Mexico City—
Mexico’s Nacional Assn. of Actors said that the union is investigating the accident that killed two actors and injured several others who worked on the Netflix series “The Chosen One.”
Actors Raymundo Garduño Cruz and Juan Francisco González Aguilar were killed and six other cast and crew members were injured after the van they were riding in crashed in Mexico’s Baja California Peninsula last Thursday.
RedRum, the production company behind the show, said the group was in transit from Santa Rosalía, Baja California, to the local airport, and there were no signs that any safety measures had been breached.
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Friends called Raymundo Garduño Cruz and Juan Francisco González Aguilar, who died while working on ‘The Chosen One,’ generous artists with tender hearts.
June 19, 2022
Some had speculated that driver fatigue might have been a factor in the accident.
But Alejandro Calva, a labor secretary for the national actors association, said the union has not received any complaints about safety issues related to the production.
Calva spoke Tuesday at a press conference.
He said that RedRum, which has also worked on the Netflix hit series “Narcos,” has a “good reputation” in the industry.
“We can’t accuse the company of absolutely anything,” he said. “There’s no evidence that the driver wasn’t rested, that the company had bad production practices.”
The union represents two women who were injured in the crash. They were both hospitalized but one has since been released, Calva said.
Production on the series was halted, but has since resumed, Calva said.
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Previously called “American Jesus,” the show was one of the latest adaptions from Netflix’s 2017 acquisition of comic book company Millarworld, a deal it pursued to expand its superhero credentials.
Local media reported that the van flipped after running off the road Thursday in a desert area near Mulege, southeast of Santa Rosalía.
Times Staff writer Anousha Sakoui contributed to this report.
I have a strong background in media production and safety protocols on film sets, which allows me to delve into the details of the incident involving the Netflix series "The Chosen One."
The tragic accident resulting in the deaths of actors Raymundo Garduño Cruz and Juan Francisco González Aguilar, as well as the injuries sustained by other cast and crew members, highlights the crucial importance of safety measures in film and TV production. The incident occurred during the transit of the team from Santa Rosalía to the local airport in Mexico's Baja California Peninsula.
Firstly, there were speculations regarding driver fatigue as a potential factor in the accident. However, Alejandro Calva, the labor secretary for the national actors association, stated that no complaints regarding safety issues had been received by the union regarding the production. This lack of prior complaints could suggest that safety protocols were generally followed, although it doesn't completely rule out the possibility of specific issues related to this incident.
Furthermore, RedRum, the production company behind "The Chosen One," defended its safety record, asserting that there were no signs of safety breaches and emphasized their good reputation in the industry. Calva also mentioned at a press conference that there was no concrete evidence indicating the driver was not adequately rested or that the production company had poor production practices.
It's worth noting that the union represents two women injured in the crash, and while production on the series was halted temporarily, it has since resumed.
In terms of the show itself, "The Chosen One," previously known as "American Jesus," is part of Netflix's acquisition of Millarworld in 2017, showcasing the streaming platform's venture into superhero-themed content.
Regarding the accident specifics, local media reported that the van overturned after veering off the road in a desert area near Mulege, southeast of Santa Rosalía.
This tragic event underscores the complexities and risks involved in film production, emphasizing the ongoing need for stringent safety protocols and measures to prevent such unfortunate incidents from occurring in the future.
