In a courtroom testimony on Wednesday, director John Landis admitted to illegally hiring two child actors for the 1982 filming of “Twilight Zone,” which resulted in a tragic accident where a helicopter crashed and killed the children along with actor Vic Morrow.
However, Landis claimed that he never anticipated the scene would pose any danger.
As the first defense witness in the ongoing involuntary manslaughter trial, Landis disputed the claims made by several prosecution witnesses, including the parents of the children, Myca Dinh Lee and Renee Chen.
The parents had tearfully testified that they were not informed about the close proximity of their children to a low-flying helicopter and special effects explosions.
Contrary to their statements, Landis told the jury that he had informed the parents about the entire segment.
He also revealed that he did not personally inform them about the lack of necessary permits for employing the children.
Instead, he had instructed associate producer George Folsey Jr., a co-defendant, to do so.
Landis explained that the decision to break the law stemmed from the state labor commissioner's office not granting a late-night filming permit for children, not due to concerns about safety.
He admitted that it was wrong to violate the labor code.
The director and his four associates are facing involuntary manslaughter charges for alleged gross negligence leading to the deaths.
However, they are not charged with the illegal hiring of the children.
During his testimony, Landis recounted his rise in Hollywood, starting as a studio “gofer” and a busboy while trying to break into the film industry.
He achieved success with films like “Animal House” and “Trading Places.”
Landis shared that the idea for “Twilight Zone: The Movie” was initially proposed by director Steven Spielberg during a dinner meeting in early 1982.
Landis then wrote a script for a segment in which Morrow's character would face the consequences of his own ignorance, being tormented by various groups.
In an attempt to refute the prosecution's witnesses, including the parents and members of the crew, Landis denied statements attributed to him regarding the dangerous nature of the scene.
He also rejected the suggestion of using dummies or midgets instead of the children for safety reasons.
Throughout his testimony, Landis emphasized that he held multiple meetings with his crew, discussing safety concerns.
The prosecution argues that the accident occurred due to a lack of planning and coordination.
Landis will continue his testimony today, facing cross-examination from Deputy Dist.
Atty.
Lea Purwin D'Agostino, who questioned his truthfulness and criticized his demeanor as a witness.
Despite the ongoing trial, Landis declined to comment, while his attorney, James Neal, praised his efforts to recall and communicate the events to the best of his ability.
