Harrison Ford's stunt double sets himself afire during SAG-AFTRA strike

Harrison Ford's stunt double for the latest Indiana Jones film, Mike Massa, made a daring move during the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike by setting himself on fire to advocate for the rights of stunt workers. The dramatic protest took place in Atlanta, where dozens of guild members gathered to demand fair treatment for stunt performers.

3 things you need to know

• Stunt double Mike Massa advocates for stunt workers during the ongoing SAG-AFTRA strike.
• The Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers has rejected the union's proposals for better pay, residuals, and rest for stunt coordinators and performers.
• Stunt workers continue their fight for fair treatment and recognition of the risks.

Stunt worker's fiery message to AMPTP

In an Instagram post that captured the attention of many, Massa explained that the stunt was meant to send a message to the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers (AMPTP). To note, the AMPTP represents the studios and streaming companies during negotiations with SAG-AFTRA, which speaks for around 160,000 actors and performers.

 

 

 

 

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A post shared by Mike Massa (@mikemassa1x)

Stunt workers had put forward several proposals before the AMPTP ahead of the strike, including better pay for stunt coordinators, residuals from network reruns and high-budget streaming shows, and adequate rest between work days to address excessively long hours on set. The union also fought for off-camera stunt performers to receive residuals, but this proposal was rejected by AMPTP, who offered counteroffers falling short of the guild's demands.

Tom Cruise lend weight to stunt workers' protest

The picket took place in front of Covert Camera Vehicles, an Atlanta-based company known for providing tracking vehicles for film and TV stunts. Elena Sanchez, an actor and stunt performer, spoke out during the protest, accusing studios of not sharing the rewards of successful shows while stunt workers bear significant risks. Sanchez highlighted the tragic case of John Bernecker, who lost his life during an on-set accident while filming The Walking Dead in 2017.

The strike garnered attention earlier when Tom Cruise, known for doing his own stunts, joined negotiations via video call to support the guild's requests.

Massa, who also serves as the stunt coordinator for Disney's Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny, expressed gratitude to the stunt community for their turnout during the fiery protest. His extensive work history includes involvement in popular projects like Netflix's Stranger Things, the Fast & Furious franchise, Blade Runner 2049, Star Trek, and The Italian Job.