Lax Stunt Safety Proves Fatal

Within the past thirty years, the movie and television stunt industry has multiplied in techniques, abilities and uses throughout media.  However, with the rise in the popularity of this industry, there has also been a rise in the accidents on these movie and television sets due to stunt safety.  Some of the worst stunt accidents happened during the late 1980′s.

Due to the rise of realism and live action sequences in movies and television, the stunt industry has resorted to more delicate and dangerous maneuvers for entertainment purposes.  However, with this rise in dangerous maneuvers, comes a greater risk towards the actors and other stunt crew workers, and even other crew staff such as cameramen and other staff on set.  The risk is of great injury and as it has been seen in recent years, a greater risk of fatality.  Obviously the worst stunt accidents are those that result in death.  But the worst of this category is possibly those deaths that could have been avoided if more safety precautions were taken by studio and site crews for each stunt.  Over time, it has been seen that some of the most deadly stunts, those that caused more fatalities in one accident, are those where corners were cut to save a few dollars and avoid excess cost in production.  But those cut corners, caused great suffering in the injured and overall cost within the industry from losing fellow actors, stunt crew and other essential crew members.

One of the most deadly accidents within movie making history took place in 1989 while filming the movie “Delta Force 2″ in the Philippines.  This one accident killed three people and injured four people, two of which later died.  This accident was just one that proved that stunt safety is not always considered as a necessity.    After researching the incident, it was found that the helicopter that crashed accidentally in the shooting had not been run in years and was being flown by someone who was less than able to fly in a stunt sequence.  It was also understood that there wasn’t adequate medical staff available in case of an emergency.  No stretchers, drugs or medical care was available within reach, but the wounded needed to make a thirty mile trek to the nearest hospital before being properly treated.

Stunt Safety should be of utmost importance to any film or television crew when shooting those ever important sequences.  The safety makes for a better industry and better stunts all around.