Alec Baldwin has been indicted for involuntary manslaughter last week for the shooting of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Baldwin, who was also the co-producer and lead actor on Rust, drew back the hammer of the prop gun that held live ammo to allegedly play a scene. Hutchins was killed in the incident, and the film’s director Joel Souza was also injured. The actor was initially charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charges were dismissed in April after evidence suggested the gun could have been modified, potentially causing malfunction.
The full statement from SAG-AFTRA defends Baldwin and states that “an actor’s job is not to be a firearms or weapons expert” and “performers train to perform, and they are not required or expected to be experts on guns or experienced in their use.” Firearms are provided for use on set under the guidance of qualified professionals who oversee their use and handling in every aspect. The guidelines require “inspecting the firearm and barrel before and after every firing sequence,” and “checking all firearms before each use.”
The film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was charged in January 2023 with evidence tampering and two counts of involuntary manslaughter and is scheduled to appear in court on February 21, 2024. Special prosecutors in New Mexico concluded that the weapon analysis indicated that it couldn’t have been fired without the trigger being pulled. Attorneys for Baldwin have said that they look forward to their day in court.
The union is emphasizing that performers are not responsible for the safety of prop guns and that it is the responsibility of qualified professionals to manage the use of firearms and ensure their safe handling. The incident has drawn attention to the use of prop guns on sets and incidents that have previously occurred in the industry. Although the use of prop guns for scenes requiring simulated gunfire is common practice in the entertainment industry, the safety of these replicas has now been brought into question
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