Breaking News!!
Jeremy shot the Richard Branson stunt at the Palms Hotel and Casino for longtime friend and stuntman Rich Hopkins. Due to much controversy, Hopkins has issued an official statement.
This is my "official" Statement of what happened @ the Virgin America Launch Stunt:
I had been working for over a week in Preparation for this event.. This entailed 3 Site inspections.. Several Tech Meetings and dozens of E-mail Communications..
This Stunt was NEVER Described or Set-up as a "Rappel"… This was always from the "get go" to be a "Dramatic" Free Fall Desender Stunt….. (Everyone knew.. I thought) there was very little communication between all parties..
I had "My Company" produce a 5 Million dollar insurance policy, Signed Releases with Every entity andI found it disturbing that ALL of the BIG Companies, Virgin, Ogilvy PR, The Palms etc. put ME in a position of taking the Fall for ANYTHING… And now after this "Minor" incident.. "I" am being thrown under the bus…
I brought in the BEST Equipment in the "Professional" Stunt Business, the Best and most qualified Riggers & Tech People… Myself, I am a 20+ year Stunt Professional… I have done many Large Descents & rappels myself… 1 example is a 1000' foot Skyscraper Decent in Dallas Texas for Blockbuster Entertainment (As Spiderman).. So I am more than qualified to handle this gig… See my IMDB http://imdb.com/name/nm1049044/
So the week before, there were many calls between the PR Firm & Virgin to get EVERYONE on the same wavelength… It was made MORE than Clear that we were doing a "High Speed Cable Winch Desender".. NOT A RAPPEL.. However when the "Media Alert" was released I spotted several mistakes.. I had volunteered to assist in making sure that the verbiage was correct.. It was not.. I reiterated.. "Does Mr. Branson know exactly what we are doing"???... A Virgin Rep said, "Mr. Branson is a Pro" and could do anything..
I was told that "they" (Virgin) wanted to throw out "Airline tickets" as a Promo during the Fall.. I strongly advised AGAINST it… I had explained that any Jerking or Sudden movements would throw off his decent… I warned them and told them I did NOT want him to throw the Ticket UNTIL HE GOT TO THE BOTTOM… (plus ANY wind would blow the tickets to the Strip)
We spent all Tuesday Rigging and Setting up out Safety Precautions & Procedures…
So the day of the Show… We had performed over a dozen "Sandbag Tests" throughout the day.. The winds were stronger and we were testing @ many FALL speeds to determine at what wind speed the Stunt would need to be "Called OFF"… we determined that anything OVER 20 mph would NOT work
After the "Sandbag Tests" were complete… I hooked in to test MY Set-up… (As I always do).. I am NOT willing to put ANYONE into a situation that "I would NOT do "MYSELF"… I did seven TEST throughout the day… Faster Fall rate (Speed) and HIGHER Winds.. … I also TRIED to FORCE myself get close to the Building to see IF I could do it… I did not come close
All was OK!
I reiterated many MORE times via Phone and in person to Many different "PR & Virgin Officials" that Mr. Branson needed to deal with ME/US for the Instruction.. I also set STRICT RULES about who would have ROOF ACCESS… I said one (1) Photographer and one (1) Video guy… Right before the Stunt took place.. I went to the TOP to double check our Rig, give last minute instruction etc.. I found that there were close to a dozen "Hanger oners up top" and in the way of MY CREW… I was pissed and told everyone to leave… (None did per the "Officials")…
I had made it VERY Clear the week before that I needed as much time with Mr. Branson as possible. I demanded at least 1 hour and he had to do at least 3 test runs… They reluctantly agreed… and said "HE is a very Busy man"…. I said that this was a SAFETY Matter and NOTHING is MORE IMPORTANT than HIS SAFETY…
As soon as Mr. Branson arrived.. I greeted him and Introduced myself.. I had asked him IF he had received any info about me & my company so he would be comfortable & confident in OUR abilities.. He said NO. I had asked the "Officials" to pass on my info so he would be relaxed and confident. (They did not).. I had asked to Speak with him via Phone the week before, and was refused…!!
So I was briefing Mr. Branson on what was happening.. He thought that he was doing a standard rappel… I explained that he was NOT.. HE was doing a High Speed Desender… and I explained all of the Rigging & Safety precautions, and all of the testing that had taken place.. He & I went up to the Landing Area where "I" Strapped in and did a DEMO for him… He was very excited to do it.. We explained the Harness situation, how it works and what NOT to do!!... We took him up and dropped him at Half Speed for his First test… He was very comfortable with the Test… We let him "Adjust" and Sent him back up for a Full Speed Test. He did it Flawless…
So Next was to go to the TOP and do an "official" test , but HIS "People" said that "He did NOT have time"!!! I explained along with my Lead Rigger that it was crucial that we do the Run from the TOP.. He declined based on his handlers… And left to go change into his TUX..
I went back out and did one more last minute Test… The wind had died down considerably from earlier that day….My Final test went Flawless…. So to get the "Line" back to the top.. "I" rode the Line back up to find the DOZEN people/Handlers/Media up top…(Against my orders) So I gave Mr. Branson one last round of instructions… RELAX, Do "Thumbs up" or some other Gestures.. I was confident that HE was NOT going to throw anything during Free fall… This was not the case… HIS HANDLERS had the Tickets up on the roof with them… I was told that the tickets were BELOW… they were up top and I was UN-aware of this!!. And all of this took place without MY knowledge!
I went down to my Position on the Deck.. Ran our final Safety Check and started the Event…. As soon as the countdown started I was confident that we had covered all of our bases… WE HAD… Except for the "Virgin" people & excessive MEDIA up top..
As soon as he took off.. He was falling perfectly in line. Then, he Threw the Tix.. I looked at my landing assistant in disbelief… as he threw the Tix the momentum turned his body.. NOT the "Wind"… This put him out of his fall line and then he stuck his hand out and it scraped the Building… Which also changed his body position..
So upon getting to the Bottom… I had checked him out and asked if he was OK… He said… he was OK… Had 2 "little" scraps on his hand, and tore his pants… He was NOT Bleeding or scraped up on his ass.. He was Shaken up a bit (As Anyone would be)…
I spoke with him right before he left the Site, to check again to see if he was alright.. He said.. and I QUOTE… "I am Fine, I had the time of my life and I have a couple little bruises to show my SON"… he thanked me and Left…
Since this there has been nothing but misconstrued assumptions about what happened. I had asked the PR Firm to release a Statement about what happened and that Mr. Branson was OK. They have Not.. So "I" needed to clear the air!!
And that is EXACTLY WHAT HAPPENED!!!
If you want further info or Comments feel free to contact me PERSONALLY!! We have a ton of Video of the Rigging, Practice Sessions and the actual stunt from Unpublished/Posted angles..
Yours Adrenalized,
Rich Hopkins / Stunt Coordinator