Brain-damaged Tranformers 3 victim sues
By Alexandra Heilbron on October 7, 2010 | 50 Comments
The family of Gabriela Cedillo, the 24-year-old extra who suffered permanent brain damage when a stunt on the set of Transformers 3 went wrong, is suing Paramount in excess of $50,000. Gabriela had to be airlifted to hospital when a cable smashed through the windshield of her car during filming, slicing her skull. Finally breathing on her own, she is recuperating but is unable to speak and is paralyzed on the left side of her body. Her lawyer Todd A. Smith told Radar Online: “It looks like she has vision loss in the left eye, which is sewn shut.”
Paramount said in a statement: “Our thoughts, prayers and best wishes are with Gabriela, her family and loved ones. The production will continue to provide all the help we can to Gabriela and her family during this difficult time.” Another extra explained what happened that day to Radar Online, which posted a video of the accident (scroll down to view): “We weren’t trained stunt people. They paid regular extras to use their own personal cars an extra $25 per day for that freeway scene. We were never informed of the risk we were putting ourselves in and when you take into consideration the amount you are being paid to be there, it’s not worth it.”
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They get paid a pathetic $25 to use their own car? What about all the millions that are made from a movie like this? Does $25 even cover the gas and wear and tear on these people’s cars? They’re struggling to earn a living while the stars and producers make millions. They’re totally used. They should refuse to do it for less than $100, if no one agreed to $25, the director/producer would have to offer more. Or have a highway scene with no cars in it.
Gabriella,
Sending you healing prayers. I know the struggle you will have in the future. One hopes that the company and it’s agencies will support you now and in the future.
I think that the production must have insurance to cover accidents.
Best of luck, one day at a time.
Arthur
Only $50,000?! She’s suffered permanent brain damage and this movie franchise is worth millions, if not billions. I think her lawyer needs to rethink the total amount they want!
I think quoting someone else who was doing the freeway scene was jumping the gun it just says we were paid 25$ to do teh scene n drive our own cars. No where did this person say if they were to be rolling their cars over, or having an accident in the car? The whole story isn’t there so I am still more in the dark than I started reading this story!
Wow! No amount of money can make this right. The sad fact is, a young woman’s health and future were just taken away from her in the blink of an eye. All I can do is pray that Gabriella is healed. It really puts things in perspective when something like this happens. I am sure that Paramount will step up and do the right thing, but thoughts and prayers do go out to Gabriella and her family. God Bless.
That is a sad story and I hope she gets back to her original health or close to it.
I have a feeling a settlement amount hasn’t been determined which is why they state “in excess of $50,000”
Really sad story, thoughts go out to this girl.
They should pay her medical bills due to this. I know there is possibly something in the contract about injury, but like come on this was absolutely horrible. They should be dedicating the movie to her as well.
That is just disgusting! 50k is WAY too little to be given out. I say we should avoid paying money to watch this trash movie at all cost! I feel so bad for the woman.
Sickening. The Transformers franchise is worth billions and they are using kids in their early twenties, in their cars as extras!? She should never have to work again, ever. They should be suing for millions. That is shameful.
Pen, there wasn’t supposed to be an accident or any cars flipping over, or they would’ve hired stunt people. Extras (who are paid very little) don’t do stunts. This was a scene in which they filmed actors inside a car which was being pulled by a truck (so the actors aren’t really driving, they’re pretending, that’s standard procedure for filming actors in cars). The cable pulling the car snapped and this girl was driving right behind the car that was being filmed. They didn’t mean for the cable to snap and go through her skull. I think if there were supposed to be cars flipping, no one would’ve said “Sure, I’ll risk my life and my car for a measly $25.” They were supposed to drive their cars in the background (extras are also called “background performers”) and that’s all. And still I don’t think $25 for doing that is nearly enough, even if there hadn’t been this accident and all had gone smoothly.
it’s a true accident… i don’t think they planned the cable to break… such a sad story… extra and stunts are different… and they are paid differently… my friend has agent and she told me that she got $100 to act as one of the club goers in Honey… she said Jessica Alba is soooooooo nice… so i guess it depends how much the film makers are willing to pay…
Sucks… I don’t even know what to say 🙁
Only suing for $50,000? That’s surprising. I would have thought they’d sue in the millions, or at least something six figure.
Maybe the family realizes it was an accident and is suing for only what they believe they need, rather than go for huge amounts they may not get.
As mush as i approve of what her family is doing this was an accident that no one thought would happen.
Accident or not, she should be compensated very well for pain and suffering. The company is obviously insured and she should be getting much more than $50,000, especially if she has lasting injuries.
I hope she recovers well.
First of all, the “informant” said they were paid an EXTRA $25 to use their own car. Nowhere does it say how much she was paid, nor does it say she was only paid $25.
Secondly, crew, actors, and even extras all sign liability waivers, and all films are covered with insurance in case of accidents, such as this.
Therefore, I wouldn’t be surprised if she is receiving some kind of insurance payout that would cover her medical expenses and then some. The family is suing for $50,000 probably on the advice of a lawyer (for any number of reasons).
Pardon the pun, but please use half-an-informed brain before getting on a soapbox and decrying fraud.
Thanks.
(P.S. Please send my regards to the family and the victim, who should be the concern of the article, not the dollar amount.)
$50,000 will never cover any of the tangible costs of her health care let alone other related issues. This should be in the millions of dollars!
I work as a Union extra in Vancouver, Canada. An extra is just in the background and they willingly sign up to do the job. Yes you are paid around $25 dollars to use your car on set. This was a terrible accident but it was an “accident”. Watch what happens in the days and weeks to come. I am sure the production will take care of all of her expenses and compensate her fully for her long term injuries.
I pray this type of accident doesn’t happen again!
It is true that it was just an accident, an “horrific” one at that. Certainly, I would hope that the family gets compensated, and the Hospital bills paid by the Production company–more over than the amount of $50,000! This seems like way too little, especially for this poor young women who may never get her complete sight back, or even come out of a Coma, let alone regain her faculties fully! This was just one helluva “freak” accident–but someone has to pay!! My heart goes out to her and her family. God bless you with a “speedy” recovery. Although, it may take some time. I’m not going to see that movie–not worth my money!!
Does Gabriela Cedillo’s lawyer work for the Studio…only $50,000. Hell I’d get more for my dog if I sued.
She should get a huge percentage of the Royalties generated by this Franchise.. Shame Speilberg
At least we finally get some accurate information about what actually happened on the set. The Cedillo Family has filed a lawsuit against the production for the accident that affect Miss Cedillo, an extra on the film.
��stunt vehicles were being towed by flatbed trucks in the opposite lanes at about 50 mph.The stunt called for two of the towed vehicles to rise in the air and then flip, by use of a pulling cable with the idea being to cause violent rolls of the cars involved.
On the day of the accident, the eastbound stunt vehicle that was closest to the center of the road and to the extras driving their vehicles, including Cedillo, suffered a mishap when a cable and a bracket attached to the bottom of the stunt car snapped.
Nobody is reading the article properly. And I quote, “They paid regular extras to use their own personal cars an EXTRA $25 per day for that freeway scene.”
That means they were getting paid an ADDITIONAL $25 to use their own cars. Not $25.
Also, again, the article reads, “…in excess of $50,000.” That means $50,000 or more.
I Just wanted to point out especially to pen and jodie that these actors weren’t being paid a measly 25 dollars a day. They would have been paid enough money per hour that the law requires, and most extras will do it for free just to build their resumes or to be in a movie. The 25 was just for having a car they could use. And that is very close to what it costs to rent a car for the day so its not bad. This was a terrible accident that never should have happened. I just think you are missing the point of the story.
Hank: Thanks for sharing your thoughts on this – its really interesting/useful to get a view on this issue from someone who works as an extra.
Hi I hope the young lady will have have a speedy recovering and get them $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$.Thanks.
I realize the $25 was in addition to whatever she was paid per hour, which, depending on if she was a member of the union or not, would have been somewhere between $10 and $20 per hour. I still think being paid $25 to use your car is a pittance.
I think Rob said it best personally. The focus of this article should not be how much she is being pad but rather how her and her family is doing. Here’s hoping for a quick recovery and that modern medicine can bring this young lady back to her normal self.
Someone said she should have been paid $100 for the use of her car. Think about it, the movie company would be better off renting car from a rental company for $25 each.
But that’s all besides the point, the point that is much more important is that she was injured. My thoughts are with her and her family. I would like to wish her God’s blessing and wish them all well.
Good points L1feless & Ken – I think everyone would agree that what matters is a speedy recovery for Gabriela.
Yeah good for them sue the hell out of them they should be asking for more money! they should get some of the films gross and receive money from the sale and rental of the film on video and a piece of the profits generated by any merchandise generated from this film! That should stick it to the people at Paramount & Dreamworks I’d like to sue them myself for the blatant destruction and utter raping of my childhood!
You know it is a terrible thing that happened but then again she wasn’t forced into doing. Also accidents happen you can’t stop that there were probably measures taken to prevent something from happening but you can’t think of everything. I don’t mean to sound cold but I think people are blowing this way out of proportion, sure she is permanently injured, but didn’t a person die during a stunt gone wrong while filming The Dark Knight?
I don’t remember them (the media?) making as a deal out of that that they are out of this.
Doesn’t being dead out weigh surviving the accident?
they’re not just getting paid 25 dollars. it says that if they use their own cars the get an additional $25. opposed to having the cars provided for them.
GOOD GRIEF!!!
GOOD GRIEF!!
My prayers are with her. I too am pondering why the lawyer is not after much more money, it is America and you can sue for milions (unlike Canada). I hope a miracle happens and she recovers. It will be odd to watch it now because of what happened and no Megan Fox, but it is Transformers so it will be good nonetheless.
-Jessica
ONLY $50,000?!?! Go for at least $5,000,000.
and how the pointed a gun to her head to do the scene also! SO unfait it wasn’t like she was an adult that was able to make responsible adult decisions and decide if things were safe enough for her or not…. oh wait a sec.
50k? That’s probably $5 to Paramount. I would take advantage of the system, complain and act like it was the worst thing that ever happened to me, which it was given the predicament she’s in now and sue for a few million at least. It’s gonna be hard being happy for the rest of your life like that, money would probably buy her happiness if even at that.
No suprise that the film industry is CUT THROAT and greedy….look at who runs them…and extras put their lives out for shallow actors and actresses who get millions for their botox induced faces….it’s a CRIME ALRIGHT….my prayers go out for the Cedillo family and they NEED to get a better lawyer….one who is not as corrupt and tied in with the bullshit that goes on in Hollywood….TAKE THEM DEEP I SAY!!!!!!!!! they deserve it….especially in the US where the healthcare system won’t even acknowledge that amount…that won’t even pay for the ambulance…it’s a messed up system the film industry that again glorifies people who are everyday schmucks….but some people like to constantly push the cards and pick on the the everyday people who make this WORLD GO ROUND!!!!!! that’s right the REAL PEOPLE…garbage collectors, fireman, librairians, nurses,teachers,coaches for little league…YOU GO Gabriella…don’t be scared of the tyrants of the world…sometimes us little people WIN!!!! Good Luck 🙂
Blind in one eye,paralyzed on left side and permanently brain damaged and he only wants to sue for $50,000 where did she find this lawyer at Paramount studios.She needs to sue for enough money to pay all her medical bills and care for the rest of her life.Not a $50,000 pittance.
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She really should be asking for more, considering how much money they make on these movies, she needs to remember her life and her future has now been affected and how will she work, and who will take care of her.