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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:
SequinsandStiIettos · 23/10/2021 11:38

Gutierrez-Reed. There had been two misfires on set allegedly a few days before and this was only her second film. However, a prop master on the day was a non-union member brought in to replace a walkout. so the whole situation is still murky.

HoardingSamphireSaurus · 23/10/2021 11:40

I think you'll find AB would have agreed with that, on set and in real life, long, long before this tragedy.

ducktape · 23/10/2021 12:04

This LA Times article seems to have all the details, sounds like utter incompetence on the part of the production crew, compounded by a crew walkout - and completely avoidable

www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2021-10-22/alec-baldwin-rust-camera-crew-walked-off-set

Aquarius1234 · 23/10/2021 12:06

She removed a shell casing from the gun before handing it over allegedly.

What does that mean? And why?

WeAreTheHeroes · 23/10/2021 13:08

She thought the gun was empty, not loaded with anything.

Fetarabbit · 23/10/2021 13:14

@WeAreTheHeroes

She thought the gun was empty, not loaded with anything.
She was the armourer, that's a ridiculously huge oversight.
SequinsandStiIettos · 23/10/2021 13:14

No idea - it was reported as such earlier, in the context of them not knowing how many rounds were actually fired. Now says that both colt pistol and the shell casing were given to police. Irrespective, there'll be civil lawsuits flying.
duck do you have a link that isn't behind a subscription/paywall?

SequinsandStiIettos · 23/10/2021 13:23

heroes before handing it over to the police not Baldwin - it was the AD who took the pistol from the cart and gave it to him. The armorer was on set apparently but no detail as to the safety protocols being followed and who the prop master at the time was. Clusterfuck by the sounds of it. No idea what the earlier report meant by it - would have that was evidence-tampering but it has been removed subsequently so assume police have everything they need. If a live bullet was on set, that's a whole new kettle of fish - conspiracy theorists are saying sabotage but without full details, it's impossible to gauge.

  1. Should AD have checked gun then Alec also checked gun?
  2. Should it have been aimed at the director/cinematographer at all when direct to camera shot?
  3. Should a protective screen not have been used?
It will all come out eventually.
SequinsandStiIettos · 23/10/2021 13:26

After the shooting, the armorer took possession of the gun and a spent casing, which were turned over to police

So one live bullet then?

Fetarabbit · 23/10/2021 14:04

1. Should AD have checked gun then Alec also checked gun?

The armour should have prepared it, and then the AD checked. I wouldn't expect an actor to necessarily know, on an old gun as was used where the bullets are in an external chamber, perhaps a quick eye over it but when an expert is in place and it's double checked, it's not standard for actors to check.

2. Should it have been aimed at the director/cinematographer at all when direct to camera shot?

They do usually retreat to a viewing area once the cameras are set up, so in theory there shouldn't be anyone in the vicinity for direct camera shots. A report says it discharged when he removed it from the holster, rather than it being to capture a shot; which would explain why this wasn't the case.

3. Should a protective screen not have been used?

No, usually there wouldn't be anyone in the field of a planned shot, but it seems this was accidental discharge, something they will hopefully tighten regulations for now ie cameras set up and everyone moved to the secondary area before the gun is handed over.

It will all come out eventually.

Yeah, there were a lot of witnesses and it seems people are cooperating so I'm sure it will.

Needtostopfretting · 23/10/2021 14:30

Just awful

EsmaCannonball · 23/10/2021 16:19

I mentioned upthread that two men involved in the film industry were interviewed by the BBC and said that live bullets are frequently used on film sets to test whether antique guns will misfire. They also said that lower budget films will tend to use antique weapons because it's expensive to make reproductions. The whole 'using live bullets to check the gun isn't dangerous' seems an insane way to go about things to me.

3luckystars · 23/10/2021 16:26

Would they have been filming at the time ?

girlmom21 · 23/10/2021 17:58

@SequinsandStiIettos

After the shooting, the armorer took possession of the gun and a spent casing, which were turned over to police

So one live bullet then?

The bullet went through the shoulder of the woman who died and then hit the person who was injured - just one bullet
YouJustFoldItIn · 23/10/2021 18:55

Guns being used as props shouldn't be allowed to accept live rounds, at all.

Well quite. I know nothing about guns but I don't understand how replica gun or a prop gun is not an actual gun when it's capable of firing live rounds that can kill people. Why on earth would you even put a live round in a prop gun on a film set? Just why?

Motherdare · 23/10/2021 18:59

A member of the crew wrote on Facebook: We cited everything from lack of payment for three weeks, taking our hotels away despite asking for them in our deals, lack of Covid safety, and on top of that, poor gun safety! Poor on-set safety period!

I don’t think, therefore, that my view is odd at all bluntness. Clearly safety and corner-cutting were of concern on this production. People working on it have said that, not me. It’s not a view. It’s fact.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 24/10/2021 00:41

@girlmom21

She was shot in the chest, the projectile then exited and hit the director (standing behind her) on the shoulder.
From my understanding (and I could be wrong) they were inside that church so not a lot of distance and unfortunately that is how much damage a single live round can cause at close range.

utterly tragic. I can't wrap my head around it.
I used to do target shooting with an air rifle when I was 14 & 15 and there was nothing more important than safety.
I can not wrap my head around how this could've happened, why live ammunition was even anywhere near the set.
Clearly there was a serious lack of safety protocol.
The dude yelling "cold gun" apparently never even checked it before handing over to Alec Baldwin. WHY???
And wtaf was the armourer doing???
Who else had access? How? Why?
It's just awful, it never should have happened.

Poor Halyna and her family...I really feel for them & Alec Baldwin too.

ZingDramaQueenOfSheeba · 24/10/2021 00:48

@3luckystars

Would they have been filming at the time ?
That is an unanswered question for now. The person in charge of the investigation stated they need to have all available evidence and if there were cameras rolling at the time of the gun being discharged they will obviously examine any footage.
StrongerOrWeaker · 24/10/2021 01:23

I can't help thinking about her son. How awful.

ImustLearn2Cook · 24/10/2021 04:57

@StrongerOrWeaker Me too. He’s only 8. Sad

LawnFever · 24/10/2021 08:04

@Gonnagetgoing

DB works in film and TV. You’d be surprised how many near misses there are, not necessarily with guns but in safety aspects. Someone has messed up here though of course.
I work in TV and have friends who work in the Arts dept, set dressing & props in TV and film - they’re regularly asked to oversee firearms on set and decline, explaining the production need a qualified armoury expert and often get complaints/kick back because that’s obviously an additional expense, utterly shocking.
LawnFever · 24/10/2021 08:17

@Motherdare

A member of the crew wrote on Facebook: We cited everything from lack of payment for three weeks, taking our hotels away despite asking for them in our deals, lack of Covid safety, and on top of that, poor gun safety! Poor on-set safety period!

I don’t think, therefore, that my view is odd at all bluntness. Clearly safety and corner-cutting were of concern on this production. People working on it have said that, not me. It’s not a view. It’s fact.

I agree, the hotels issue is a H&S concern because the crew were promised hotels in the closest town but then given accomodation 50 miles away.

Doing that journey on top of long working hours increases the chances of anyone having an accident, it’s cost cutting that reduces staff safety & wellbeing and shows a general lack of care for the crews working conditions.

rushedruined · 24/10/2021 08:54

That article changes things a bit for me. They said it was unsafe and walked out, and Alec Baldwin was a senior producer who would have known about this. I hope it doesn't all get pinned on one scapegoat.

LawnFever · 24/10/2021 09:38

@rushedruined

That article changes things a bit for me. They said it was unsafe and walked out, and Alec Baldwin was a senior producer who would have known about this. I hope it doesn't all get pinned on one scapegoat.
There was an Armoury expert on set who’s been named, so there was someone on set who was responsible for gun safety, not that I’m pointing fingers at a scapegoat but it would be their responsibility.

I just can’t understand why you’d need live ammunition on a set at all even if you have real guns.