When you’re filming a movie with action-packed scenes, many assume that the company who is financing the film pays big bucks to ensure everyone’s safety. While many times the main actors don’t do the actual “stunts” in the film, they still try to go the extra mile to ensure stunt double’s safety, as well as everyone else on set when filming crazy scenes. But, no matter how much you spend, there’s always the off chance that something can go terribly wrong and someone can get seriously hurt. 20-year-old actress Taylor Hickson knows this reality all too well.
The actress, who was up and coming in her career after landing a small role in “Deadpool,” was on set filming for the horror movie “Ghostland.” In a particular scene, Hickson’s character was “pounding on a glass door,” which, ultimately shattered, causing her head and upper body to fall through the broken glass. She was immediately rushed to the hospital and had to receive “70 stitches” in her face, leaving her with a huge scar. Any actress knows that this can seriously harm your career, as your face is your “money maker” in the end.
According to the lawsuit, the scene Hickson was filming was “extremely emotionally charged,” and both the director and producer of the film insisted that Hickson should “pound harder on the glass.” According to the suit,
“…the director [Pascal Laugier], consistently told [Hickson] to pound harder on the glass with her fists. At one point during the filming of the scene, and after being asked to increase the strength with which [she] pounded on the glass, [she] asked one of the producers and the director if it was safe to do so. That producer and the director both replied in the affirmative.”
Inevitably, it was not safe to do so. Hickson believes the producers and director neglected to take her safety into account. After undergoing medical procedures, Hickson has a noticeable scar on her face, which she claims as “impacted her ability to land other acting roles.” She also claims it’s impacted her self-confidence. She told “Deadline,”
It’s been mass amounts of insecurity, conflicted, confused, hurt, angry, and sad that this was my last day on set and no precautions were taken.
Hickson has undergone laser treatment and other plastic surgeries to try and conceal the massive scar on her face, but, she’s still been unable to reduce the visibility of the injury. Inevitably, Hickson is claiming she’s had a loss of income and a career shift due to the injury and blames the company, director, and producer for not ensuring her safety on set. Many users online agree that she deserves to see some compensation for the lack of precaution taken.
Inexcusable negligence by the producers, director and production company, I hope her lawyer gets her everything they're asking for, poor kid you can see the pain and mental anguish in her eyes Hang in there Taylor
— Arlene L Isenberg (@IsenbergArlene) March 8, 2018
Good for you @Taylorhickson This NEVER should have happened and I hope #IncidentProductions has to pay dearly for the pain and suffering you have endured. And that cover art….🖕🏽#IncidentProductions https://t.co/c35Zt5gAgd
— Leah Cairns (@LeahCairns) March 7, 2018
Thankfully my scar healed from The 100.. we were scar buddies for a slim time. Still feel bad when I first found out and thought it was Special FX 😂 My bud is strong, takes a lot to stand up for yourself in this business. I stand with ya @taylorhickson , go kick ass. 🌮 soon! 🤗 https://t.co/GIqyyiqiMI
— David Hardware (@RealDHardware) March 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/StationHeaven/status/971195714020679680
Throw the book at those producers, award this young lady a gigantic damages payoff as well as requiring them to pay for all future surgery that she may choose to seek to diminish the scar. And the rest of you, cast her!
— The Generalissimo (@dageneralissimo) March 9, 2018
If anyone deserves to sue the production company, Taylor does. Gross incompetence by director telling her to pound on the glass harder. Actress Taylor Hickson sues production company over on-set disfigurement – Fox News https://t.co/2NBKMoIJhE
— Ken Lukasiewicz (@kenluke) March 7, 2018
I hope this actress wins millions. This is the kind of accident on set that not only could've been avoided, but routinely gets swept under the rug because no one died. This is just terrible… https://t.co/uR1c5niNgE
— Jeff Sneider (@TheInSneider) March 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/derekjohnsonsim/status/971221196997001216
Horrendous! Surely the director must take some accountability for negligence, too. So fresh after the recent revelation of QT’s nonchalance and dismissive nature with Uma Thurman and that death trap in Kill Bill, too.
— Joel49 (@NonFlyingIceman) March 7, 2018
https://twitter.com/MANX38/status/971229821635383297