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Original poster

Tragedy on Alec Baldwin's film set

210 replies

Gingernaut · 22/10/2021 07:34

Alec Baldwin has shot two people with what was thought to be a prop gun.

One person, he cinematographer is dead and the second has been hospitalised.

Absolutely stunning news.

www.nytimes.com/2021/10/21/us/alec-baldwin-shooting-rust-movie.html

OP posts:
NeonTetras · 22/10/2021 12:47

@Bloodypunkrockers Point taken. I admit I didn't read it properly and missed the about a film set bit. Blush Wine

Frymetothemoon · 22/10/2021 13:01

@inigomontoyahwillcox

Was utterly shocked to hear this on the news this morning, the poor family and friends of Halyna Hutchins, all hope that Joel Souza recovers.

Alec Balwin must be absolutely beside himself - how do you get over something like this?

"how do you get over something like this?"

The answer is you don't. Someone I know knocked over a child who ran out in front of his car. Everyone was clear that there was nothing he could have done about it. He didn't manage to return to work for 3 years and when he did he was clearly still very distressed. I has utterly destroyed his life.

I can't imagine how Alec Baldwin will fare here, especially with the world's media on his back.

Also, I've known someone end up in hospital after a blank was fired at them in a play. It happens. They are real guns. I've had to handle them and they give me the heebie-jeebies

Pebble21uk · 22/10/2021 13:53

An awful, awful tragedy. The point about Alec Baldwin's culpability in the incident will also rest on the fact that he is Producer of the film. Responsibility ultimately stops with the Producer - so there will be questions for him to answer in that role as well as that of actor.

Fetarabbit · 22/10/2021 14:46

@Pebble21uk

An awful, awful tragedy. The point about Alec Baldwin's culpability in the incident will also rest on the fact that he is Producer of the film. Responsibility ultimately stops with the Producer - so there will be questions for him to answer in that role as well as that of actor.
As long as there was a suitably qualified armourer on set, the responsibility for firearms rests with them. Obviously if there was a lapse in provision or presence of that role which is an essential requirement then yes, there will be questions around that.
3luckystars · 22/10/2021 15:22

Very sad altogether.
It sounds like it was not his fault at all though. If you pick up a tool to do your job and someone gets injured because of a fault in the tool, then who is really to blame.

There must be people whose job it is to do safety checks and probably whole hazard analysis on all of these props and tools.
That needs to be examined very closely as it sounds like there are plenty of accidents and near misses on films.

I think it’s only because it’s Alec Baldwin holding the prop that it is so shocking, if it was another unknown staff member then we would hardly have heard about it.

It’s a terrible accident. I hope nothing like it happens ever again. That poor woman and her family.

Original poster
Gingernaut · 22/10/2021 16:26

A lot of tributes are being paid to Halyna Hutchins, who was a rising star in the cinematography world.

That poor, poor woman.

OP posts:
Aquarius1234 · 22/10/2021 16:34

Alec Baldwin 'was given prop gun loaded with LIVE and not blank rounds' when he shot and accidentally killed female cinematographer and wounded director WTF

Also if blanks hurt you at all in any way they should not be used.

EsmaCannonball · 22/10/2021 16:50

A couple of people involved in the film industry explained in a radio interview today that live bullets are frequently used on film sets to test that antique or historically accurate guns are working properly and won't misfire. Dummy bullets are also used for close-ups. The Brandon Lee incident happened when a bullet that was real, but without a live charge, was left in a gun that was later fired with blanks. Apparently it's cheaper to use old guns than to manufacture reproductions. It's looking like a real bullet, charged or uncharged, was left in the gun.

Hopeisallineed · 22/10/2021 17:14

I still don’t understand how you can accidentally shoot two people. Surely after shooting the first you would notice something was very wrong?!

EsmaCannonball · 22/10/2021 17:27

You could shoot two people if the bullet passed through one into the other, if the bullet ricocheted, if some kind of shrapnel or debris was fired, if you fired more than one shot very quickly, e.g. the double-tap shooting method. He obviously wasn't intending to shoot anybody so it's entirely possible he shot twice before comprehending what had happened. If the incident involved more than one shot that would mean there was enough ammunition (of whatever kind) in the gun to kill more than one person. I'm not sure if that is probable, but then again, who knows?

AlfonsoTheDinosaur · 22/10/2021 17:38

How terrible for all concerned. I am not a fan of Alec Baldwin but I feel awful for him.

HoardingSamphireSaurus · 22/10/2021 17:43

It depends entirely what the scene was. Remember they were rehearsing, so he would have been doing whatever was in the script. Bang Bang! is quite usual in many films.

And there are many scenarios that can be imagined that would lead shrapnel to pass through one person and to lodge in another.

So until the police or Alex Baldwin's agent release a full statement of facts the only things we know are:

It was a terrible accident
Alec Baldwin did nothing wrong.

All else is conjecture. And so very many people have jumped all over many media channels to get their few minutes worth of fame. Shame on them and anyone else guessing.

rubicscubicle · 22/10/2021 19:06

Since there is a gunpowder and a primer, a blank still sounds incredibly dangerous to me. Hope there are reforms to their use in filming.

My heart goes out to the family of this lady.

Tragedy on Alec Baldwin's film set
etulosba · 22/10/2021 19:24

It’s just one more accidental death out of nearly 500 a year.

efsgv.org/wp-content/uploads/[email protected]

Noeuf · 22/10/2021 19:37

‘ It was a terrible accident
Alec Baldwin did nothing wrong.’

I think we know less than that tbh.

AB fired a gun which killed one person and injured another.

Its not an accident I don’t think, it will end up being avoidable IMO.

ancientgran · 22/10/2021 19:41

@Noeuf

‘ It was a terrible accident Alec Baldwin did nothing wrong.’

I think we know less than that tbh.

AB fired a gun which killed one person and injured another.

Its not an accident I don’t think, it will end up being avoidable IMO.

If it isn't an accident are you saying it was deliberate? What evidence do you have for that?
Suzi888 · 22/10/2021 19:48

He has to live with that for the rest of his life, awful.
“Its not an accident I don’t think, it will end up being avoidable IMO.”- meaning that experts may come in and say rules were not followed maybe? He must be devastated, the families are devastated- terrible.

Noeuf · 22/10/2021 19:51

ancientgran do you think the only options are murder or an accident? Seriously? Accidents are unavoidable - I doubt this was.

Noeuf · 22/10/2021 19:51

suzi yes I suspect that safety protocols / cleaning / checking failed. Somewhere along the line.

PackedintheUK · 22/10/2021 20:14

It might not be Baldwin's fault but some one will be in a lot of trouble over this.

Why are the gun lobby pleased? Surely this proves that guns shouldn't be in circulation?

ancientgran · 22/10/2021 20:47

@Noeuf

ancientgran do you think the only options are murder or an accident? Seriously? Accidents are unavoidable - I doubt this was.
RIDDOR definition of accident (HSE)

What is an 'accident'?
In relation to RIDDOR, an accident is a separate, identifiable, unintended incident, which causes physical injury. This specifically includes acts of non-consensual violence to people at work.

So in England it would qualify as an accident if it was unintended.

a definition from the USA

When a worker is injured on the job, it is usually from an accident. The meaning of an accident can be described in several ways; however, the most basic definition is when a voluntary action results in an injury or death.

Still sounds like an accident unless it was deliberate.

AlfonsoTheDinosaur · 22/10/2021 20:58

I am no fan of Mr Baldwin but do not believe that he deliberately killed one person and wounded another. Accident, yes. Intentional, no.

Ostryga · 22/10/2021 21:03

@PackedintheUK

It might not be Baldwin's fault but some one will be in a lot of trouble over this.

Why are the gun lobby pleased? Surely this proves that guns shouldn't be in circulation?

They’re pleased because he has been incredibly anti-gun (and Trump) so they’re basically crowing over it and kicking the boot in. Truly pathetic if you ask me.
Fetarabbit · 22/10/2021 21:06

@PackedintheUK

It might not be Baldwin's fault but some one will be in a lot of trouble over this.

Why are the gun lobby pleased? Surely this proves that guns shouldn't be in circulation?

Because they have an odd logic. Because baldwin has been vocally against gun ownership and critical of the NTA etc, they think that this incident somehow proves he should have taken the time to learn about how to safely handle guns and if he owned one himself and got behind gun education across America somehow it would have been safer. Of course they can't see that if anything it reiterates his point that guns aren't safe...
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