In an all too- stark reminder of how dangerous making a film can be, Sarah Elizabeth Jones, 27, a native of West Columbia, SC, died while working as a camera assistant on “Midnight Rider,” a film based on the life of R&R singer Gregg Allman (starring William Hurt as the Allman Brothers singer in his later years.)
Unfortunately, the cliché that this was “one accident that could have easily been avoided” amazingly and sadly applies here. Her movie crew was working on train tracks without permission from the railroad when a freight train rammed into the production team; killing her. The eerily named producer of the film, “Unclaimed Freight,” did have permission from the railroad operator to film the flick near the railroad tracks, but didn’t have permission to be on it.
Just because Hollywood is a “glamour” industry doesn’t mean that it’s a glamorous work place. Indeed, a film crew furiously filming often resembles a glorified construction site; what with equipment, vehicles and props often weighing more than a ton being constantly shuffled around. And yet, you never see a crew member wearing a hardhat, and/or, doing due diligence—like seeing if railroad tracks are still being used and if they are, a schedule of trains. Then again, construction site crews don’t put in 21 hour days for little pay and rancid food; all for a “Production Assistant” credit at the end of a movie; a movie that often winds up not even being worth filming in the first place.
Sadly, cameras love a pretty face but they can’t stop a freight train, a bullet (see Brandon Lee) or water (“Noah’s Ark,” 1928). On that silent film, three people died, one man lost a leg and a number were injured in a scene where several hundred extras were caught in the “Great Flood.”
Lawsuits against “Unclaimed Freight” might very well reveal that the producers saved a few pennies by not hiring someone to dot all the “i’s.” However, trying to cut down costs might have cost a young woman her life. Because of Ms. Jones’ death, the “safety curtain” has been temporarily lifted on a film crew’s safety issues, but it will draw to a close after a few months; much like it was on “Sea World Inc.” when one of its killer whales did (and will do) what its name says it does (i.e. kill/killed a “Sea World” trainer).
But—the show will go on…
CLICK HERE for the Facebook campaign “Slates for Sarah.”