A stuntman was killed and six people injured in China during second-unit filming on
John Woo's "Red Cliff." A few days before that, high winds blew a piece of lighting equipment onto a Ferris wheel on the Tennessee set of "Hannah Montana: The Movie," causing minor injuries to several extras.
And British journalists — always eager to latch onto mishaps — have recounted the injuries on the set of the new James Bond pic, "Quantum of Solace," declaring the film to be "cursed."
Callum McDougall, executive producer and de facto line producer on the 007 pic, is aware that safety is a primary concern, but downplays the injuries on his film.
"The press built it up into a much bigger event because it is
Daniel Craig, it is the James Bond movie and it's going to sell newspapers."
As for reports Craig had lost part of his finger, McDougall says, "He cut it on a corner of a cabinet. He had very minor surgery."
As for a gash to Craig's cheek, a small fire on set recently and a car crash in Italy in April, McDougall says production company Eon cuts no corners, but that on a film shooting in six countries over 103 days, employing anywhere from 300 to 4,000 people on any one day, accidents will happen.
"When you are doing a film of this kind of magnitude and size there will be the unforeseen… accidents can happen. The same accident could occur at home."
McDougall, who has worked on seven Bond films over more than 20 years, starting with "The Living Daylights," contends that on more minor films similar incidents occur and never get reported.
The Bond pic was skedded to wrap principal photography June 14, only two days behind schedule.
Contact Leo Barraclough at
leo.barraclough@variety.com