a Regional and Off Broadway Character Actress as well as an Animation Voice Over Artist. “Why I started Stuntwomen United” I have been a stuntwoman for 20 years and looking back on my career I have only wished for one thing, that I didn’t have to struggle as much as I did for the career I was so passionate about. If only I could have afforded more training in the beginning while trying to find my next stunt job, maybe I would have been considered for more opportunities when they arose. If only I had known more about stunt safety, maybe I wouldn’t have endured some of the injuries I did. If only there had been a place I could have freely asked for advice and someone to tell me the proper equipment to have ready at all times, I could have been better prepared. Yes, we all need to learn somehow, but I don’t believe throwing someone into the fire (literally) is the best solution. With a recent rise in stunt performer injuries, I have also become very concerned about our industries safety standards and practices. More and more young women are asking me to mentor them as they don’t know how to maneuver in this field, but they do know their hearts desire to be a stuntwoman. I see myself in them and don’t want them to experience an unnecessary situation or preventable injury. After reaching out to other stuntwomen about their experiences, I realized they also had the same multitude of hurdles I did just to remain in the industry. It was then that I decided we needed something bigger. Formed solely for SAG-AFTRA stuntwomen, Stuntwomen United Network, Inc. (S.U.N​.​) is dedicated to breaking down barriers, bridging the gaps and empowering our members so they may have an equal and fair opportunity for success in a male dominated industry. A stuntwoman’s needs are an anomaly and getting help from appropriate sources can be a challenge. By providing financial assistance and support as well as scholarships for training and growth, S.U.N. women will be better prepared and trained for their job giving them a step up where this is not only necessary but critical to their lives.

Tags: Stuntwomen United Network Executive Tina McKissick and Joanne Lamstein