Film from ABC’s hit show “Lost” was ruined when security employees at the Honolulu International Airport accidentally X-rayed the canisters despite warnings labels asking them not to, reports The Honolulu Advertiser.
The show’s crew had to reshoot the scenes because there were no copies.
“This is the first time anything like this has happened,” said state Film Commissioner Donne Dawson, adding that steps have been taken to prevent a repeat of the incident.
The loss will not affect the broadcast schedule for the popular show, according to co-executive producer Jean Higgins.
Higgins declined to say how much the gaffe cost ABC.
“Lost” reportedly spends $1.5 million to $2 million or more per episode with about 200 full- and part-time workers. Normally it takes about eight days to shoot an episode of “Lost.” So if one day’s worth of film was destroyed, the cost could be close to $200,000.
The incidents occurred when the film canisters were mistakenly mixed with passenger luggage and then sent through an X-ray machine. The canisters were left unattended at X-ray machines along with other non-film cargo. The film apparently was then thrown in with piles of passenger luggage without regard for the warning labels indicating not to X-ray the sensitive contents within.
