I found myself on a precipice of a few new article ideas this week, including one that presented itself in an opportunity to share a dialogue with someone who works in a field I routinely cover in my peripherals. His name is Riccardo Cabalisti, and as you can see, his stunt reel speaks for itself.
Beyond that, I thought I’d take the time to acquaint myself along with the rest of our readership in something of a return to form for this website. Indeed, I miss The Hit List, which is also why I’m also filing this in The Hit Listers column, particularly seeing as that Riccardo himself is on the verge of something spectacular given his juxtaposition with the good folks over at Code 1010 Productions who’ve been gaining ground on the festival scene as award-winning filmmakers and stunt performers whose feats recently won over crowds in Toledo, as well as here in New York City.
Thus, I have to credit our mutuals Alejandra and Kyro, and everyone else who pointed Riccardo in my direction. He and I did this interview virtually, and seeing as he’s in the neighborhood, here’s hoping we actually bump into each other someday.
Enjoy the chatter below in the meantime, and follow Riccardo on Instagram!
Greetings Riccardo, it’s nice to make your acquaintance. How has 2026 been for you so far?
Hello Lee, first of all, thank you so much for having me here. It’s a pleasure talking with you. Everyone has given me great feedback about your interviews, so I’m glad to be participating in one myself. This year has been full of surprises, and I can’t wait to see what’s next.
I’ve spoken to a lot of stunt performers and asked what motivated them to join this industry, and they all have different reasons, but the bulk of them all culminate into just a general love for the craft. You’re here and the spotlight is on you, so talk a bit about how you came into this particular field.
You said it! As with many of my colleagues, I decided to start this journey because of the beauty of the job. It’s amazing how much you discover and how quickly you fall in love with every aspect of the creative process. Ever since I was a kid, I loved watching action movies, and I was always wondering how they pulled off those incredible stunts. I became increasingly interested in behind-the-scenes content and more curious about how everything worked until one day I told myself, “I want to get lit on fire too!” So I simply Googled how to become a stuntman. Eight years ago, I attended my first stunt
school in the United States, fell in love with the profession, and I’ve been chasing that dream ever since.
What were some of your favorite lms and shows growing up that presently shape your journey to this day?
That’s a great question. Thanks to my dad, some of my favorite movies growing up were The Blues Brothers and The Dukes of Hazzard. They were classics with a strong stunt element, featuring incredible car chases, ghts, and falls. And then there was Jackie Chan, who was truly inspirational to me. The persona he created and the way he combined storytelling with his unique style are still outstanding, even after almost fifty years. His inuence on action cinema is remarkable.
Talk about the various levels of training and background conditioning that you needed to become a stuntman. I only ask this because a few folks among my readership would comment about how they want to get into stunts and the reality is there’s no easy way in. Plus, you’ve gotta cut your teeth in a number of ways first and foremost.
There’s an infinite amount of training you can throw yourself into, especially when you realize how much there is to learn and how long it can take to master dierent skills.From my personal experience, whatever activities you pursue while growing up can become part of your path as a stunt performer. Everything you do contributes to building your performance on camera. There are two ways to build a stunt career: you can become the specialist that everyone calls for a specic skill, or you can become highly reliable across a wide range of disciplines.
I’ve only recently gotten acquainted with your colleagues over at Code 1010 Productions based here in New York City which is how I found out about you. Talk a bit about you became how you became a part of this particular group.
To tell you the truth, I got really lucky. Since moving to the United States three years ago, I’ve met many amazing people, but only a few shared the same passion for filmmaking.
We started as a group of friends meeting on the streets of New York, trying our best not to get caught while filming. Fast forward to more recently, and we nally decided to launch our own production company. We wanted to take things more seriously, and that decision paid off. We won a stunt competition at 87North’s headquarters in Los Angeles, one of our shortfilms, “Let It Snow,” was selected for several lm festivals, and we won an award at the Toledo Film Festival. I’m very excited to see what the future holds for us.
Among your credits which date back to 2019 was the second season of Mr. & Mrs. Smith, the first season of which which I personally enjoyed. Can you share the extent of your involvement on the new season and your experience with that production?
Unfortunately, I can’t disclose much information about the project at the moment because it is still in production. What I can say is that it’s going to be an amazing second season. I was hired as the primary stunt double for one of the actors, and we spent a lot of time rehearsing some major fight sequences. The amount of talent involved in this project is incredible, so I would expect something truly special.
What was the biggest stunt you’ve ever performed on a production, and what prepared you for that very moment when the camera started rolling?
One of the biggest stunts I’ve ever performed was a full-body burn inside a cage, with my eyes closed and very limited ability to breathe. I loved that stunt because I had to memorize every movement before being set on fire. The space was extremely limited, so there was very little room for error.
All the fire training I completed in both America and Europe helped me stay calm and trust my instincts. Fire burns are beautiful to perform, but at the same time they can be incredibly dangerous.
What are some of the biggest lessons you’ve learned during your career, and can you break it down for us with a few examples?
Be humble and stay hungry. One of the most important lessons I’ve learned over the years is that nothing is guaranteed. Everything can change, even after you’ve signed a contract.
Unfortunately, I’ve experienced situations where I was assigned to a project and circumstances changed in ways that weren’t in my favor. What looked like months of work suddenly disappeared, and I had to find other solutions. Even when you’re assigned to a major role, things beyond your control can get in the way. That’s why it’s important to stay adaptable and keep moving forward.
Do you have any aspirations toward other aspects of entertainment after stunts? You could even be the next Kenji Tanigaki or David Leitch if you play your cards right!
One day, I would love to produce a big-budget film of my own. There’s still a lot of work to do and many steps to take before reaching that goal, but with the right attitude and mindset, you can accomplish a great deal. David Leitch and Chad Stahelski are huge sources of inspiration for me. They completely changed the way people view stunt performers and action filmmaking. Their careers, projects, impact, creative choices, and talent continue to motivate me to believe in this industry and pursue my own goals.
Thank you for taking the time to share a piece of your story with us Riccardo. On that note, do you have any final thoughts to share with our readers as we exit this interview?
I would love to inspire everyone who’s being in the void of “should I do it?” Please go out and risk, that’s the best way to discover more of yourself. I decided three years ago to risk it all to come overseas from Italy, the journey is not going to be easy but the reward of the choice will be 100% worth it! Thank you for having me again. Was a pleasure!