A blacklisted Stuntman gets one last shot at fame when two friends hire him to star in their low-budget action film, but when he is killed by a rival stuntman before the film can be finished he unexpectedly becomes a household name. 

SYNOPSIS:

Stan is an out of work and out of shape former stuntman who now scrapes together a living performing as a clown at kid’s parties to support his wheelchair-bound daughter, Laura. But when he sets himself on fire before a crowd of five-year-olds and loses his job, he resorts to throwing himself into moving traffic and blackmailing any driver unlucky enough to hit him.

As Stan’s suicidal antics threaten his relationship with his daughter, he is discovered by two friends making a film. After a disastrous school reunion, Alfie, a paperboy in his thirties, and Gemma, a successful but unsatisfied writer, embark on the production purely to spite their former classmates.

But the duo has limited funds, not enough to clear Stan’s debts. However, the chance at fame and the thought of spiting the rival stuntman who had Stan blacklisted decades before is enough to buy him.

The remaining cast of misfits is put together and the struggle to make the film begins. Stray dogs are shaved to make wigs, doctors tire of Stan’s multiple hospital visits, and Gemma chronicles it all as part of a making-of documentary titled Life of a Stuntman.

She uploads the footage online in instalments, each one finding a larger audience than the last. Their plight is attracting attention, especially that of Johnny Steele, Stan’s evil rival, who begins stalking the cast and crew.

After one of many head injuries, Stan is forced to spend the night in hospital and begins reflecting on his career choice. As shooting is set to continue, Stan quits, no longer wishing to put strain on his daughter. But Laura is inspired by her father’s recent sense of purpose and encourages him to continue doing what he loves.

Filming resumes. But a major stunt to goes horribly wrong. However, Stan saves the life of a young co-star and the scene is now even more spectacular than planned. It is his greatest moment. He is a hero.

The feelings of elation are sadly short-lived though when Stan is killed by his arch-nemesis whilst shooting the film’s climax. Gemma and Alfie’s dreams are dashed. Stan is dead.

The film remains unfinished, but the ‘making of’ unexpectedly becomes an internet sensation. Alfie and Gemma are thrust into the limelight and they seemingly have everything they ever wanted.

But the public now demand to see the footage of Stan’s final stunt. During a live TV appearance, Alfie and Gemma are hounded by an obnoxious talk show host to show the world what it wants – Stan’s death. But the two friends reveal that the footage never existed; the camera ran out of battery while shooting Stan’s first, and final, interview.

Gemma and Alfie exit the stage to boos from the audience but with their heads held high and new ideas on what it really means to ‘win’. Stan’s final moment on camera sees him pouring his heart out, revealing that it was never really envy or spite that drove him, but a love of entertaining. The world watches. This becomes his legacy.

DEATH OF A STUNTMAN