Alec Baldwin did what?

[SuperMatt]

Movie directors (and stage directors in my experience) often don’t give a about safety and are always having to be reminded by stage managers or union reps.

You might recall what Tarantino did to Uma Thurman… convinced her to do a dangerous driving scene in which she got seriously injured… and if you watch the scene, the entire thing is just the back of her head. There was literally ZERO reason for the scene to be done by anybody but a stunt double. He’s a psychopath, as are many of these directors. They expect to be able to do anything they want and lash out at anybody who pushes back.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/video/entertainment/raw-video-uma-thurmans-car-crash-on-set-of-kill-bill/2018/02/07/89a4530e-0c16-11e8-998c-96deb18cca19_video.html

So yeah, anytime you work in entertainment, you need strong people not afraid to push back against control-freak directors who don’t give a flying f*** about the human beings that work for them. I hope there is some serious jail time for those responsible, up to and including the director.

 

[Herdfan]

Yes, a terrible tragedy for sure. You can bet whoever is in charge of props will likely pay for this somehow.

There is supposed to be a specific prop person, the armorer, who is in charge of all weapons, whether they be real or rubber. It is that person who is ultimately responsible.

Read a story today that said the Assistant Director handed him the gun which should be a BIG NO NO.

As for the direction he was pointing it, he probably was shooting at a spot behind the camera where someone just happened to be standing like he has done 1000 times without issue.

 

[Cmaier]

There is supposed to be a specific prop person, the armorer, who is in charge of all weapons, whether they be real or rubber. It is that person who is ultimately responsible.

Read a story today that said the Assistant Director handed him the gun which should be a BIG NO NO.

As for the direction he was pointing it, he probably was shooting at a spot behind the camera where someone just happened to be standing like he has done 1000 times without issue.

Yeah, the gun was just sitting on a tray and the AD handed it to him. That supposedly is not supposed to happen.

 

[ronntaylor]

Yeah, the gun was just sitting on a tray and the AD handed it to him. That supposedly is not supposed to happen.

According to an affidavit filed by the Santa Fe County sheriff’s department, the armorer loaded the prop guns on the tray and

“was given the prop gun after it was fired by actor Alec Baldwin” and “then took the spent casing” out of the weapon before handing it over to the police

It appears COVID safety protocols played a part as the tray was supposedly outside of the shoot area. I don't know why the AD handed over the gun instead of the armorer. I'm leery of the alleged labor unrest on the set, especially since no one has come forward by name and there is no indication that there are official complaints.

 

[GermanSuplex]

What a horrible story. First, it’s 2021 so I have no clue how this is allowed to happen on a professional set. The only “guns” being shot for a freaking movie should be spray painted water guns, if that means saving a life. As mentioned, it’s not like there isn’t precedent. This is not an accident that should happen more than once.

Then there’s the optics, which is going to make 2A nuts go wild, even though this case is actually an argument against it.

There’s so many negative aspects of this story, the saddest of course that someone on set just doing their profession died. It would be like any of us dying while standing at the copier or whatever. And Baldwin’s life is undoubtedly altered, regardless of intent or lack there of. My instinct is to believe this was a freak accident that can only be blamed on carelessness, but the investigation will suss all that out.

Regardless, a horrible story and I feel so bad for the victim and her family. Truly awful.

 

[Yoused]

The only “guns” being shot for a freaking movie should be spray painted water guns

Or, maybe, they could try to cut down on guns in movies and TV shows.

 

[ronntaylor]

The Rookie EP Bans ‘Live’ Weapons From Set in Wake of Halyna Hutchins Tragedy: ‘Any Risk Is Too Much Risk’

Effective immediately, no "live" weapons will be used on the set of ABC's The Rookie, showrunner Alexi Hawley announced in a memo on Friday.

tvline.com

“As of today, it is now policy on The Rookie that all gunfire on set will be Air Soft guns with CG muzzle flashes added in post,” the memo reads. “There will be no more ‘live’ weapons on the show. The safety our cast and crew is too important. Any risk is too much risk.”

 

[lizkat]

Yeah, the gun was just sitting on a tray and the AD handed it to him. That supposedly is not supposed to happen.

(Yeah like it's not supposed to happen that a toddler pulls a loaded gun out of his mom's handbag in a grocery checkout line. Sure, sure.)

They have all this CGI capability now, let them make use of it and get rid of real guns on movie sets. This one too low budget for that I guess.

 

[SuperMatt]

Baldwin should have known better. Everybody involved should have known better. As I mentioned before, it’s well-known that even fake guns should be treated like live, loaded guns on stage (and on movie sets). You don’t know if somebody with malicious intent swapped the fake gun for a real one when nobody was looking.

 

[Edd]

Baldwin should have known better. Everybody involved should have known better. As I mentioned before, it’s well-known that even fake guns should be treated like live, loaded guns on stage (and on movie sets). You don’t know if somebody with malicious intent swapped the fake gun for a real one when nobody was looking.

I read somewhere that he was performing when he shot. So, if the camera angle is mandating he points a certain direction, than it may not be up to the performer.

Baldwin is a producer through, and the talk of a troubled set, with previous firearm issues is probably going to be additional trouble for him.

 

[ronntaylor]

Baldwin should have known better. Everybody involved should have known better. As I mentioned before, it’s well-known that even fake guns should be treated like live, loaded guns on stage (and on movie sets). You don’t know if somebody with malicious intent swapped the fake gun for a real one when nobody was looking.

There was an experienced, licensed armorer on set that set up the guns on the tray, the AD yelled out "cold gun!" as he handed one to Baldwin as is protocol, indicating that there was training and framing beforehand. According to several reports, this was a rehearsal so the gun should not have been loaded with anything. Baldwin was heard to be upset about having been handed a "hot gun" after the accident: “In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun.”

It looks like the armorer's fault*. They are supposed to do one thing and one thing only: ensure the safe handling of guns on set. She caused all of this.

* An investigation will ultimately determine if something untoward happened, and being a "low-budget film," maybe shortcuts were taken. Hope it's sorted out quickly.

 

[Herdfan]

I'm still confused on what the actual projectile was. Did someone put a live round in the gun? If so, was it on purpose or an accident. If an accident, why on earth were live rounds even on the set?

Or if it wasn't an actual live round, was something put in the barrel and the blank provided enough force? While it is true that blanks can kill or injure, they need to be close. No way a blank wad goes though Hutchins and then injures Souza. I think it had to be a live round, which takes me back to the first question, why were live rounds even on location?

If on purpose, that opens up so many new questions.

 

[SuperMatt]

I read somewhere that he was performing when he shot. So, if the camera angle is mandating he points a certain direction, than it may not be up to the performer.

Baldwin is a producer through, and the talk of a troubled set, with previous firearm issues is probably going to be additional trouble for him.

Here are the rules on a movie set.

https://www.csatf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/01FIREARMS.pdf

The VERY FIRST rule:

Refrain from pointing a firearm at anyone, including yourself. If it is absolutely necessary to do so on camera, consult the Property Master (or, in his/her absence, the weapons handler and/or other appropriate personnel determined by the locality or the needs of the production) or other safety representative, such as the First A.D./Stage Manager. Remember that any object at which you point a firearm could be destroyed.

This is what happens when you ignore safety guidelines. You cannot blame the prop master if you point the weapon in an unsafe direction and pull the trigger. Did the director tell the actor to point the weapon at the cinematographer? Why would that be in the script? This was reckless behavior by more than one person. Gross negligence that led to an unnecessary death. I’m not willing to make an excuse for Baldwin, or the director, or the props manager… everybody involved needs to be investigated and held accountable. You NEVER know for sure that you got handed an unloaded weapon or a safe weapon…. Do NOT point it at anybody! It’s not hard.

 

[Cmaier]

Here are the rules on a movie set.

https://www.csatf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/01FIREARMS.pdf

The VERY FIRST rule:


This is what happens when you ignore safety guidelines. You cannot blame the prop master if you point the weapon in an unsafe direction and pull the trigger. Did the director tell the actor to point the weapon at the cinematographer? Why would that be in the script? This was reckless behavior by more than one person. Gross negligence that led to an unnecessary death. I’m not willing to make an excuse for Baldwin, or the director, or the props manager… everybody involved needs to be investigated and held accountable. You NEVER know for sure that you got handed an unloaded weapon or a safe weapon…. Do NOT point it at anybody! It’s not hard.

I’m guessing he was told to point the gun at the camera, and the director and cinematographer were behind it? In the end, I think the prop master is going to be found liable here - gun shouldn’t have had live rounds in it, it shouldn’t have left his possession without being handed directly to the actor, he should have made sure the actor was instructed on safe handling, etc. Given that we already know that the gun was loaded with a live round and that the gun was placed on a tray with two other guns, and not kept in the prop master’s possession, it sounds like such a prop master may also not have properly instructed the actor. (You assume Baldwin should have known, but i have no idea how often he’s actually handled a weapon on a movie set, or the last time that occurred.)

 

[Herdfan]

This is what happens when you ignore safety guidelines. You cannot blame the prop master if you point the weapon in an unsafe direction and pull the trigger. Did the director tell the actor to point the weapon at the cinematographer? Why would that be in the script? This was reckless behavior by more than one person. Gross negligence that led to an unnecessary death. I’m not willing to make an excuse for Baldwin, or the director, or the props manager… everybody involved needs to be investigated and held accountable. You NEVER know for sure that you got handed an unloaded weapon or a safe weapon…. Do NOT point it at anybody! It’s not hard.

Here is where we are going to differ. If the director told him to say "point just to the right of the camera" he may not have known Hutchins was standing there. No idea how the set was setup, but if there were lights on, he probably couldn't see what was behind the camera. Hence he didn't know he was pointing it at her.

 

[ronntaylor]

Here are the rules on a movie set.

https://www.csatf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/01FIREARMS.pdf

The VERY FIRST rule:


This is what happens when you ignore safety guidelines. You cannot blame the prop master if you point the weapon in an unsafe direction and pull the trigger. Did the director tell the actor to point the weapon at the cinematographer? Why would that be in the script? This was reckless behavior by more than one person. Gross negligence that led to an unnecessary death. I’m not willing to make an excuse for Baldwin, or the director, or the props manager… everybody involved needs to be investigated and held accountable. You NEVER know for sure that you got handed an unloaded weapon or a safe weapon…. Do NOT point it at anybody! It’s not hard.

It was rehearsal and the gun was deemed "cold" meaning that it should have not been loaded with anything. It appears the DP and Director were framing a scene. If like Baldwin, they thought the gun was "cold" so probably directed him to practice a shot for the scene to be filmed. Even though it was rehearsal, it may have been filmed and will be part of the investigation.

 

[Cmaier]

It was rehearsal and the gun was deemed "cold" meaning that it should have not been loaded with anything. It appears the DP and Director were framing a scene. If like Baldwin, they thought the gun was "cold" so probably directed him to practice a shot for the scene to be filmed. Even though it was rehearsal, it may have been filmed and will be part of the investigation.

Apparently there had been two other incidents where a gun was accidentally discharged on the set, so it sounds like the weapons master was not doing a good job.

 

[SuperMatt]

They ignored warnings of prior negligent discharges.

'Rust' crew describes on-set gun safety issues and misfires days before fatal shooting

At least one of the camera operators complained last weekend to production managers about gun safety on the set.

www.latimes.com

People quit their job over this extremely unsafe environment before this woman was killed. This wasn’t just an accident. If you’re on a set with multiple complaints of firearm safety issues and you still point a supposedly unloaded gun at a person and pull the trigger…. You aren’t innocent.

 

[Cmaier]

They ignored warnings of prior negligent discharges.

'Rust' crew describes on-set gun safety issues and misfires days before fatal shooting

At least one of the camera operators complained last weekend to production managers about gun safety on the set.

www.latimes.com

People quit their job over this extremely unsafe environment before this woman was killed. This wasn’t just an accident. If you’re on a set with multiple complaints of firearm safety issues and you still point a supposedly unloaded gun at a person and pull the trigger…. You aren’t innocent.

While I agree with most of this, you are presupposing that the person who pulled the trigger was aware of the prior issues. He denies it. The facts will come out one way or the other. The weapons master on the other hand, needed to be aware.

 

[ronntaylor]

Well a friend of a friend confused the armorer with her dad who is a veteran armorer. Seems like she wasn't ready for this film set. Damn shame.

The 24-year-old head armorer of Alec Baldwin's movie 'Rust' told a podcast she almost didn't take her last job because she wasn't sure if she was ready

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, told a podcast she almost turned down the head-armorer job in a recent project because of self-doubt about her experience.

news.yahoo.com

Gutierrez-Reed added that she was initially fearful of loading blanks. "I think loading blanks was the scariest thing to me because I was like 'oh, I don't know anything about it,'" she said. But her famous father, she said, helped train her up.