Alec Baldwin shoots/kills cinematographer and injured director after firing a "prop gun".

[DLgal]

So a lot of productions do use the new technology ( I forget what it’s called) but it’s basically a muzzle on the weapon that still gains a reaction when fired. But it really doesn’t do anything other than make the noise and move a little so it is also realistic for the actor that is using it. And then in post production they add whatever is necessary with CGI. That being said, I do wonder why there were blanks or anything possibly in the piece being used.
A tragic situation all around. May Halyna rest peacefully

$$$

Post production CGI is expensive. It's cheaper to use a blank.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Prop masters union (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 44) apparently says there was a live round in the gun. I think they do at times use live rounds for certain scenes, such as when a character is shown loading a gun.

 

[Meriweather]

So sad for all.
Such a tragedy.

 

[leeniewdw]

$$$

Post production CGI is expensive. It's cheaper to use a blank.

Then even more reason to leverage technology (and safety) to never have a weapon used in filming that has or would ever have live rounds (or any other thing that can cause injury or death).

Prop masters union (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 44) apparently says there was a live round in the gun. I think they do at times use live rounds for certain scenes, such as when a character is shown loading a gun.

That still seems insane. I mean, I'm not a gun person, but I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to point any gun at a person (I guess unless you are intending to shoot them). The fact that there would be "this is okay for now" usage and "now we have to be safe, but we're also going to point this gun directly at other humans" just seems completely insane.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

$$$

Post production CGI is expensive. It's cheaper to use a blank.

Sadly yes.
but for a reaction shot of another actor? You can scare them using for example a bunch of metal objects loudly crashing

 

[kdonnel]

Prop masters union (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 44) apparently says there was a live round in the gun. I think they do at times use live rounds for certain scenes, such as when a character is shown loading a gun.

I really doubt there were live rounds on the set of Rust. If so, they are stupid and the entire chain of people who said that was a good idea deserve jail time. That would include Alec Baldwin as producer.

What they are supposed to do for closeups is create a cartridge that has the bullet in the casing but no powder and no primer.

It will look real for the camera but is harmless.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I really doubt there were live rounds on the set of Rust. If so, they are stupid and the entire chain of people who said that was a good idea deserve jail time. That would include Alec Baldwin as producer.

What they are supposed to do for closeups is create a cartridge that has the bullet in the casing but no powder and no primer.

It will look real for the camera but is harmless.

That is the current rumor (per Deadline, one of the premier entertainment sources online), so I imagine this will now be a very thorough investigation...

 

[leeniewdw]

I really doubt there were live rounds on the set of Rust. If so, they are stupid and the entire chain of people who said that was a good idea deserve jail time. That would include Alec Baldwin as producer.

What they are supposed to do for closeups is create a cartridge that has the bullet in the casing but no powder and no primer.

It will look real for the camera but is harmless.

IMO, they should never have deadly weapons that rely on human decisions and actions to prevent incorrect firing or usage. That's ridiculous. The "guns" used on set should not be actual guns that have ever been nor will be used to fire ammo. You can't convince me that they are unable to segregate "guns" in this manner. That's just stupid. I'm shocked that insurance companies would ever agree to that either to be honest.

And if for whatever reason relying on humans to make sure the gun is "safe" is standard procedure, they should never have people in the line of fire. That may be the old school, low tech way to prevent injury, but would have in this case!

 

[bcla]

Here's a claim that it was a live round.

https://www.indiewire.com/2021/10/a...apher-wounds-director-on-rust-set-1234673555/​

In the email that IATSE Local 44 sent to its membership, Secretary-Treasurer Anthony Pawluc described the event as an “an accidental weapons discharge” in which “A live single round was accidentally fired on set by the principal actor, hitting both the Director of Photography, Local 600 member Halnya Hutchins, and Director Joel Souza … Local 44 has confirmed that the Props, Set Decoration, Special Effects and Construction Departments were staffed by New Mexico crew members. There were no Local 44 members on the call sheet.”​

 

[OhDannyBoy]

This seems like a complete breakdown in safety rules on the set of Rust. As producer of Rust, Alec Baldwin is responsible for overseeing all elements of production.

Agreed. there is a reason these rules are in place. They just demonstrated that is the most tragic of ways.

That's my question. With today's innovation and technology, shouldn't there be a totally different "prop" that is used for this type of thing, one that by definition cannot kill/injure someone? Worst case scenario would be to use post cgi to add whatever "realness" that doesn't come from the filming.

I also heard this morning that after Brandon Lee's death that so many things changed that this should just.never.happen.

Considering how most depictions of firearms in movies is so far off anyways, I don't know why risks like this are taken at all.

Prop masters union (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 44) apparently says there was a live round in the gun. I think they do at times use live rounds for certain scenes, such as when a character is shown loading a gun.

I make practice dummy rounds I use in pistols that look every bit as real as a live round. I actually have to mark them with paint so I know which are which for safety reasons and I'm not a professional anything. A professional prop master can't make a realistic looking dummy round?

That still seems insane. I mean, I'm not a gun person, but I'm pretty sure you aren't supposed to point any gun at a person (I guess unless you are intending to shoot them).

Rule#1 of firearms: Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
rule#2 of firearms: every firearms is loaded. Always. Many have met their maker messing with "unloaded" guns.

The fact that there would be "this is okay for now" usage and "now we have to be safe, but we're also going to point this gun directly at other humans" just seems completely insane.

Agreed. There is zero reason a real firearm needs to be anywhere near a production set aside from a security detail carrying a sidearm.

 

[kdonnel]

And if for whatever reason relying on humans to make sure the gun is "safe" is standard procedure, they should never have people in the line of fire. That may be the old school, low tech way to prevent injury, but would have in this case!

The accepted rules for filming with firearms say that no one should be directly in line with the muzzle. That rule was apparently not followed.

 

[bcla]

What they are supposed to do for closeups is create a cartridge that has the bullet in the casing but no powder and no primer.

They can be purchased from professionals. Some use them for "inert" training to get a feel for the weight when dry firing since the barrel still has to move. But for movie sets, some of these seem to be drilled out to indicate they're not live, and the primer is replaced with something (typically rubber) that's obviously not a primer.

What happened on the set of The Crow was that they got really cheap and the crew handling the weapons got live ammo where they removed the powder but forgot about the primer. It was then dry fired during one scene where the primer had enough force to shove the bullet into the barrel.

 

[bcla]

The accepted rules for filming with firearms say that no one should be directly in line with the muzzle. That rule was apparently not followed.

I wouldn't expect that an actor who doesn't regular fire a weapon would be that accurate. But if it was a live round, then it would clearly be the negligence of the crew that failed to check it.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I wouldn't expect that an actor who doesn't regular fire a weapon would be that accurate. But if it was a live round, then it would clearly be the negligence of the crew that failed to check it.

All cast and crew regardless of if they physically hold the weapon go through training before and day of. They can ask whatever question they want after the safety drill is over. While yea someone did fail to check it, they have allegedly been confirmed to have had their training and drill that day.

 

[Sinder]

Prop masters union (International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees Local 44) apparently says there was a live round in the gun. I think they do at times use live rounds for certain scenes, such as when a character is shown loading a gun.

Why would they put a live round in the gun!? I hope that this turns out to be false.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Why would they put a live round in the gun!? I hope that this turns out to be false.

The only thing I can think of is a scene prior they were filming it being loaded, in which case sometimes they do in fact use the real deal and with someone on set who knows how to use it.

 

[Sinder]

The only thing I can think of is a scene prior they were filming it being loaded, in which case sometimes they do in fact use the real deal and with someone on set who knows how to use it.

I had no idea that happens in movies.
There is no such thing as an unloaded gun, you treat any firearm you handle as if it was loaded.
I can't imagine anyone who knows how to use one would leave one in the chamber especially if it was used as a prop on a movie set.
I take that back, there are plenty of people who think they know how to use guns, but they really don't.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I had no idea that happens in movies.
There is no such thing as an unloaded gun, you treat any firearm you handle as if it was loaded.
I can't imagine anyone who knows how to use one would leave one in the chamber especially if it was used as a prop on a movie set.
I take that back, there are plenty of people who think they know how to use guns, but they really don't.

You are correct about it being unloaded my apologies. You should always treat anything like that as live. You think my mythbusters loving self would’ve remembered that.
It doesn’t happen a lot anymore, as a matter of fact I wouldn’t have been shocked if before this tragic occurrence that this was one of the last to do so. Blanks can still be dangerous too, but they also can cause less issues.
A lot of actors have actually been fighting this for years and years due to hearing and ear troubles. So I’m shocked more companies haven’t used the muzzled ones for the shot with the weapon and then a different noise for the reaction shot.
and as you said, a lot of people do not know how to handle any weapon and no amount of training will change that.

 

[mumto3girls]

I am not an Alec Baldwin fan at all, but I feel very bad for him - how terrible, This is something that will weigh on him for the rest of his life. Even though it wasn’t his fault, I’m sure he somewhat blames himself - I know I would. So sad!

I so agree with this. Accidentally killing or seriously injuring someone is a huge fear of mine. Typically I think about it in regards to driving, but this is very similar. I have no idea how culpable he is in what happened, but whether he is or isn’t, the burden is enormous and long lasting.

 

[Karin1984]

As it happened on set, chances are high that there was some camera rolling. Whether it was for the movie, rehearsals, b-roll, shots for social media promotion.