Why Harrison Ford’s Indiana Jones Stunt Double Self-immolated Himself
Mike Massa is a renowned stunt coordinator and actor. He last worked as a stunt double in the latest Indiana Jones film for Harrison Ford and got recently into the news as he set himself on fire during a SAG-AFTRA rally in Atlanta, Georgia. While supporting the cause, Massa therein took the stage while wearing the flame-licked coat and holding up the strike sign.
The rally was meant to be in support of the union strike, which was followed by failed negotiations that they had with the Alliance of Motion Picture and Television Producers. The protest was for the working conditions and the stunt worker’s pay in the entertainment industry.
Harrison Ford’s Stunt Double Captures Crowd’s Attention
Ensuring safety first, Massa used some special protective material. He wore a flame-retardant suit and had a fire crew on the site too. The stunt he did on stage carried a powerful visual statement regarding all risks stunt workers take and the lack of respect they often receive.
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Read More: 25 Mind-Blowing Images of Celebrities With Their Stunt Doubles
Later on, he shared the video of the entire stunt through Instagram. He expressed his frustration by saying, “We are tired of being burned by the AMPTP.” The entire act did capture the crowd’s attention, and the fellow stunt members, along with the actors, all showed support.
Mike Massa’s Stunt Might Draw Attention on SAG-AFTRA’s Proposal
SAG-AFTRA, which represents a total of 160,000 performers and actors, proposed better pay and residuals for the stunt coordinators and the performers for the network reruns and the high-budget streaming shows. Demands were put forward to have improved working conditions like addressing long hours on the set, and a lot more. AMPTP, however, rejected some of these proposals which has led to the strike.
The stunt by Massa was a huge step in drawing attention to safety and compensation issues for the stunt workers; after all, in current years, there’s been many high-profile accidents that involved stunt performances. This includes the tragic accident and death of John Bernecker, the stunt performer, on the set of The Walking Dead in 2017. Massa thanked the stunt crew who showed support for the demonstration. Their presence shows solidarity amidst the local stunt community.
Mike Massa’s Contribution to Hollywood Industry
Apart from working as Harrison Ford‘s stunt double in Indiana Jones, Mike Massa has been part of varied successful productions, including Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens, Fast & Furious films, Stranger Things, Star Trek Into Darkness, The Italian Job, and Blade Runner 2049.
The demonstration of the stunt workers sheds light on understanding the contributions and risks of all those who bring forward thrilling action and excitement within the entertainment industry. Considering it & the strike, it is hoped the group’s demands get recognized by AMPTP, and fairness becomes a part of compensation and treatment working ahead.
Source: Huffpost
