Sarah Jones Film Foundation Makes a Tragedy Count for More Her career may have been tragically brief,
Los Angeles and New York City, the Sarah
but the late camera operator and aspiring
Jones Film Foundation makes grants to
cinematographer Sarah Jones—whose
support college and university productions.
parents, Richard and Elizabeth, have started
“Film students don’t often have that much
a fund in her name with the Community
money, and we want to instill in them the
Foundation—made a distinct impression
importance of not cutting corners with
on the industry in which she thrived. An
safety,” Richard says.
ambitious, dedicated West Columbia native,
“The guidance and insight of the Community
Sarah established firm friendships on every
Foundation have deepened the impact of
production she contributed to. “She erased
their mission significantly,” Elizabeth says.
lines between people,” her father Richard
“They’ve led the path for us, not knowing
says. “Everyone she came into contact with
squat about foundations. They set the
and worked with, she just affected them in
tone and talked about what to do with the
such a deep way.”
money, constantly asking ‘How is the best
In February of 2014, Sarah was killed by a
way to promote safety on set?’” Richard
moving train on the set of an independent
agrees. “I run a for-profit business. When it
film in rural Georgia. She was only 27 years old. “The day it happened, a wave went through the whole industry,” her mother
the safety for sarah movement advocates for better safety in the film industry. artist: jessica bastidas
comes to a nonprofit, I am inexperienced. We both needed advice on how to go about being successful.” With the assistance of the
Elizabeth says. “It was just a shock, the
Richard and Elizabeth say they have
Community Foundation, the Sarah Jones Film
trauma of it. I don’t know of anyone who
partnered with the Community Foundation
Foundation is poised to succeed on a grand
wasn’t touched by it.” Her death rekindled
to “keep the awareness alive” so what
scale—the most fitting way, Elizabeth says, to
an ongoing debate about the substandard
happened to Sarah will never happen again.
honor her daughter’s memory. “We’ve chosen
working conditions many crew members
“We’re trying to change a culture,” Richard
to make the best out of something bad,” she
must endure on film and television sets. Soon
says, “and to change a culture, you have
says. “To make this tragedy count for more.”
after her passing, directors from Quentin
to start with the youth.” In addition to
Tarantino (Pulp Fiction) to Lena Dunham
developing the Set Safety app—a program
(HBO’s Girls) were joining the Safety for
for Smart Phones that allows users to report
Sarah movement to advocate for better safety
labor violations in real time—and hosting
regulations on behalf of their workers.
yearly Walks for Safety in industry hubs like
stay connected 2711 middleburg drive, suite 213 columbia, sc 29204
803.254.5601 | 803.799.6663 (F) www.yourfoundation.org info@yourfoundation.org
we are a nonprofit organization serving 11 counties in the
— written by Luke Hodges
To learn more about Safety For Sarah, visit www.safetyforsarah.com.
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