The filming of the Gregg Allman biopic, “Midnight Rider”, has been cancelled for this week following a fatal crash during production last week that killed a crew member.
WSAV Savannah reports Interim Film Services Director in Savannah, William Hammargren, says that filming had been planned this week in Chatham County and the city of Savannah, but the requests for filming and the permit requests have been withdrawn for now.
Hammargren isn't sure what happens next with the film but surmised there may be requests to film at a later date.
There’s now some question as to whether the project had permission to film last week in Savannah, when an incident on Thursday involving a freight train struck and killed assistant camera operator Sarah Jones during the shooting of a dream sequence on a railroad trestle.
The crew, including director Randall Miller, had placed a bed on the tracks for the scene and was expecting two trains on the local bridge – one in each direction – when a third train arrived unexpectedly, striking and killing Jones.
WSAV was told that the production crew had a permit to film on Rayonier property which is near the site of the tracks where the accident took place. But Wayne County detective Joe Gardner says it's "his understanding that there was not permission to film on the railroad tracks." The tracks are owned by CSX railroad. The railroad has issued a statement indicating it is cooperating with the investigation but provided no further details.
“Midnight Rider” tells the story of Gregg's journey from struggling artist through the formation and subsequent success of The Allman Brothers Band, which saw the musician succumb to the excesses of rock 'n' roll.
The film stars Tyson Ritter - the lead singer/songwriter of the All American Rejects – as a young Gregg Allman, William Hurt as the present-day version of Allman, and Wyatt Russell as his brother Duane.
Gregg recently confirmed that the Allman Brothers Band will stop touring after marking their 45th anniversary this year.
The group will launch their final residency at New York City’s Beacon Theatre on March 7; they’ll play 14 dates at the venue before hosting their 10th annual Wanee Music Festival in Florida in April.
See also:
Crew member killed on set of Gregg Allman film
Gregg Allman biopic adds three more actors
Allman Brothers biography due next week
Gregg Allman biopic update
Search The Allman Brothers at hennemusic
