The world lost an incredible helicopter pilot during a
tragic crash while filming in California last week. A brilliant video camera operator and reality show cast
member were killed in the same accident.
Unfortunately, this is neither the first fatality on the set
of a reality television show, nor the first loss of life attributed to the often grueling production of
such programs. Shockingly, I have
an opinion on the matter.
I think I speak for many of us married to the genre when I say we are a
world all our own. Our staffs,
from creative producers and production management to legal counsel and technical crew, are
unique. We are artists, free
thinkers, free spirits and rebels.
We accept late night phone call orders to hop on a
plane to an unknown destination in 3 hours. We bring all-weather gear, moleskin notebooks and passports
everywhere we go. We don’t just
love adventure. We are adventure.
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| Machu Picchu, Peru |
Still, we are our own body.
We make our own decisions.
And, like anyone, we make the sacrifices that come along with pursuing a passion.
I have flown in many helicopters, over both glaciers and
volcanoes, including several flown by the fallen pilot. My daughters haven even
flown in them, in utero. But I
wanted to be there. Had I ever,
ever expressed a fear of flying or used motion sickness as a lame excuse to avoid the trip, I could have opted out. I didn’t.
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| (Yes, The Door Of The Helicopter Is Wide Open) |
Granted, my parameters have changed along the way. Before shooting Jason and Molly Mesnick
bungee jump in New Zealand, much of our crew took advantage of the
plunge. A new mom, I couldn’t
justify that risk.
But I softened with time. Two years later, when given the chance to take a seven-month
pregnant plunge off a pirate ship rope swing into the Caribbean ocean, I took it.
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| (OMG, OMG, I Can't Believe I Just Posted This) |
I have heard many an argument considering the safety, liability and risk- both physical and emotional- involved with producing reality television. Much like our footage, they will go on without end.
The bottom line is, I guarantee pilot David Gibbs and camera
operator Darren Rydstrom died doing what they love. And I hope, when the time comes, the same can be said for
you.
