I was deeply saddened to read about the tragic death of Camera Assistant Sarah Jones on the set of Midnight Rider.
I didn’t know Sarah personally, yet I feel an overwhelming sense of loss—because this didn’t have to happen.
She was killed when a train unexpectedly came while they were filming on a railroad bridge.
📌 Why was a film crew shooting on an active railroad bridge?
📌 Did no one question if it was safe?
No movie is worth a life.
🎥 The Film Industry’s Responsibility for Safety
There were twenty people shooting on that bridge.
Did no one feel they could speak up?
This tragedy is a reminder that safety isn’t just the responsibility of producers or department heads—it’s everyone’s responsibility.
✅ The Production Assistant can question unsafe conditions.
✅ The Cinematographer can pause before rolling.
✅ The Director can make a different choice.
✅ The Crew can look out for one another.
📢 Safety isn’t a job title—it’s a shared responsibility.
🛑 Honoring Sarah Jones by Changing Film Set Culture
Petitions to the Academy, camera slates marked with her name, black ribbons—they all honor her memory.
But they won’t bring Sarah back.
💡 What will make a difference is changing how we approach safety on set.
Maybe in Sarah’s honor, we commit to:
✅ Wearing the safety harness, even when it’s “uncool.”
✅ Skipping the post-wrap beer to avoid impaired driving.
✅ Shooting a less hectic schedule—so fatigue doesn’t lead to mistakes.
✅ Speaking up when something feels unsafe.
These small decisions add up.
They won’t bring Sarah back—but they might save someone else’s life.
🎞 A Commitment to Safer Film Sets
No film is worth a life.
📌 Let’s build a film industry where safety comes first—not just when tragedy strikes, but every single day on set.
💡 Have you ever been on a set where safety was overlooked? What did you do?
Rest in peace, Sarah Jones.
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