Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’ death last Thursday on the set of Rust is the latest in a long list of camera crew members who have been killed on the job, making camera work far and away the most dangerous work in Hollywood, more deadly than even stunts.
In the last 10 years, four members of camera teams have been killed on the set in the US – twice the number of stunt fatalities.
Camera crews work directly in front of the action, with nothing but their cameras between them and a speeding car, train or bullet. They’ve been killed in airplane and helicopter crashes; washed overboard and drowned in the ocean; struck and killed by a runaway stunt car; and crushed to death in a camera truck rollover.
The death of 27-year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones, who was killed on Feb.20, 2014 by a speeding freight train while filming a scene for Midnight Rider in Georgia,...
In the last 10 years, four members of camera teams have been killed on the set in the US – twice the number of stunt fatalities.
Camera crews work directly in front of the action, with nothing but their cameras between them and a speeding car, train or bullet. They’ve been killed in airplane and helicopter crashes; washed overboard and drowned in the ocean; struck and killed by a runaway stunt car; and crushed to death in a camera truck rollover.
The death of 27-year-old camera assistant Sarah Jones, who was killed on Feb.20, 2014 by a speeding freight train while filming a scene for Midnight Rider in Georgia,...
- 10/24/2021
- by David Robb
- Deadline Film + TV
Discovery Communications is facing yet another wrongful death and negligence lawsuit over the fatal helicopter crash on February 10, 2013, during filming of a reality show. Donald Rydstrom, the father of a cameraman killed along with two others while filming a military-themed Discovery Channel show, today filed a complaint in La Superior Court (read it here) against its parent company seeking “general damages in a sum in excess of the jurisdictional limits of this Court, which will be stated according to proof.” Darren Rydstrom, cast member Michael Donatelli, and pilot David Gibbs died just after 3:30 Am on that February day last year when the helicopter they were in crashed in an open field at the Polsa Rosa Ranch in Acton, CA. The senior Rydstrom is claiming loss of love, companionship and support as well as “other benefits and assistance of Descendent” and more. Related: Discovery Reality Show Chopper Crash Due To...
- 3/28/2014
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
The wife and children of a man killed in a helicopter crash while shooting a reality show for Discovery have filed a wrongful death suit in Los Angeles Superior Court. Michael Donatelli was killed Feb. 10 during a night shoot for a military-themed show, along with cameraman Darren Rydstrom and the helicopter's pilot, David Gibbs. Read the complaint here. According to the suit, the helicopter took flight at approximately 3:30 a.m. and flew over hilly terrain at low altitudes and at approximately 60 miles per hour. The suit names Discovery, the show's producers, and Crossbow, the company that
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- 8/30/2013
- by Aaron Couch
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Citing a concern with the bottom line over safety, the widow and children of a Special Forces vet killed in February while filming a military-themed Discovery Channel show took its parent company to court this week in a wrongful death and negligence suit. Grisel Donatelli, Amanda Donatelli and Dominic Donatelli named Discovery Communications, producers Eyeworks USA, Bongo Inc, Van Nuys Copters, Crossbow Helicopters and Orbic Air and others in the complaint (read it here) filed late Thursday in La Superior Court. Cast member Michael Donatelli, cameraman Darren Rydstrom and pilot David Gibbs died in the early morning of February 10 when the helicopter the trio was in crashed in an open field at the Polsa Rosa Ranch in Acton. Related: Three Killed During Discovery Channel Reality Show Filming The new complaint alleges this accident and others like it occurred in part because Discovery and other defendants wanted to save a buck and increase their profits.
- 8/30/2013
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
Producers Jd Roth and Todd Nelson are among the defendants in a wrongful death complaint filed today. They join Van Nuys Copters, Crossbow Helicopters, Orbic Air and several others in the filing (read it here) by Jerie S. Rydstrom, mother of deceased cameraman Darren Rydstrom. He, pilot David Gibbs and cast member Michael Donatelli were killed when their helicopter crashed early on February 10 during filming of a Discovery Channel reality show. Related: Three Killed During Discovery Channel Reality Channel The trio died after being thrown from the copter in an open field at the Polsa Rosa Ranch in Acton. They were shooting a then untitled military show being produced for Discovery Channel by Roth and Nelson’s Eyeworks USA (formerly 3 Ball Prods.). The partners have served as EPs on Biggest Loser as well on other reality series such as Splash and the recently returned Extreme Weight Loss. The suit alleges...
- 5/30/2013
- by DOMINIC PATTEN
- Deadline TV
The mother of the cameraman killed Feb. 10 in a helicopter crash during a night shoot for a military-themed Discovery Channel reality TV series filed a lawsuit Wednesday in L.A. Superior Court, charging wrongful death and property damage. Darren Rydstrom was killed when a Bell helicopter crashed in a rugged canyon north of Los Angeles. The helicopter's pilot, David Gibbs, and castmember Michael Donatelli also were killed. Rydstrom’s mother, Jerie S. Rydstrom, filed suit against Van Nuys Helicopters and two men identified as the company principals, David Child and Cherif Amin. The suit also names as defendants Orbic
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- 5/30/2013
- by Alex Ben Block
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
The February 10 helicopter crash that killed three men on the set of an upcoming Discovery Channel reality TV show occurred while the crew was prepping to film a nighttime maneuver, according to a preliminary report issued by the National Transportation Safety Board. Pilot David Gibbs, cameraman Darren Rydstrom, and cast member Michael Donatelli were shooting the untitled Eyeworks USA production when the Bell helicopter they were in collided into sloping terrain near Acton, California at 3:30 Am. The Ntsb report dated February 22 revealed that “dark night visual meteorological conditions prevailed” at the time of the accident. A GoPro camera and Led light panel had been set up on the aircraft’s windshield to film Donatelli, who was to perform a bag drop to a receiver on the ground. “While maneuvering about 60 miles per hour, the helicopter suddenly pitched down and collided with the terrain below the valley’s wall”, said the report.
- 2/26/2013
- by THE DEADLINE TEAM
- Deadline TV
Three men working on a reality TV show were killed in a helicopter crash early Sunday in Acton, Calif., authorities said. All three occupants of the helicopter were pronounced dead at the scene, Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Allen Kenitzer told TheWrap. The Los Angeles County Coroner's office identified the pilot as 59-year-old David Gibbs of Valencia and one of the passengers as Darren Rydstrom, 45, of Whittier. The identity of the second passenger, who was believed to be from out of state, was being withheld pending notification of the family. FilmL.A. told TheWrap...
- 2/11/2013
- by Sharon Waxman
- The Wrap
3Rd Update: All three victims of the helicopter crash have now been officially identified: pilot David Gibbs, 59, of Valencia; cameraman Darren Rydstrom, 45, of Whittier; and cast member Michael Donatelli, 45, of Indiana. Donatelli’s background is unclear, though there is a former elite Special Forces Army officer-turned-private contractor by that name listed in Indiana. 2Nd Update: The Los Angeles County Coroner’s office would not release the identities of the victims pending notification of next of kin but multiple sources identified the pilot as 59-year-old David Gibbs, owner of Crossbow Helicopters, the company the permit was issued to; and one of the passengers as Darren Rydstrom, 45, an experienced camera operator and Dp. Updated: The 3 died in a helicopter crash while filming a new reality TV series in California. The yet untitled military show is being produced for Discovery Channel by Jd Roth and Todd Nelson’s Eyeworks USA (formerly 3 Ball Prods.
- 2/10/2013
- by NIKKI FINKE AND NELLIE ANDREEVA
- Deadline TV
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