Thrilling Indiana Jones Stunt Performer Ignites Himself in Daring Visual Spectacle Amidst SAG Strike

Courtesy of Elena Sanchez/Instagram

Stunt performer Mike Massa put on a show while supporting the SAG-AFTRA strike from Atlanta.

On Monday, July 24, Massa and fellow stunt performer Elena Sanchez expressed their frustration with the AMPTP in a joint Instagram post. In a protest against the labor dispute between the AMPTP and SAG-AFTRA, Massa set himself on fire in Georgia, showing support for the actors who have been on strike since early July.

“Just wanted to extend a huge thank you to Paul Short, Adam Hart, Alex Smith, Cory DeMeyers, and Philip Dido for generously offering their time and resources to be a part of my Fire team at the Atlanta SAG-AFTRA Stunt Rally,” expressed Massa on Instagram. Following a successful fire show, which was closely supervised by local firefighters, Massa conveyed his satisfaction, stating, “We were determined to make a strong impact, and I believe we succeeded! The turnout from our local Stunt community, as well as local leadership and actors who came to support us, was truly remarkable. It was an incredible day!”

With a career spanning since the ’80s, Massa has established himself as a seasoned stunt performer. Recently, he took on the roles of both stunt coordinator and Harrison Ford’s stunt double in the film Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny. On Monday, he united with fellow members of Atlanta’s stunt community to demonstrate solidarity with Hollywood actors on the picket lines.

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A post shared by Elena Sanchez (@theelenasanchez)

The Atlanta group gathered at the location of a tracking vehicle company to express their discontent with the insufficient support from the AMPTP towards the SAG-AFTRA union. The members are currently engaged in a struggle for improved compensation, streaming residuals, and other benefits.

According to WSB-TV, Sanchez stated during the rally that a staggering 87% of the 160,000 SAG-AFTRA members earn less than $26,000 annually, rendering them ineligible for health insurance.

The striking Writers Guild of America (WGA) and SAG-AFTRA picketing in Los Angeles since May and July have created a visually striking scene. While some TV shows and films remained unaffected by the WGA strike due to completed scripts, the entertainment industry came to a standstill when SAG-AFTRA took a similar stance against the AMPTP for labor issues.

Many series, including daytime soap operas (which are covered by a different union agreement), and U.K. productions have continued as planned. However, the majority of TV and movie sets have completely halted production. As per SAG-AFTRA strike guidelines, all members are required to cease promoting their projects, both past and future, until a union and AMPTP agreement is reached.