The Endangerment of Uma Thurman
Was it ethical for Quentin Tarantino to insist Uma Thurman do her own car stunt in Kill Bill? On the one hand, it was ethical because of the director’s preference for realism, it was more cost efficient, and Thurman agreed on the stunt. On the other hand, it was unethical because Thurman was put in mortal danger from the stunt, it was a violation to the SAG-AFTRA stunt and safety digest, and could have potentially led Miramax at risk for a lawsuit from Thurman and family. I am going to argue that it was unethical through the Potter Box model and justification through its four steps. First, I will examine the facts of the incident that occurred in the production of the film, Kill Bill Vol. 1. Second, I will explain why I chose accountability, trust, and respect as my values. Then, I will examine this ethical challenge through Mill's Utilitarianism and discuss its associated principles. Lastly, I will consider my loyalties being Uma Thurman, actors under SAG-AFTRA, and stunt performers.
During the production of Kill Bill Vol. 1, directed by Quentin Tarantino, actress Uma Thurman crashed a stunt car going forty miles per hour on a sandy road in Mexico. Thurman said, “she did not feel comfortable operating the car and asked for a stunt person to do the scene, but Tarantino insisted she drive the car.” (Kilkenny) The stunt car that Thurman drove was a blue Volkswagen Karmann Ghia convertible. The car was “not operating correctly after its manual transmission was reconfigured to an automatic.”(Gonzales) Thurman describes the car as a “deathbox” and that the “the seat wasn’t screwed down properly.” Following the crash, Thurman “suffered a concussion and permanent neck and knee injuries.” (Dowd) Miramax and Tarantino denied Thurman the rights to obtain the footage unless she signed a non-disclosure agreement. Fifteen years after the incident, Uma Thurman was given the footage of the crash by Tarantino himself. She immediately posted the video to her Instagram pointing backlash at producers and Tarantino for withholding the footage.
Uma Thurman is an American actress, that was cast as “The Bride,” in Kill Bill (2003) Directed by Quentin Tarantino. The film was depicted as misogynistic with Thurman’s character being sexually assaulted and badly beaten. Quentin Tarantino is a notable director for films like Pulp Fiction, Kill Bill, and Reservoir Dogs. Uma Thurman is an iconic muse for Tarantino’s films. Uma Thurman is part of SAG-AFTRA, the labor union for the screen actors guild. After the video of the crash surfaced representatives for SAG-AFTRA said that it would violate their safety conduct if it was reported earlier. (Handel) This incident violated the SAG-AFTRA Stunt and Safety Digest where it states, “The Performer DOES NOT have to agree; the Performer may always request a double.” It also states that if there is an accident, the producer is responsible for sending a report to the union. In the case if Thurman had died, her family would sue Miramax, the entertainment company, director Quentin Tarantino, and anyone involved in the wrongful death of Uma Thurman. Thurman even said in an interview about the incident that it was “dehumanization to the point of death.” (Handel)
Accountability, trust, and respect are my values in this ethical dilemma. Accountability showcases the director, Quentin Tarantino’s lack of professionalism within the production of Kill Bill. As a Director with a lot of authority,Tarantino is accountable for the safety of his lead actress, Uma Thurman. Tarantino did not take into account the consequences and even potential death. The trust between Uma Thurman and Quentin Tarantino was diminished from the incident. Tarantino insured Thurman that the stunt car was safe and that he had driven it prior. Through Thurman was hesitant, she trusted Tarantino’s instinct and impatience to get the shot done. Tarantino admitted himself that, “I talked her into getting in the car, I assured her the road was safe. And it wasn’t,” (Kreps) Tarantino did not respect Thurman by manipulating her into performing the car stunt. He did not respect her as his leading lady in the film. Thurman did not respect his decision to have her do something dangerous for his benefit. She felt not respected as an actress, a woman, and a friend.
I am applying Mill’s Utilitarianism because this moral theory best fits my values of accountability, trust, and respect. Within the principles of Mill’s, ethical decisions should lead towards happiness, preventing pain, have maximized value within decisions, and altruism. The overall decision that Quentin Tarantino made did not follow the formula for making ethical decisions through Mill’s Utilitarianism. In theory, it states, “Ends justifies the means whatever it takes to get the outcome, as long as it’s pleasurable and avoidance of pain.” (Bales ) Quentin Tarantino’s decision to withhold the footage of the on-set incident led to conflict and Thurman’s emotional damage and no justice. Preventing pain/pleasure is another principle from this moral theory which is not found in the decision Tarantino made. The results from Thurman performing the stunt led her to permanently suffer, emotionally and physically from injuries. The decision could have prevented pain by allowing a professional stunt person to guide Thurman or perform it themselves. That ethical approach would overall shed pleasure by both parties being happy. Another principle of this moral theory is the equal distribution of good outcomes with an autistic approach bringing selflessness and self- sacrificing. Tarantino could have waited another day to film that scene, but it would have costed him. If Quentin Tarantino would have sacrificed the loss of revenue to ensure the safety of Thurman, the outcome would have been more ethical. “Human beings have faculties more elevated than the animal appetites, and when once made conscious of them, do not regard anything as happiness which does not include their gratification.” (Mill, 11) Act utilitarianism is the account of right making characteristics or decisions to calculate probable consequences. Mill’s Utilitarianism applies here due to its principles towards happiness, preventing pain, a maximized value within decisions, and altruism.
In relation to this ethical challenge, I have determined that I am loyal to Uma Thurman, and Actors under SAG-AFTRA and stunt performers..I am loyal to actress Uma Thurman because she deserves justice and has dealt with physical and sexual abuse throughout her acting career. I am loyal to actors under SAG-AFTRA who are wrongfully put in dangerous situations that violate the stunt and safety digest. I am loyal to stunt performers who are put out of jobs from actors unwillingly doing their own stunts for a realistic and more profitable
It was unethical l for Quentin Tarantino to insist Uma Thurman do her own car stunt in Kill Bill?. Quentin Tarantino did not take no for an answer and irresponsibility led Thurman to perform a car stunt that left her with permanent injuries. My values of accountability, trust, and respect align well under Mill’s Utilitarianism. Decisions should lead towards happiness,preventing pain, maximized value within decisions, and altruism are ethical tenets that best serve Uma Thurman, Actors under SAG-AFTRA, and Quentin Tarantino? It was unethical for Quentin Tarantino to endanger Uma Thurman with a life threatening experience on the set of his film, Kill Bill.