April 10th 2024.
Meet Dee Bryant, a renowned stunt driver with years of experience under her belt. She is a strong advocate for increasing the presence of women in the stunt-driving world. Along with founder Olivia Summers, Dee co-leads the Association of Women Drivers - an all-female team of stunt and performance drivers based in Hollywood. Their main goal, as reported by the Los Angeles Times, is to promote visibility and career opportunities for women in an industry that is predominantly male-dominated.
Dee's passion for this cause is evident in her statement, where she expresses the need to eliminate excuses for hiring male drivers over equally skilled female drivers. She strongly opposes the practice of "wigging" and "paint downs" - where male drivers are disguised as women for certain stunts. This is a crucial step in creating a level playing field for women in the industry.
Despite apologies from major studios like Warner Bros, who recently cast a white stunt woman to double for a Black actor in Gotham, Dee believes that such incidents still occur. She firmly believes in nurturing the next generation of stunt drivers and takes an active role in mentoring young women. Dee even went out of her way to help one of her mentees buy a stunt car. She understands the importance of representation and wants these young women to look good on set, to prove the naysayers wrong.
Their efforts have already yielded positive results, with emerging stunt driver Jwaundace Candece crediting Dee for guiding her on how to perform for the cameras and helping her network with other professionals. Currently, Dee and Olivia are the only members of the association, but they have ambitious plans to recruit skilled drivers in various areas such as cars, motorcycles, dirt bikes, and watercraft. Their vision has caught the attention of Hollywood, with producers even pitching a reality show about searching for top female talent in the stunt world. They have been asked to put a hold on recruitment while the idea is developed.
The need for Dee and Olivia's advocacy is evident in the fact that only 22% of stunt union members are female. Stunt performers, in general, are fighting for more recognition and respect within the industry. The recent Oscars casting category, which seemed to overlook their demands for award recognition, was disheartening for many. Dee describes the subsequent stunt tribute at the Oscars as "a joke."
With impressive resumes boasting hundreds of credits in TV and film, Dee and Olivia are highly skilled drivers who have doubled for A-list actors. Dee has taken on high-octane stunts for renowned names such as Angela Bassett, Regina King, Kerry Washington, and Gabrielle Union in the pilot episode of L.A.'s Finest. The Association of Women Drivers proudly acknowledges Dee's career growth within the industry, including her role as a stunt coordinator for a $30-million Nike commercial featuring Serena Williams, LeBron James, and Megan Rapinoe.
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