Steven Poster, ASC, president of the International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600), issued a statement on the plea deal which averted a trial involving three defendants–director Randall Miller, his wife and business partner Jody Savin, and executive Jay Sedrish–who were charged with involuntary manslaughter and criminal trespassing in the Georgia freight train crash that claimed the life of camera assistant Sarah Jones during filming for Midnight Rider, a movie about singer Gregg Allman. Six other crew members were also injured in the crash on a railroad bridge a year ago in rural southeast Georgia.
Miller pleaded guilty and was sentenced to two years in jail Monday. Prosecutors agreed to drop charges against Savin. Sedrish also pleaded guilty and got 10 years on probation.
Jones’ death prompted behind-the-scenes film workers nationwide to push for improved safety standards on the job.
ICG president Poster’s statement on the plea deal read: “There were no winners today. Randall Miller’s sentencing in the case involving the tragic death of IATSE Local 600 camera assistant Sarah Jones is nothing to be happy about. But the quick conclusion to the case does provide some small sense of closure following last year’s tragedy, and helps continue the healing process for Jones’ family, friends, and fellow crew members.
“We cannot comment on the specifics of the legal proceedings, but we hope this sentencing sends a message to everyone in the industry that the safety measures already in place must be followed at all times. No movie or TV show is worth a life, which is why Safety on Set is our highest priority as a union.
“We hope this message gets out to everybody in production–from student or low-budget films to major productions–and that workers recognize their rights to a safe set and safe working conditions at all times. We also hope all crew members will now feel empowered to speak out against unsafe working conditions. That’s why we developed our new safety app that includes the industry-wide safety bulletins and safety hotline numbers. We encourage workers to remember the spirit of Sarah and exercise those rights.”
