A decade on, stuntwork has still not been replaced by digital computer technology. Both articles admitted the benefits of the technology. The 1994 piece commented stunt people gained employment working on interactive videos. The 1996 article quoted Kenny Endoso as saying "Computers make work safer for stunt people. We don't have to take unnecessary chances; it'll save a lot of broken bones."

Digital effects make it possible for actors to perform scenes that previously would have been done using stunt doubles. The results vary widely: Tom Hanks running from explosions in Forrest Gump looked very realistic; the less said about Tom Cruise, a train, and a helicopter in Mission Impossible, the better!

They also make it much safer for stunt people to do big action scenes. A very high fall can now be done with strong cables and a braking system. The cables are digitally removed later. Digital manipulation greatly increased the safety of the tiger scenes in Gladiator.

I am willing to bet that fights, car chases, stair falls, being blown up, crashing through windows, and other stunts will still be done by real stunt people for at least the next 20 years. Maybe then it will finally be cheaper and quicker to do away with the human element and go fully digital.