Lights, camera, stunts! Atlanta’s action-packed training gym

NORCROSS, Ga. - Nominations were recently announced for the 31st Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards — and box office hits including "Wicked," "The Fall Guy," and "Deadpool & Wolverine" made the cut for outstanding action performance by a stunt ensemble in a motion picture. 

So where do these stunt professionals hone the skills that eventually get them noticed for major awards? 

Here in Atlanta, they go to a place like ATL Stunts. 

Tuesday morning on Good Day Atlanta, we made a return visit to ATL Stunts, the professional training facility in Norcross opened by award-winning stunt coordinator and performer Brian Krainson. 

"My whole life, I always wanted to be an action actor. From when I was a kid, as far back as I can remember," Krainson told us during a previous visit to the gym last April.

Krainson essentially opened ATL Stunts out of necessity, so that he and his colleagues would have a place to train — but in the years since, it’s also become a key networking spot for stunt professionals and offers classes and workshops covering all aspects of stunt work, including on-camera fighting, wire work, and tactical training. Krainson says performers with these skills are in high demand.

"Just about in every movie you’re going to see — whether it’s action or not — you’re going to see some sort of a fall, some sort of a fight, or some sort of a wire rig being used," says Krainson. "Even in comedy, romance, and everything else." 

Although we’ve spent a few mornings with the team at ATL Stunts, we haven’t quite mastered those award-worthy skills yet — which is why we decided to harness up and "hang out" for a few hours this morning. ATL Stunts is located at 6899 Peachtree Industrial Boulevard in Norcross —for more information on upcoming events there, click here.