If they know so much about what happened, why do they not know where the live rounds came from? Without knowing that, they couldn't have presented a complete chain of custody for the live rounds.
JMO, the origin of the mysterious box that appeared on a prop table might have been identified if they had carefully questioned all of the people with access to the props. Someone there knows the origin of those live bullets. Did they do any fingerprinting or DNA testing on the box, cartridges, etc?
JMO, it was a sloppy, incomplete investigation. We know from the emails that they could advance their careers by prosecuting AB, the most high profile actor on the set. That's what they were focused on, not solving the case.
Well, that likely would have happened if this case had proceeded toward trial. Instead, there were shenanigans galore (probably not intentional, but maybe).
The production was sloppy and chaotic (and this is a bigger problem - this isn't the only production with "issues").
Basically there are six-seven co-equal "production companies" with no one clearly in charge. The money comes from the efforts of Alec Baldwin (with one-third of it directly paid by him). He is a producer; he's the only producer on set (there was quite a bit in the police report about this and how Alec appeared to be "in charge" or whatever). One of the other "producers" is Alec's former agent (who, interestingly, transferred him to a junior partner in the past year or two). Another set of producers are a pair of brothers already convicted of felony fraud, in a deal they made to fund a different movie. Another set of investors were recruited via New Mexico's "funds/tax credits for investors" model, which I don't understand but it basically is the sticking point for the lack of "completion insurance." THOSE investors expected a return on their money - and they will not get it unless the film is completed. As long as the film is "in production," they can't really sue.
Now there's also Matt Hutchins (as Exec Producer) expecting to get money from the production (but we don't know the details as the case has been sealed).
All of this is shady and it's not just Alec doing it (although he is certainly a wheeler and a dealer). Other productions in the "low budget" category (determined by the unions involved) are also a problem. Nic Cage went public about HGR's malfeasance or whatever you want to call it on the set of
his vanity project/sketchily funded/no major studio involvement movie.
That was her only other credit as armorer. Alec thought this was going to be a fun party, in the Wild West, in the beautiful NM high country, with a lot of young people looking up to him and catering to his every need and him being The Star (for his last time, most likely). IMO. (Longterm follower of Alec's career, have read all his books - bought them used, btw, ha).
This happened because of the chaos and lack of overall direction. A couple of us have timidly put forth the opinion that, in our opinions, the Director (Joel Souza) would be in charge. That's what I was taught at film school, but things may have changed. To "no one is in charge"? What kind of business model is that?
Anyway, I do think that other, similar, "low budget" rated films have grokked this. But I doubt there will be major changes in how low budget films work. The idea of this one is that it would (maybe) go straight to streaming - with Hulu as their best chance. However, the real plan was that
everyone involved would get a credit (yay), a union membership (double yay) and, for Alec and the other producers, nearly infinite tax write-offs - totally making the income they used for costumes, travel, shoes, family vacations to visit the set, etc - tax free.
Sorry for the rant, but that's how this crazy business works (and influencer business is the same way). Nebulous product, no oversight, no labor laws invoked (child labor is common for influencers) AND personal gain. By using seperate LLC's for each project, the IRS apparently doesn't blink an eye.
IMO. Just totally on a tangent today.
In the end, @BettyP, your question is an excellent one. The answer seems to be "from the mysterious box" but where did THAT come from and who ordered it? Bullets don't just show up for free. The other answer is that persons on the set were bringing live rounds to shoot on their free time. The person who owns Bonanza Ranch does indeed allow target practice (and gun-related target practice/competitive events) on that property. That's legal in NM (as is renting guns).
One of the documents in the police file has a witness say that he basically looked/listened the other way when he saw HGR and AB go out to do some "practice" with the working guns. What was that practice? HGR knows.
Her trial might have answers - but I figure that she will settle out of court, as well, likely with sealed records.
IMO only. I have no clue why this case bothers me SO much. It's probably because I work somewhere with lots of film/TV students and alongside much more ethical colleagues, who try to teach the ethical ways of making movies.
