An accident during the filming of the new Taiwanese Netflix series Agent From Above demonstrates that camera drones are not without danger on a film set. Actor Kai Ko was so badly injured in the face by a drone that he had to be stitched up with 20-30 stitches.
Kai Ko in Agent From Above (Netflix).
It is unclear exactly how the injury occurred, nor is it known which drone was used. According to the two production companies mm2 Asia and Good Films Production, the rotor blades were supposedly shielded, and the drone also did not "explode," as initial reports said about the incident, which happened back in late December. How such cuts can occur despite a rotor guard is then, of course, the question.
What is certain, however, is that special care and caution should be taken when camera drones are used in close proximity to people - whether on set or elsewhere. Flying cameras are, of course, tempting with their ability to capture unusual or bird-like tracking shots or changes in perspective, but they carry an increased risk. In this case, a close-up shot of the Taiwanese star was reportedly being taken when the accident happened - that would be a bold maneuver. And seriously bad timing for a malfunction, if it was one.
