Posted on 10/22/2021 6:57:38 AM PDT by conservative98
A distraught Alec Baldwin repeatedly asked why was he given a “hot gun” after his prop weapon accidentally discharged on his New Mexico film set Thursday, killing a cinematographer and injuring the director, witnesses have claimed.
The tragic accident unfolded while Baldwin was filming his upcoming western film “Rust” at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Sante Fe.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, died and director, Joel Souza, 48, was injured after they were both struck when the gun discharged, the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office said.
Immediately after the incident, an eyewitness told Hollywood gossip site Showbiz 411 that Baldwin started asking how he could have been given a “hot gun” – meaning a firearm loaded with real ammunition.
“In all my years, I’ve never been handed a hot gun,” the actor allegedly kept saying.
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
“Still, it’s basic, you never point a firearm at someone unless you intend to shoot them.”
Yet that’s what happens in thousands of western, crime, and war movies.
That's the thing anyway, it's an amateurish look to have the muzzle pointed directly at the camera, particularly a Western where so often the draw is filmed in a deliberate motion as the exposition. Pointing a gun directly at the camera breaks the 4th wall. Find any gun scene in any Eastwood-directed Western - no guns directly fired at the camera. Souza is no Eastwood but anyone still directing at 50, it doesn't seem like they would have blocked a straight muzzle shot.
Which unforunately lends some credence to the suggestion that Shooter Baldwin was fooling around.
1. is baldwin cooperating with authorities?
2. was baldwin romantically linked with the cinematographer hutchins?
3. was baldwin acting within director commands at the time of the shooting?
4. had baldwin been drinking or taking any drugs immediately before the shooting?
5. did baldwin submit to a blood alcohol test and/or drug test immediately after the shooting?
6. will baldwin be fired? incarcerated with no bail until trial? will the baldwin scenes of the movie be shot with a different actor?
if the press were fair, baldwin would be given the full kyle rittenhouse treatment, guilty until proven innocent.
Someone reported earlier that the crew went out for target practice. If that is true someone forgot to unload the weapon before it got back on set. Also reported earlier that no live ammo was permitted on set.
There are union “problems” in the film industry. Strike recently avoided. Just sayin’.
Another question or answer I haven’t seen. Is there a possibility that ANY live ammo was involved? Can’t really think why there should be any live ammo on set. But that could be just me.
Her name was on the slate next to "Camera". Some work the lens, some don't.
Fooling around or angry at not successfully fooling around?
Conversely, the actor abuses everyone on set, including the prop people, who set him up for killing someone during filming. Another interesting plot twist! This guy is hateful and treats people miserably, so you could see that being done to him.
Dec 1998: Late Night with Conan O’Brien on NBC actor Alec Baldwin jumped from his chair to scream "We would stone Henry Hyde to death and we would go to their homes and we’d kill their wives and their children!"
First, it's a film production, not a day at the range.
Second, you must not have seen too many movies with guns in them. Actors are directed to point the gun directly at the camera for first-person perspective.
Third, the cinematographer and/or director often stand directly behind the camera when filming.
How do you accidentally shoot 2 people?
You must not have ever seen a movie where an actor fires more than one round.
there are ‘rules’ ya know
Again, this was on the set of a film production, not a day at the range.
Firearm safety is still important, but actors don't typically load and check their own weapons. That's the job of the prop master who prepares the firearm, then hands it to the actor just before the scene is filmed. After the scene, the actor hands the firearm back to the prop master.
hot or not, why was the gun pointed at a non-actor who was not in a scene
Maybe he was directed to point it directly at the camera for a first-person perspective?
Why would the cinematographer stand in the wrong place?” Why would the director stand behind the cinematographer?
Ever seen a behind-the-scenes video where they show the movie being made?
If not, the cinematographer and director usually stand right behind the camera.
If that's the standard on set, the standard is wrong. It is the most basic rule of firearm safety to treat a gun as though it is loaded with live ammunition until you have verified otherwise. That verification is not accomplished by simply trusting the guy who handed it to you--I don't care if the Command Sergeant Major of the Army hands it to me and swears on a stack of bibles, his pension, and his children's eyes that it is unloaded, I'm checking the chamber before I point it at someone and pull the trigger.
Sure, the prop guy has a lot of responsibility, but so should the guy who pulled the trigger. If the actor thinks he should just assume the gun isn't loaded because a professional handed it to him, then that's on the people in charge. In this case, that would include the producer, Alec Baldwin.
As a legal matter, while I doubt Baldwin will be prosecuted based on what we know so far, I will be shocked if Alec Baldwin or his insurer won't be writing a pretty big check to that poor lady's family.
Also, this sort of thing is why I think it should be mandatory that firearm safety be taught in school. It shouldn't only be gun owners who know how to handle a gun safely.
My brother was shot by a muzzle loading pistol while doing a play in high school. It was double loaded and the wad went about 2 inches into his thigh. Burned the hell out of him too. One of his buddies had it and they had to discharge it to unload. Dumbass pointed it at my brother. Stupid. Happened at the school! But it being 1979 they let the guy off with nothing but a stern talking to. My dad was not happy. But it was an “accident”.
#1 > Baldwin pointed the gun in the direction of these two people.
#2 > Baldwin PULLED the trigger while pointed in the direction of the two people.
#3 > WHY did he do these two inappropriate things?
I would think after killing one person that Alec would have stopped firing! : )
That was the interview right there.
Even Conan seemed to do a double take; “C’mon, Alec, are you serious? You’re not serious....right?”
Of course, the audience whooped it up.
A harbringer of today’s Cancel Culture with Jimmy Kimmel and the other Jimmys.
From later reports it was a live round. So again, why was there ANY live ammo on set. The union guys have already said the prop guy wasn’t a union member so they’re off the hook. Baldwin is wondering why a “hot” gun was handed to him so he’s trying to get off the hook. Which he likely will. Financially no. Standard protocols weren’t followed. But, still. WHY was there live ammo anywhere on the set.
This was criminally reckless behavior. He should be charged with something, but I doubt he will even be charged with disorderly conduct.
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