Facebook/InstagramSarah Jones was working as a camera assistant on the Georgia set of the Gregg Allman biopic, Midnight Rider, when an unexpected train accident took her life. Sarah was only 27 years old.
"With her spunk and determination, Sarah [climbed] the ranks of the film industry, quickly finding a passion in the art of Cinematography," her obituary reads. It continues, "From the heights of the mountains she hiked, to the depths of the oceans she dove (and never without a camera to record her experiences), the gift of her presence was felt far and wide."
All of us on the production team are devastated by the tragic accident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family of our crew member.
? Midnight Rider (@AllmanBiopic) February 22, 2014Now, she is being remembered in a truly touching way: Slates For Sarah.
"Sarah Elizabeth Jones, friend and family to so many, made every day awesome," a Facebook page set up in her honor explains. "Show your slate love here along with all the good stories of her life."
Sarah's peers in Hollywood have been uploading pictures of film slates with messages of love and remembrance for her. Nina Dobrev, star of The Vampire Diaries (where Sarah worked as second assistant camera), wrote:
And as her story spread, the slates started pouring in from countless movie and TV productions.
Like, Sarah Michelle Gellar and The Crazy Ones:
@boyfrombayfield @David_Boreanaz -here is ours #slatesforsarah #CrazyOnes pic.twitter.com/coNLU75Sl0
? Sarah Michelle (@RealSMG) February 25, 2014The Originals:
Scandal:
The Leftovers:
Parenthood:
Parks and Recreation:
Revolution:
And more, including Glee, The Mindy Project, Castle, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and Revenge. See all of the slates on the Slates for Sarah Facebook page, or Twitter using the hashtag #slatesforsarah.
A petition was started online to add Sarah to this weekend's Oscars' In Memoriam tribute. The petition has gathered over 7,500 signatures already and you can sign it here.
"Crew members are the unsung heroes of film and television production who work long hours and sometimes very dangerous conditions for the love of filmmaking," it reads. "We ask that Sarah Elizabeth Jones' love and passion for filmmaking be acknowledged on the grandest stage of all, The Academy Awards."
Beyond just remembering her, those close to Sarah hope that her story will create a difference in the industry: The Midnight Runner crew reportedly had permits from the railroad to film near the tracks, but not on them, according to The L.A. Times. Seven other crew members were sent to the hospital.
They hope her story will lead to safer working conditions for all film crews.
Sarah's family is asking that those touched by the story make a donation to:
BC Education Foundation Sarah Jones Scholarship Fund
c/o Brookland-Cayce High School
1300 State Street, Cayce, SC 29033