Rigger Dies Following Accident On Marvel Studios’ WONDER MAN Production In Studio City

It with deep sadness we report on the death of Juan Carlos Osorio, a rigger on Marvel's Wonder Man. Our condolences are with the Osorio family.
Marvel Studios

Juan Carlos Osorio, 41, passed away on Tuesday 6 February.

The rigger, who was working at Radford Studios in Studio City, died after falling from a catwalk.

Osorio, who died at the scene, was working on the set of the upcoming Marvel series Wonder Man, though there was no filming happening at the time of his death.

The news was confirmed by a Marvel spokesperson, who said: “Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with his family and friends, and our support is behind the investigation into the circumstances of this accident.”

International president of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE) Matthew D. Loeb also released a statement.

“Everyone in the IA family is shocked and deeply saddened by this tragic loss. We are working to support our member’s family, and his fellow members and colleagues. Safety on set is our highest priority and we will assist Cal/OSHA in their investigation in any way that we can. If you feel unsafe on set for any reason, members can call the IATSE Safety Hotline at 844-422-9273 or use our safety info app.”

The Role of The Rigger

The role of a rigger on a TV set is incredibly varied. They are responsible for setting up and securing various equipment, structures, and props. As the job title suggests, their primary role involves rigging (which means installing and arranging things like lights, cameras, microphones, backdrops, and other technical equipment needed for filming or broadcasting) though they may be asked to do a range of other jobs.

The riggers work closely with the director of photography, camera operators, and other crew members to make sure the crew can achieve the desired visual effects and shots.

rigger

Specific tasks of a rigger on a TV set may include:

1. Installing Lights: Setting up lighting equipment, positioning them according to the director or cinematographer’s instructions, and ensuring they are safely secured.

2. Mounting Cameras: Setting up and mounting cameras on tripods, cranes, or other specialized equipment. They may also be involved in camera movement setups such as dolly shots or crane shots.

3. Securing Props: Rigging props or set pieces in place to ensure they stay in position during filming.

4. Safety Measures: Ensuring all equipment is safely installed and adheres to safety regulations to prevent accidents on set.

About Wonder Man

RELATED: Marvel’s Wonder Man Won’t “Feel Like Anything You’ve Seen Before”

Wonder Man was created by writer Stan Lee and artist Don Heck and first appeared in The Avengers #9 in October 1964.

Simon Williams, the human alter-ego of Wonder Man, was originally depicted as a wealthy industrialist who became a pawn of the villainous organization known as the Masters of Evil. The organization provided him with superhuman powers through ionic energy treatments, intending to use him as a weapon against the Avengers. However, after realizing the villainous nature of his benefactors, Simon ultimately rebelled against them and allied himself with the Avengers.

Filming of Wonder Man was paused due to the SAG-AFTRA strike and is expected to pick up again in March, with work on the set currently in progress.

Wonder Man will star Yahya Abdul-Mateen II (Aquaman, Watchmen, Black Mirror) as Simons Williams while Ben Kingsley reprises the role of Trevor Slattery from Iron Man 3. There is no currently scheduled premiere date for the Disney+ show. 

The thoughts of all of us at Illuminerdi are with Juan Carlos’ family.

Source: Deadline

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Darren Lester

Darren is a writer, linguist, classicist and teacher from the south west of England. When he's not producing textbooks and teaching materials for foreign languages and classics, he's boasting to his students about how he can watch anime without subtitles.