STUNT COORDINATOR

Mike Ryan spends a lot of time crafting vehicle stunts so that when he's on set he can address the project from every single conceivable angle. Mike reads the treatment, spends time with the Director, Unit Production Manager and Special FX team to get the comprehensive scope of the stunt and then begins his process.

From the location to the characters, Mike works to make the scene amazing, maximize the set-up and make it safe for actors and crew. He also considers the set and the environment it is in to minimize damage not only to ensure more takes for the director, but also to protect production from liability.

As a well-respected stunt coordinator, Mike is known for safety and his respect of the production's budget. He often mocks up the stunt on paper and sends it to the production company's insurance company to ensure that everyone is on the same page.

Because Mike has operated, retro-fitted, repaired and altered big rigs, sports cars, street cars, boats, heavy equipment and motorcycles, he can pretty much predict how your stunt will pan out. This is why film and commercial professionals have been hiring him as a stunt coordinator for 30 years and continue to do so.

This attention to detail and safety has served Mike well on sets as well as in his capacity as a reconstruction stunt driver for the CalTrans and various law firms.

After a deadly accident on California Freeway 118, Mike was called in to recreate the big rig collision with a minivan. He spent many hours studying the accident and how to recreate it. He says the experience changed him. "I thoroughly prepared myself for all of the different scenarios but in the middle of the recreation the rig did something unexpected. Because I've got the experience, I was able to react and emerge safely. But I'll never forget that day because it made me respect the laws of physics," Mike says.