EXCLUSIVE: HBO has continued to defend stunt security requirements on the Recreation of Thrones franchise after Deadline obtained footage of a second on-set accident following our report in regards to the $9.6M payout to performer Casey Michaels.
The 30-second video captures the second that stunt performer Andy Pilgrim, whose credit embody Harry Potter and The Batman, suffered a critical ankle fracture in November 2014 throughout manufacturing on Season 5 episode Hardhome.
4 years later, Pilgrim sued Fireplace & Blood Productions, the HBO subsidiary liable for producing Recreation of Thrones. He later settled his criticism for £500,000 ($686,000), in keeping with the stunt professional’s barrister. Pilgrim declined to remark.
Deadline has seen a replica of Pilgrim’s unique authorized criticism, which lays out his account of the accident, together with how the stunt was modified between rehearsal and filming. His allegations bear a hanging resemblance to these made by Michaels, who suffered a career-ending ankle break on the ultimate season of Recreation of Thrones, 4 years after Pilgrim’s accident.
Michaels shared her story with Deadline final month, revealing her £7M ($9.6M) payout and the toll it had taken on her wellbeing. In each accidents, the person liable for designing and executing the stunt was Rowley Irlam, who continues to be employed by HBO as a stunt coordinator on GoT prequel collection Home of the Dragon.
Irlam contests the allegations made in Pilgrim’s lawsuit, saying some unspecified claims have been “merely unfaithful and unfounded.” The Emmy-winning stunt coordinator’s place is that he has labored on greater than 150 productions over 20 years, and through that point has solely overseen two accidents involving important harm. His place is that few stunt coordinators boast this security report.
Deadline has reported on a 3rd accident on Irlam’s watch, throughout which two performers alleged that they sustained accidents — together with one claiming they have been knocked unconscious — whereas filming Captain America: The First Avenger in 2010.
In a brand new assertion, HBO mentioned it takes security severely and backed Irlam, saying he has “at all times achieved all the things potential” to take care of excessive requirements. The community declined to reply a collection of questions in regards to the similarities in Pilgrim and Michaels’ experiences. Irlam added that security was his “high precedence” and “nice care” goes into designing stunt sequences.
The Recreation of Thrones lawsuits are notable provided that stunt professionals have advised Deadline that there’s a propensity within the business to brush accidents underneath the carpet. Performers worry being blacklisted by colleagues and dropping work, whereas some additionally describe a tradition during which discussing accidents might be thought-about a weak point.
Pilgrim’s Accident
In a Excessive Courtroom authorized doc filed in June 2019, Pilgrim alleged that he suffered his ankle fracture when performing a stunt involving driving a 16-foot picket wall because it fell ahead to the ground. He was taking part in a member of the Night time King’s lifeless military throughout a shoot in Magheramorne quarry, a location in Northern Eire that featured in various vital Recreation of Thrones episodes. The scene that made the ultimate reduce, together with the wall-fall second, might be seen under.
Citing a danger evaluation report carried out by HBO’s particular results workforce, Pilgrim mentioned the wall was meant to be “lowered by a crane.” That is how the stunt was rehearsed with as much as six performers, however Pilgrim claimed that the stunt modified when it got here to the shoot.
He alleged that as a substitute of being lowered by a crane, the wall fell ahead in an “uncontrolled and ungoverned vogue,” bouncing up because it hit the ground and breaking his ankle. Pilgrim added that there have been “a number of extra” stunt performers than throughout rehearsal, and so they have been required to place themselves greater on the wall.
Pilgrim’s account seems to be supported by a video obtained by Deadline. Within the footage, the picket wall might be seen falling ahead with a thud, whereas two vertical cables dangle behind, apparently slack. In his lawsuit, Pilgrim claimed that these have been the crane cables that have been meant to regulate the touchdown of the wall. Because the lifeless military charged ahead, Pilgrim might be seen mendacity on the picket wall after struggling his harm.
The video has circulated within the stunt group and was shared with Deadline by Wayne Michaels, the daddy of Casey Michaels, as he makes an attempt to boost consciousness about HBO’s security requirements. We aren’t publishing the video as a way to defend the identification of sources working on-set, however a screenshot capturing the quick aftermath of the accident is under.
The Solar newspaper obtained a replica of HBO’s Excessive Courtroom protection in 2019. The community, by way of Fireplace & Blood Productions, reportedly admitted that the stunt was modified in order that the picket wall fell freely. Nonetheless, HBO blamed Pilgrim for failing to execute a “easy” stunt and mentioned accidents have been an “occupational hazard.”
A Recreation of Thrones stunt performer, who spoke to Deadline on the situation of anonymity, visited Pilgrim in hospital on the day of the accident and mentioned his harm was “stunning.” In his court docket doc, Pilgrim’s legal professional mentioned that 5 years after the incident, he was nonetheless experiencing ache in his ankle, and it was much less versatile, that means he was unable to carry out jumps or run lengthy distances. He did, nonetheless, work on later seasons of Recreation of Thrones as a performer and security skilled.
In a press release issued by HBO, Irlam mentioned: “As an skilled stunt coordinator of over 20 years, I’ve efficiently and safely managed lots of of advanced stunt sequences throughout movie and tv. We put nice care into designing stunt sequences with security as the highest precedence. Within the uncommon cases when an harm does happen, it’s deeply upsetting for everybody concerned.
“The unlucky incident involving Mr Pilgrim occurred 11 years in the past. The matter was resolved between Mr Pilgrim and the manufacturing firm and there have been no rulings or findings of fault towards me personally. Mr Pilgrim continued to work inside my workforce for 2 extra seasons following the incident, serving as stunt performer and stunt security skilled solely. The accusations you place ahead are merely unfaithful and unfounded.”
An HBO spokesperson mentioned: “We take these issues very severely. Mr. Irlam is a celebrated and revered stunt coordinator and has an intensive historical past with HBO productions. As an professional in such a bodily demanding discipline, we stay assured in his talents and know he has at all times achieved all the things potential to take care of the excessive security requirements which can be required on our productions.”
Pilgrim’s accident was reported to the Well being and Security Government Northern Eire (HSENI), however the regulator didn’t launch a proper investigation. The physique’s sources are restricted, and investigations are likely to concentrate on essentially the most critical office incidents, equivalent to fatalities.
Historical past Repeating Itself?
Pilgrim’s account comprises similarities to Casey Michaels, who was injured in 2018 on Season 8 of Recreation of Thrones when she dropped from a 12-foot ledge right into a touchdown rig made from cardboard bins.
Michaels shattered her left ankle, later arguing that the stunt was not designed competently and was modified by Irlam between rehearsal and filming. This included alleged modifications to the touchdown rig and a rise within the variety of performers collaborating within the stunt.
Casey Michaels
Provided/HBO
Commenting on the 2 Recreation of Thrones accidents, Wayne Michaels, Casey’s father and a revered stunt performer who has doubled for James Bond, mentioned: “One can see a disturbing sample of behaviour and repeated systemic failings that might not be tolerated in every other business.”
He continued: “I’m trying to boost consciousness about HBO and the British Stunt Register’s security requirements and the way, sadly, it isn’t unusual for stunt coordinators to disclaim accountability for accidents and accidents regardless of the injured performer having reported to and acquired directions from them throughout the stunt, on which important damages needed to be paid.”
Deadline can reveal that there’s some confusion over whether or not Michaels’ accident was correctly reported to HSENI, which was a authorized requirement for HBO underneath UK laws. HSENI mentioned it had no report of the 2018 incident being flagged. HBO’s place is that it has e-mail proof exhibiting that an on-set security official did name within the accident, however was advised that HSENI didn’t want to examine.
