Halyna Hutchins Shot With Prop Gun - Alec Baldwin indicted & Hannah Gutierrez-Reed charged, 2021 #6

[Marantz4250b]

Where is it verified that AB refused to participate in gun safety training please?

Alec Baldwin skipped firearm safety sessions on set of Rust, prosecutors claim

“Baldwin’s deviation from known standards, practices and protocol directly caused the fatal death of Hutchins,” says the DA special investigator in a court filing

www.independent.co.uk

 

[fridaybaker]

I don't think that that is a reasonable or responsible attitude to take where firearms are concerned. There is literally no other industry where firearms are used where you take the word of another that its safe. None. It's a real firearm he was using so it could always be loaded. It's your responsibility to make sure its safe.

As a simple analogy; if you are driving a truck commercially and your transport manager says the truck is fine to drive but it's actually got bald tyres which you didn't check and those tyres result in an accident in which someone dies then the accident, and their death, is on you. Legally you caused it. Whether it's on your TM as well is a separate issue but it's you who were driving and the law is very clear on that. The same is true of firearms - if you don't check it and someone gets shot then it's on you.

He could indeed say that but he can't claim not to know that firearms accidents happen on movie sets and people have died because of them. He's been working in the industry for "X" years so will have heard of Brandon Lee (everyone in Hollywood has heard of Brandon Lee) or John Hexum. Both of those people died because of cost cutting and/or not checking things properly.

Good grief. I'm not an actor nor do I generally use firearms. I do know, though, that if I point a gun at someone, it's my responsibility to make sure it's not loaded. Period.

 

[Marantz4250b]

I don't remember where I thought I read this, but I seem to recall that in the report, the Sherriff's office saying that they were never able to substantiate those claims. Does anyone else remember that

I'm sure that's correct. If they thought it happened then they would have asked her and from her interview videos I don't think they ever did.

The thing that points against it is that live rounds were found in a variety of places, some were in gun belts, some on carts and suchlike. I'd wonder how they because so well distributed over quite a short time period of maybe a few days.

 

[fridaybaker]

If actors started taking 'personal responsibility' for every action, where would it start and stop?

Why on earth would an actor imagine there's live rounds present on a movie set using prop guns (albeit 'real' guns)?

If they were going to start that, where would this checking ever end? Oh can I just check this platform is correctly assembled before I stand on it? Can I just check this fake prop food I'm eating is safe to chew? Can I just check the hair and make up team aren't using toxic products, can I check the lighting isn't set too high and damaging my eyes, can I check the electrics are complying and nobody's going to get a shock. Or... do they trust their team to be professional in their trades?

Seriously? I'm not sure if you're joking here, but in case you're not: Platforms and food and lighting, etc., aren't specific items meant to maim and kill. The only purpose of a gun is to harm whatever, whoever, is on the "business end" of it.

It IS anyone's responsibility, not just an actor's, to make sure that when they aim a gun at someone, it's not loaded. Unless, of course, they intend to maim or kill. Then, have at it.

 

[mickey2942]

Good grief. I'm not an actor nor do I generally use firearms. I do know, though, that if I point a gun at someone, it's my responsibility to make sure it's not loaded. Period.

Actually, it doesn't surprise me at all. The rich are different. A good example is this article below:

Paris Hilton was “too scared” to change son’s diaper for a month

Hilton admits she’s ‘scared’ to change son’s diaper in Peacock reality series, ‘Paris in Love’

www.independent.co.uk

Paris Hilton didn't give birth to her baby, or even change it's diaper for over a month?! Can any other Mother say this?!

Apparently, rich people think all they have to do is show up. Doesn't surprise me at all the AB expected everyone to do everything for him. He doesn't "need" to check if a gun is safe, he "pays" people to do that.

 

[fridaybaker]

HGR is scheduled for trial in February.

‘Rust’ Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed Wants Ex’s Death Excluded From Trial

The criminal case against “Rust” armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed continues to take shape ahead of her February 2024 trial. In January 2023, the rookie armorer was charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter in connection with the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who passed away on...

www.yahoo.com

Interesting reading on the background of HGR! Methinks she was a disaster waiting to happen.

 

[Marantz4250b]

When it comes to 'the industry' nobody's going to say a word about anything IMO.

Hollywood people traditionally only ever speak well of one another in public even if they hate each other's guts and they never divulge the truth of difficulties on set. That's just how it is. If you can't keep everyone's secrets, you'd never work again.

In this case, this entire production sounds like a totally unprofessional nightmare from beginning to end. The fact that some crew readily complained about the working conditions, unreasonable long hours, and lack of appropriate accommodation would be the tip of the ice-berg.

JMO MOO

This movie had mass resignations only the day before this incident on safety practices among other issues. People were very vocal about this and have been since. There was no element of protecting others or the industry on general.

If people were shooting guns in the desert in their lunch break we'd definitely know about it!

 

[Marantz4250b]

Then why was Baldwin apparently supposed to have firearm training on this movie? I've read that he was supposed to go to that. Not sure if he attended.

Yes, and that firearm training was with the armourer Hanna Reed. He allegedly didn't do it.

 

[Marantz4250b]

Would it not depend on how you define 'firearm training'?

ie, handling firearms health & safety certificates -or- training actors what shooting old fashion guns authentically looks like?

It was instruction on the safe use of the specific firearms he was to be using given to him by HR. He allegedly did not attend.

That is one of the specific roles that the armourer is there for.

 

[zucchinibread]

Good grief. I'm not an actor nor do I generally use firearms. I do know, though, that if I point a gun at someone, it's my responsibility to make sure it's not loaded. Period.

You're actually wrong. If actors were seriously responsible for that, nobody would be an actor. It is the actors responsibility to receive the weapon and do what they're told with it. Their responsibility stops there, contractually and legally in ALL acting unions.

I think one thing we're forgetting at the end of the day is that this gun was loaded with a real bullet... Why? Why was a real bullet anywhere near this film set? Who put it there? It wasn't Alec Baldwin because it was not his responsibility to load the weapon. It was obviously Hannah. Where did she get this bullet?

 

[zucchinibread]

I don't think that that is a reasonable or responsible attitude to take where firearms are concerned. There is literally no other industry where firearms are used where you take the word of another that its safe. None. It's a real firearm he was using so it could always be loaded. It's your responsibility to make sure its safe.

As a simple analogy; if you are driving a truck commercially and your transport manager says the truck is fine to drive but it's actually got bald tyres which you didn't check and those tyres result in an accident in which someone dies then the accident, and their death, is on you. Legally you caused it. Whether it's on your TM as well is a separate issue but it's you who were driving and the law is very clear on that. The same is true of firearms - if you don't check it and someone gets shot then it's on you.

He could indeed say that but he can't claim not to know that firearms accidents happen on movie sets and people have died because of them. He's been working in the industry for "X" years so will have heard of Brandon Lee (everyone in Hollywood has heard of Brandon Lee) or John Hexum. Both of those people died because of cost cutting and/or not checking things properly.

However, in the entertainment industry, that IS industry standard. This is how this industry works. You can have an opinion about what the actors responsibility is with a firearm, but at the end of the day, there is a professional on set who is responsible for checking the weapon and it IS NOT THE ACTOR.

 

[zucchinibread]

Actually, it doesn't surprise me at all. The rich are different. A good example is this article below:

Paris Hilton was “too scared” to change son’s diaper for a month

Hilton admits she’s ‘scared’ to change son’s diaper in Peacock reality series, ‘Paris in Love’

www.independent.co.uk

Paris Hilton didn't give birth to her baby, or even change it's diaper for over a month?! Can any other Mother say this?!

Apparently, rich people think all they have to do is show up. Doesn't surprise me at all the AB expected everyone to do everything for him. He doesn't "need" to check if a gun is safe, he "pays" people to do that.

This is not a "rich people" problem. I work professionally in this industry and even theatre actors who make less than 50k a year have the responsibility of showing up on set and doing what they're told. It is NEVER an actor's responsibility to check the weapon. EVER.

 

[Marantz4250b]

Misfires on the Rust Set?
Here are quotes from NM st. agency's "Summary of Investigation" about the "misfires" allegations.
Anyone familiar w firearms below? Please comment about PLAUSIBILITY of these explanations given?

(Background, from ¶ 9... The Armorer was Hannah Gutierrez-Reed; her immediate supervisor was Sarah Zachary, Props Master.)
¶"15. On October 16, 2021, there were two firearms misfires on the Rust set. In the first instance, Sarah Zachary inadvertently fired a blank round as she finished loading a .45 caliber revolver that was aimed at the ground. To return the hammer to the closed position and make the firearm safe, the operator must hold the hammer and depress the trigger, guiding the hammer to the closed position deliberately. In the
case of the first misfire, the hammer slipped from Ms. Zachary’s thumb or fingers, likely resulting in the firing pin on the hammer striking the primer which ignited the powder, firing the blank round."

¶ "16. The second misfire on October 16, 2021, involved Blake Teixiera, Stunt Double for Alec Baldwin, and a lever action rifle of unknown make and model. It is not known how the misfire happened, as according to some statements he was alone in “the cabin”, and others state he was not alone. Hannah Gutierrez-Reed stated that Blake Teixiera’s only comment was “it just went off.” Hannah Gutierrez-Reed
described that it is probable the rifle fired by being placed onto the ground too roughly."

Not clear to me how close these two events happened to where film shooting or rehearsals were taking place. Could either one have resulted in injuring or killing ppl say, 100, 250 or more yards away?

IIUC management of the production was promptly made aware of these two events.

____________________________________
* NM Occupational Health and Safety Bureau
"SUMMARY OF INVESTIGATION"
"FINDINGS"

https://www.env.nm.gov/occupational_health_safety/wp-content/uploads/sites/12/2022/04/2022-04-19-NM-OSHA-Rust-Summary-of-Investigation.pdf

I hate that they misuse the word "misfire". They weren't. A misfire is a failure to fire.

In relation to these; the first, imo, demonstrates proper gun handling. No, it shouldn't have discharged but it was pointing towards the ground (a safe direction) at the time. That is one of the central points of gun safety - it's multi-layered so that is a gun does go off then the risk of injuring someone is negated. There is nothing improper that I can see from this account.

The second; not really enough info to comment, especially not knowing the model of the rifle. It seems unlikely that dropping it would cause it to go off but, as I say, without knowing what the gun was or more about the incident it's impossible to say.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Seriously? I'm not sure if you're joking here, but in case you're not: Platforms and food and lighting, etc., aren't specific items meant to maim and kill. The only purpose of a gun is to harm whatever, whoever, is on the "business end" of it.

It IS anyone's responsibility, not just an actor's, to make sure that when they aim a gun at someone, it's not loaded. Unless, of course, they intend to maim or kill. Then, have at it.

I wasn't joking but sincere. I live in the UK, we don't 'do' guns over here, period. Except far out criminals and military police / SWAT etc.

So, anything to do with guns I find shocking as heck -but- seems to me if I were an actor and someone said here's your stage prop real-fake gun so your script says fire it towards the camera, well the LAST think I'd think is that hmmm but WHAT IF some lunatic on this set has put a *real* bullet in it?

I think one would have to have quite a paranoid and suspicious personality to think like that and then everything would be a potential death trap (which a lot of things are - collapsing rigging kills people, electrics kill people, malfunctioning equipment or vehicles kill people).

If I were AB I'd be wondering if someone didn't set me up for this awful event. Esp since he's part of the anti gun lobby from what I understand. If I were him I'd be tearing my hair out and hiring my own detectives and maybe he is.

JMO MOO

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

DBM

 

[zucchinibread]

If I were AB I'd be wondering if someone didn't set me up for this awful event. Esp since he's part of the anti gun lobby from what I understand. If I were him I'd be tearing my hair out and hiring my own detectives and maybe he is.

This is it, exactly. Someone placed a bullet in that gun knowing that it wasn't a blank. And it wasn't Alec, obviously.

 

[Observe_dont_Absorb]

Interesting reading on the background of HGR! Methinks she was a disaster waiting to happen.

She's young and foolish it seems JMO. Usually in life we are protected from less than competent youngsters being able to kill us by all sorts of protocols and systems... seems there was a serious failing here. I feel sorry for her that she has to live with this for the rest of her life and possibly brought shame on her family name.

JMO MOO

 

[Marantz4250b]

However, in the entertainment industry, that IS industry standard. This is how this industry works. You can have an opinion about what the actors responsibility is with a firearm, but at the end of the day, there is a professional on set who is responsible for checking the weapon and it IS NOT THE ACTOR.

Then it should NOT BE. One specific industry cannot claim to have a lower level of duty of care just because it decides that it's "special". That's literally nuts!

What about if the heavy good vehicle industry decides that it's drivers are so pressured that they don't have to verify the safety of the vehicles they are operating because their on-time operation is to "vital" for the nation as a whole? So, car drivers do but HGV drivers don't and they've decided this independently.

Sorry, but if you pick up a gun then you are subject to the same safety standards as everyone else who picks up a gun regardless of your reason for picking it up. If you don't like that then don't act with guns.

 

[Marantz4250b]

This is not a "rich people" problem. I work professionally in this industry and even theatre actors who make less than 50k a year have the responsibility of showing up on set and doing what they're told. It is NEVER an actor's responsibility to check the weapon. EVER.

I suspect that Alec Baldwin may be finding out from the court that that is not a correct interpretation of the law.

 

[zucchinibread]

I suspect that Alec Baldwin may be finding out from the court that that is not a correct interpretation of the law.

You suspect, but you obviously do not know or understand actor contracts.

I went to the top drama school *in the world* for stage/production management (which, in film & tv, is Assisting Directing). I graduated with my Master of Fine Arts. It’s a terminal degree (ie, highest available in the field) from an Ivy League institution. I walked with doctoral robes to signify the level of expertise and training provided to me. I have extensive training not only in fight choreography and firearm safety for theatre, film & tv, but also in reading and interpreting actor contracts. I now also teach at a different Ivy League institution.

Alec may hold some responsibility as a producer when it all shakes out, but not as the actor handling the weapon.