LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Stunt performers cannot be accused of not giving it their all. Particularly not Harrison Ford's stunt double. On Monday, July 24, stunt performers demonstrated around Atlanta in support of the current SAG-AFTRA strikes.
Numerous people gathered near Fayetteville's Covert Camera Vehicles to express their unity, denounce corporate greed, and witness one very ardent protestor (safely) catch fire. Mike Massa, a stunt coordinator and the real-life stunt double for Ford in 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull', stole the night when he strode across the stage in flames while waving a "SAG-AFTRA on Strike" banner. One remark that accompanied a video of Massa in flames stated, "We are weary of being burnt by the AMPTP," as reported by EW.
Who is Mike Massa?
Since the early 1990s, Massa has worked in the stunt industry, doing stunts in several well-known television shows and movies before transitioning to stunt coordinating and second unit directing. For the 'Angel' episode 'A New World', Mike was nominated in 2002 for an American Choreography Award for Outstanding Achievement in Fight Choreography.
For his boat work on 'The Italian Job', he earned the Taurus World Stunt Award in 2004 for Best Specialty Stunt. He was one of the stunt actors that was nominated for a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2009 for Outstanding Performance by a Stunt Ensemble in a Motion Picture for 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'. He received a Screen Actors Guild Award in 2010 for his work on the 'Star Trek' stunt team, which was recognized for outstanding performance by a stunt ensemble in a motion picture. He was nominated for two Taurus World Stunt Awards in the same year—best high work and best specialty stunt, as reported by Stuntsunlimited.
'We wanted to make a statement'
Massa wrote on Instagram, "We wanted to make a statement, and I think we did. It was great to see such a great turnout from our local stunt community, local leadership, and actors who showed up to support us. It was a great day!"
The event ended with a spectacular flourish, although artists' worries were also expressed. In a video posted by Atlanta News First, SAG-AFTRA local president Eric Goins said, "We should share in the successes of our employer, and they make billions with a 'B." Since July 14, the union's voice actors, stunt performers, announcers, puppeteers, and other entertainers have been on strike.
