Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted July 30, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 30, 2005 While shooting last night (well actually this morning) I was told by my 1st AC that the UPM told him that Friday night an operator working on a Warner Bros. show was killed after he fell asleep behind the wheel driving home. Now I can't confirm or deny this, but I truly hope this information was incorrect. If this story IS correct and anybody has any details, please share so we can all send his family our condolences and prayers. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted July 31, 2005 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Well, I guess it's a good sign that nobody has responded and can verify if this report was true. Hopefully, the UPM who told us this heard incorrect info. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lawrence Karman Posted July 31, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Well, I guess it's a good sign that nobody has responded and can verify if this report was true. Hopefully, the UPM who told us this heard incorrect info. Michael <{POST_SNAPBACK}> I am guilty of working on a WB show till the wee hours of this morning and am sort of alive. I heard nothing of this and I hope to God it is not true. But considering the amount of hours we work it would not surprise me if it did. Anyway, how would the upm know about something that had occured that evening? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bobgilles Posted July 31, 2005 Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Up here in Northern CA, we have had two crew/sleep fatalities on features and it got alot of press and attention. I know that Coppola's Zoetrope and ILM have told PM's to know when to say when, but I would never leave a set early or even ask so it puts all crew day players in a tough spot. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Richard W. Davis Posted July 31, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Michael, It is possible that it is me who they are referrring to....You know how the rumour mill works. I was coming home from Vegas and when the tire tread on my right rear seperated from the tire the explorer I was in lost control and rolled 4 times...I however escaped major injury(it still hurts like hell though) My wife who was driving broke her arm in 3 places and broke a rib. I was supposed to work on a feature at Sony the next day and had to go through several people to get word to the DP that I was in the accident so perhaps that fueled the miscommunication. "...the rumours of my demise are greatly exagerated." I dearly hope that that it is me they are referring to and not another brother operator. Hope all are well, Rich Davis LA Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderators Alec Jarnagin SOC Posted July 31, 2005 Moderators Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Rich, Yikes, man!!!!! I wish you and your wife a speedy recovery! I'm just glad that is was not more serious. Still, that's gotta hurt. Be well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members RonBaldwin Posted July 31, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Rich, I'm glad you two are ok. Were you coming home from Las Vegas, or the show Vegas? If it was the latter I think this show is cursed and we should all avoid it like the plague. Hopefully you didn't have all your gear in the truck flying around while you rolled. I've always been a bit paranoid of that (I drive with a helmet like Kubrick did!). Ron B Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Richard W. Davis Posted July 31, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 <<Were you coming home from Las Vegas, or the show Vegas?>> No just a last weekend away before TV season in the real Las Vegas(Real??? LOL) Had a perfect weekend... giant Suite upgrade at The Venetian, great food, drinks...(i don't gamble much( I keep thinking about pricetags on gear that I could buy. ) But had a great time....I paid the price for it. Heat (from what I read) seems to be a contributing factor in tire /tread seperation. It was 120 degrees that day. (Which added to the "Joys of laying in the Hulking beer can in the dirt that was my Eddie Bauer Explorer.) Gotta say a lot of nice"Good Samaritans" looked after us until Paramedics got there. The other interesting part was I was alert and remember everything.... In the Grand Scheme we are very lucky to be alive...Thinking about a Hummer though Ron. (Not really...replacing with an Acura MDX (lot of airbags , 5 star safety rating)) Everybody be safe though, Rich Thanks for the good wishes guys! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Simon Jayes Posted July 31, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 I'm not sure if it was the same incedent, but I am afraid that camera operator Michael Stone is no longer with us - he will be missed. The following is an email that has been circulating: Dear Friend: As you may know, our friend and fellow Local 600 member, Michael Stone, was killed in a car accident on Friday morning. He is survived by his wife, Lori, their daughter, Cassidy, and his children, Andrew and Taylor, from a previous marriage. A memorial service is scheduled for: WEDNESDAY, August 3rd 2:00 pm Ted Mayr Funeral Home 3150 Loma Vista Road Ventura, CA 93003 (805) 643-9977 If you could, please check the list of emails above and forward this to anyone else you think might wish to attend. Michael will be missed dearly by all of us and his family welcomes the presence of all those who knew and loved him. For those unable to attend: Mike & Lori Stone 1178 Shelburn Ln. Ventura, CA 93001 Thank you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Brad Grimmett Posted July 31, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Rich, Sorry to hear about your accident, but it's good to hear that you and your wife will recover. Sounds like you're lucky to be alive. It's very sad to hear about Michael Stone dying. Was he on his way home from work, or is that still uncertain? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Lawrence Karman Posted July 31, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Oh God, Michael was a friend. I'm in shock after reading your post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members Michael Stumpf Posted July 31, 2005 Author Premium Members Report Share Posted July 31, 2005 Rich, As you well know, I know you were involved in the accident, since not only did you tell me, but showed me the pictures, when I came over. I did not mention it on this board as to respect your and your wife's privacy. The UPM told the 1st AC on Friday evening that she heard a Steadicam operator working on a Warner Bros show was killed driving home that night after falling asleep behind the wheel. The 1st AC said she did not know the name of the operator, nor the name of the show he worked on. I spoke to Kurt Jones yesterday too (he works on a Warner Bros show) and he didn't mention hearing anything about a death to a Steadicam operator either. As it stands from the above post, she probably heard about this Michael Stone. Sorry to hear about it, I did not know him or quite frankly ever heard his name mentioned, but it's sad nonetheless. Hopefully this is yet ANOTHER reminder to producers that pulling long, late night shifts is reason enough to put crew members up in hotels. That very night, we were pulling an all nighter and I was driving home Saturday morning at 6:00 am and nearly nodded off 3-4 times when I "caught" myself and had to shake my head to stay awake. It's scary. Michael Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Premium Members David Allen Grove Posted August 2, 2005 Premium Members Report Share Posted August 2, 2005 Received this from the local today.. ================================================== Local 600 regrets to inform you of the untimely death of Camera Operator Michael Stone. Brother Stone was 56 years old at the time of his death on Friday, July 29. Michael is survived by his wife Lori, daughters Cassidy and Taylor, and son Andrew. Michael died in an automobile collision after leaving work on the set of the feature film When a Stranger Calls. Local 600 is investigating the circumstances surrounding this tragedy to determine whether unsafe conditions contributed to Brother Stone's death. His credits include Raising Helen, The Girl Next Door, Spiderman, The Bears, Annie, Sarah Plain and Tall, Never Been Kissed and Providence. The Funeral is scheduled for Wednesday, August 3 at 2 pm. The location is: Ted Mayr Funeral Home 3150 Loma Vista Road Ventura, CA, 93003 (805) 643-9977 ==================================================== Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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