Alec Baldwin fired prop gun, killing 1 on movie set, Oct 2021 #3

[jjenny]

“Gutierrez told police she “checked the ‘dummies’ and ensured they were not ‘hot rounds,'” the affidavits said”

'Rust' AD David Halls breaks silence on Alec Baldwin shooting

She also said there was no live ammo on set.

 

[everybodhi]

Well, this is just getting ridiculous.

Incredible that there's no film of this, either. (Not that I don't believe it, but what a stinker that there isn't.)

There's been speculation that phones would be recording but in my experience in the music industry phones are absolutely not allowed during rehearsals and recordings to protect from leaks, unreleased music is very closely guarded by creators.
Surely movies also don't want leaked footage sold to the Daily Mail before a film is released.
I know there is one photo from the rehearsal scene released since the shooting but that was probably taken by someone authorized who will protect it, like a producer.

 

[steeltowngirl]

Gems from the video interview with Halls’ attorney:

(Paraphrasing) One of the problems the witnesses had was that the women were all in their twenties. So, basically the witnesses don’t know if the armourer or the assistant brought the gun. Me: puzzled >>Wait? Was there an assistant? Women all look alike?

Halls’ attorney was directly asked by reporter:
“Did your client hand the gun to AB?”
Attorney’s answer: “You are twisting the facts.”

Two witness versions:
- Crew says Armourer handed to AB, AB put in holster, adjusted holster, handed back to Halls, who then gave back to AB.

- Armourer brought in gun, Halls checked, someone else? checked. The handoff from Halls to AB was a “pass through”.

Halls’ attorney when asked a question: “I wasn’t there.”

Halls did not load, point, pull trigger. (Me: >>Cue the old Shaggy song ‘It Wasn’t Me’)

 

[Luna20]

DM captions a photo “her real name is Hillary”

Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria step out for a coffee run in small-town Vermont | Daily Mail Online

 

[everybodhi]

Not sure. Hall's attorney introduced 2 more people to the event. If you ask me he needs to fire her immediately. Her interview was a hot mess.

There's a big difference in the way the AD and armorer's attorneys are handling this compared to AB's international white shoe firm

 

[jjenny]

What assistant? HRG didn't have an assistant. Wasn't she complaining (through her lawyers) that she was asked to do two jobs, armorer and assistant to prop master. So HRG was an armorer and an assistant (to propmaster).

 

[branmuffin]

I think you have some facts wrong. As you can see from the pictures you have posted, blanks have NO projectile. They do have gunpowder, a little packing, and a primer. A dummy round has a projectile, no powder and only a false primer or no primer. Many dummy rounds have a hole drilled in the side.

I have not read anywhere the replica gun was anything other than a replica, can you post some links that say it could be opened and the cylinder be viewed entirely? I don't think that is correct because it would not be a true replica then, and I understand that it is.

The Pietta replica seized by LE was a live fire weapon. Here's a YT video, a bit hokey, but the guy really explains the mechanics of the gun including limitations and prospective safety issues.

 

[katydid23]

Yes. I’ve been considering someone could have intentionally put the bullet in there to get someone fired, but not ever actually thinking in their wildest dreams that it would completely be overlooked through the multiple safety checks before it was put in the hands of the actor? It could have been done to prove point but not to actually kill anyone. It’s possible.

Maybe. But that is pretty extreme. I am leaning more towards the 'target practice' scenario.

Apparently there are some crew members who are sleeping there on the set every night. And we know there is alcohol. And there was a fanny pack with live ammo found on the set. And many rumours about the crew target practicing at night.

So I think it is possible that a few members were drinking and shooting at cans outside at night. When done they have to put everything back in place. It is sadly possible that a live round could have been overlooked when they put the weapons back.

They say that HG locked the guns up at night. I am not sure how reliable she was. But even so, there are usually duplicate keys kept on premises. And anyone who slept there last night could have known where and how to get to them.

Movie sets on location are kind of like big sororities/fraternities on a big vacation. Everyone wants to blow off steam and have fun during off hours because of the daily stress and grind.

 

[Luna20]

Rust prop person shot herself in foot with blank round in accidental discharge before Alec Baldwin | Daily Mail Online

 

[Luna20]

Not sure. Hall's attorney introduced 2 more people to the event. If you ask me he needs to fire her immediately. Her interview was a hot mess.

Who are the 2 people added?

 

[mickey2942]

She is supposed to be an expert. But I doubt she is actually one. She is very green-I am assuming she got hired because her father is experienced armorer. But that doesn't make her one. It sounds like it wasn't that hard to figure that out. Maybe that's why they put AD in charge of checking her handywork? My understanding AD is ultimately responsible for safety on the set. He is supposed to call safety meetings and so on.

You do know what the "code" is for "safety meetings"? 420 time.

 

[mickey2942]

There's a big difference in the way the AD and armorer's attorneys are handling this compared to AB's international white shoe firm

AB has had that firm on Speed Dial for over 20 years.

 

[jjenny]

Rust prop person shot herself in foot with blank round in accidental discharge before Alec Baldwin | Daily Mail Online

It appears that both of them (propmaster and armorer) were young and un-experienced. I am guessing that when AD's lawyer is talking about an assistant, she is talking about propmaster (SZ) and HGR (who was propmaster's assistant).

 

[Luna20]

AB has had that firm on Speed Dial for over 20 years.

What does white shoe firm mean?

 

[branmuffin]

Maybe. But that is pretty extreme. I am leaning more towards the 'target practice' scenario.

Apparently there are some crew members who are sleeping there on the set every night. And we know there is alcohol. And there was a fanny pack with live ammo found on the set. And many rumours about the crew target practicing at night.

So I think it is possible that a few members were drinking and shooting at cans outside at night. When done they have to put everything back in place. It is sadly possible that a live round could have been overlooked when they put the weapons back.

They say that HG locked the guns up at night. I am not sure how reliable she was. But even so, there are usually duplicate keys kept on premises. And anyone who slept there last night could have known where and how to get to them.

Movie sets on location are kind of like big sororities/fraternities on a big vacation. Everyone wants to blow off steam and have fun during off hours because of the daily stress and grind.

That seems to be the likeliest circumstance. We know there were three prop guns inventoried by LE but I wonder if other crew members brought weapons onto the set? HGR seems young and impressionable and based on some of the images she has released holding weapons, a bit of a show boater. As the armourer I wonder if she had keys to the truck where the prop guns were kept.

 

[jjenny]

Crew members aren't supposed to bring weapons onto the set. But there were clearly more guns than just 3. It's a Western, and there were other scenes with multiple people using guns.

 

[mickey2942]

What does white shoe firm mean?

White-shoe firm - Wikipedia

Pretty much, they cost quite a bit more than what HGR and DH can afford. But, I believe that in this case, you get what you pay for.

 

[Luna20]

White-shoe firm - Wikipedia

Pretty much, they cost quite a bit more than what HGR and DH can afford. But, I believe that in this case, you get what you pay for.

Thanks. He’s going to need it. There is volumes of documented info about everything that was wrong with the production. That resignation email ironically delivered the day before the tragedy. The only favorable comment is from him “well oiled.”

 

[MikeF]

Halls' lawyer reasoning. Hmm... Isn't assistant director is charge of safety on the set?

"What I can tell you is that expecting an assistant director to check a firearm is like telling the assistant director to check the camera angle or telling the assistant director to check sound or lighting," Torraco said. "That’s not the assistant director’s job. If he chooses to check the firearm because he wants to make sure that everyone is safe, he can do that.""
'Fast and loose': 'Rust' crew member quit over lack of safety day before fatal accident (nbcnews.com)

Except Souza said this very early on?--

Souza explained that the guns used on set were usually checked by the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, before being checked again by Dave Halls, the assistant director.

Alec Baldwin shooting: director's affidavit details five key moments on set

So imo, due to HGR saying she had both directly handed Baldwin the guns, and sometimes Hall did, that means, he was either also qualified or it didn't matter.

 

[mickey2942]

"Rust" actor Jensen Ackles spoke of gun safety on set days before shooting

Oh Boy! This is a "Smoking Gun". It doesn't sound good for HGR, or the entire production company/ management team in terms of safety protocol and firearms instruction. Or rather, lack thereof.