Breakfall Studios:
Supporting the Stunt Community 

In the past few years, I have had the pleasure of being integrated into the stunt community through various production work. My love for the art of action has not only grown for the technique but for the practice and discipline that is involved. Being a life-long action fan, I am honored to have become friends with so many talented people and the continuing knowledge I’m living in the field. Action for the film is not necessarily something you just fall into. You have to have a background in physical movement, be it dance, athletics, gymnastics, or martial arts, but you don’t have to be a part of a collective to start your career, either. 

What you do need, though, is a community. Breakfall Studios in New York is exactly that. Founded in 2015 by Paul Varacchi and Stephen Koepfer, this group provides the East Coast stunt community (and out-of-town performers visiting or working in NYC) with a variety of training opportunities. Breakfall Studios offers workshops to assist rookie and seasoned performers in honing their skills for the screen - like fighting, falling, choreography, basic wire, and weapon skills for example. They also offer ongoing stunt practices on an invite-only basis. Breakfall Studios host gym, New York Combat Sambo, has become a hub for performers looking to tighten up or maintain their fight and martial art skill.

“We really envisioned our stunt practice as a collective where people we know personally, have worked with on set and trust, could share their different skills and train together,” Koepfer explains. “We wanted to build a diverse core team of skilled people we can grow with – whether they be circus performers, gymnasts, riggers, trickers, fighters, drivers, shooters, editors, etc. But, it became clear early on that we had to dial it back and not be as open as we initially planned when we started Breakfall in 2015. Even so, we still want to offer training and networking opportunities to performers we don’t know and that are new to the industry, so we run open workshops a few times a year. Generally, at a very low cost or free. We don’t want to profiteer off of people’s desire to learn and be seen.”

The inception of Breakfall didn’t necessarily start out as a bridge between the NY stunt and film communities, but instead, as an outlet to help creativity flow between these two worlds. The idea to create this type of collective was ignited after they talked to several dozen participants of a Fighting for Film workshop they attended. Koepfer and Varacchi realized that the community’s desire to train dwarfed the number of available training spaces in the city. 

”Breakfall initially started as an open training space for stunt performers at New York Combat Sambo. We always had the aspiration that it would become more than just an open training though,” Koepfer adds. "I had already been involved in TV & film on the production side since 2007, so we opted for Breakfall Studios as opposed to Breakfall Stunts as a name. Paul and I both felt the word studios more accurately reflected our long-term goals.”

Koepfer and Varacchi’s background is varied, Combat Sambo and Krav Maga respectfully, and is a great jumping-off point for participants. There are requirements for those who choose to train at Breakfall Studios, like SAG-AFTRA membership, accountability, work ethic, commitment, and respect for others, but it’s always been a place for a shared learning experience. Koepfer and Varacchi don’t want Breakfall to be thought of as an ‘expertise’ facility. The training is open to new and seasoned talent alike. Breakfall Studios is a place where the community can come together to continue to learn and train.

“Paul and I are actually still fairly new in the stunt industry. There is much more that we don’t know than we do know. However, outside of stunts, I have prior filmmaking and production experience. Paul has several years as a Security PA for Marvel Studios as well as Health and Safety experience with Disney. These experiences give us some insight and very useful skills,” Koepfer admits. “But, in terms of stunts, we are still growing and evolving. The road is a long one.”

I want to take a moment to acknowledge Koepfer, one of the main friendships I’ve gained in the last few years. He is a very talented martial artist, filmmaker, and stunt performer, and is very humble. The immense respect he has for both the stunt community in TV & Film and for Martial Arts, in general, is honorable. He has been very open about his still evolving experience in stunts, yet because of his openness, he earns the respect of all he works with. He doesn’t try to showboat his accomplishments but instead is eager to collaborate and continue his education and interactions within the community. That’s one reason why Breakfall Studios has continued to succeed. The natural evolution of the space has cultivated a welcoming and connective community that has allowed everyone to become motivated by each other.

Part of that motivation is to create films together. With the filmmaking and production background both Koefper and Varacchi hold, along with their growing stunt experiences, the ultimate long-term goal is to create an in-house production team. The short film Rewind featured at the 2020 IDTV Action Fest and winner of Best Team was the first that showcased what Breakfall Studios could do in the production realm, from script to screen. There is also another side of their goal coin. Varacchi and Koepfer also want to be a resource for established groups and productions. It really is an all-in-one venture.

“We rent our space to other teams and productions for rehearsals, casting, auditions, etc., and are open to any union stunt performer who may be working in NYC and needs a place to train, rehearse, shoot previs, etc. Regarding aspiring stunt performers, we encourage them to join the gym and begin getting their basic fighting, rolling, and falling skills up to par,” Koepfer says. “It is largely through workshops, classes at the gym, meeting people on the set, or personal reference that we assess whether to invite people into the ’in-house’ practices. We want to be a resource to the community AND have our in-house crew.”

It’s this collaboration and ultimately respect, with and for other groups that have become a cornerstone in Breakfall’s philosophy. Another very important element is safety. In recent years the importance of safety on sets has gained increasing coverage, but for those involved, it’s always been a duty. Through his career in combat sports, and now stunts, Koepfer has worked with several organizations including the Association of Boxing Commissions, various state athletic commissions, the Event Safety Alliance, SAG-AFTRA, ESTA/TSP, and others to push for safer practices. Safety is part of Breakfall Studios’ founding culture.

“We will never work with people or invite people in that we feel are not safe. We feel absolutely responsible for the safety of people stepping onto our mats!” Koepfer notes. “For example, we offer regular first aid and CPR training for stunt performers, with a focus on concussions. It is critical safety information every performer should know. If anyone owns a studio they absolutely should take the course. When Covid hit, Paul and I both took the Covid Compliance Officer training to inform ourselves on the safest way to run the studio.”

I will absolutely keep an out on what Breakfall Studios is up to next. I have grown to respect Koepfer. I can’t wait to see what they have up their sleeves in the coming years.

To stay up to date on all things Breakfall Studios, please see the following links: US Sambo website, NYC Combat Sambo website, Breakfall Studios website, and Breakfall Studios Facebook page. You can also follow Stephen Koepfer (@sambosteve) and Breakfall Studios (@breakfallstunts) on Instagram. Go to Vimeo to watch the award-winning short film Rewind.

Written by Lisa Mejia
Images provided. by Breakfall Studios