Safety First, Always

Although Sarah Elizabeth Jones was not a NZ crew member, her death while filming on location in the US serves as a timely reminder of the precarious positions we as film crew put ourselves in. By** Dot Kyle.**

On February 20th Sarah Elizabeth Jones, an American 2nd AC, was tragically killed after being struck by a train during production for the film Midnight Rider in Georgia, US. Sarah was part of a small crew on the first day of production for the film when the accident occurred. Various news sources have reported that the 27-year-old was killed when a train smashed into a hospital bed the crew had been using in a scene. Seven other crew members were also injured as a result. Although it is not 100% clear at this stage, it sadly appears the production company did not have permission to be on the railway tracks and there were no safety crew or train spotters on location.

Sarah’s death has resulted in a massive outcry of support and grief on Facebook from technicians all over the world, including NZ. The group 'Slates For Sarah' on Facebook has attracted well over 66,000 likes, with crew from all over the world showing not only their solidarity and support to Sarah’s family but also highlighting the importance of being safe on set. A-list Hollywood actors also waded in and shared their support and sadness. Dustin Hoffman, Jean Claude-Van Damme, Ben Stiller, Quentin Tarantino, and Betty White were amongst all those who held a slate for Sarah.

In addition to the Facebook page, an online petition was set up to have Sarah’s name mentioned in the memoriam section of the Oscars at the recent Academy Awards. All news reports in the follow-up to the awards indicated that this would be near impossible. However, with social media being the valuable vocal platform and the growing media attention, the Academy recognized Sarah deserved the mention. Although Sarah’s photo was not included in the memoriam montage, her name was listed on a banner at the end of Bette Midler’s performance. Many attendees, including some academy winners, showed their respect by wearing a black ribbon in Sarah’s honor. Sarah’s picture has also been included on the Oscar’s official memoriam page.

It showed a sign of respect from Hollywood that Sarah was not only a valuable crew member who died tragically and needlessly but that she is now also a symbol of crew safety and the need for attitudes to change surrounding safety on set.

At the end of the day, Sarah could have been any one of us. I can personally think of a few situations that have been less than ideal and far from safe to shoot, but at the time it was all about getting the job done, and I thought nothing of it. It is only in hindsight that you take stock.

The message here is to think before you act. Think about the environment you are in, and if you feel your safety is being compromised to get that ‘perfect shot,’ then don’t feel afraid to speak out. No film is ever worth sacrificing your life for. If ever in doubt of your obligations when prepping your next shoot, then consult the Safety Code of Practice (as a Guild member you should have this). You can also contact the Techos’ Guild or a film safety company such as Lifeguard and Safety directly.

Last but not least is to always take care of each other.

Visit www.SlatesForSarah.org for more information.