Alec Baldwin Will Be Charged With Involuntary Manslaughter in ‘Rust’ Killing

[Deschodt]

https://www.nytimes.com/2023/01/19/arts/rust-shooting-charges-alec-baldwin.html

Regardless of opinions on the man, that an actor can be charged for filming a scene where he shoots someone with a gun handed to him by the crew is bonkers to me... What was he supposed to do ? check the bullets ? an actor ? test fire once ? what if the good bullet was #2 ?

Man the gun standards are very strange in this country... in all kind of ways ! very lax in most ways and then this...

[masraum]

There was an extensive discussion of this and the rules around firearms in the TV/movie industry.

It seems there was a lot of cutting of corners of the usual safety measures among other things.

[Deschodt]

I mean if that's a possibility, they should just move to fake weapons and sound effects... it's probably not manageable anymore... Still, the actor ? I mean it's Alec baldwin - imagine if it was Ana de Armas or charlize Theron ? I don't think they'd charge her.

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

What was he supposed to do ?

Just from my armchair I would think Alec Baldwin the producer would have to accept responsibility.

[Bill Douglas]

The courts will decide what is fact and what is opinion. And form a complete picture of events and what actually happened.

there is lots of speak saying he wasn't meant to swing the gun around and pull the trigger at her. Maybe he was meant to. Also that stupid girl, the armourer, what she was up to in regard to letting guys do plinking at "beer cans" on set just for fun.

So we'll see what happens.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Deschodt

I mean if that's a possibility, they should just move to fake weapons and sound effects... it's probably not manageable anymore... Still, the actor ? I mean it's Alec baldwin - imagine if it was Ana de Armas or charlize Theron ? I don't think they'd charge her.

What if there are safety firearms rules that say "don't do this. don't do that." and in this case, he did "that" and that's what caused the issue?

[masraum]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

The courts will decide what is fact and what is opinion. And form a complete picture of events and what actually happened.

there is lots of speak saying he wasn't meant to swing the gun around and pull the trigger at her. Maybe he was meant to. Also that stupid girl, the armourer, what she was up to in regard to letting guys do plinking at "beer cans" on set just for fun.

So we'll see what happens.

I think that Craig had said that in the movie industry, the guns should never be fired with people "down-range." If there's a time when the gun is pointed at a camera and fired, the cameras are started and then the behind the scenes folks move before the firearm is fired.

[masraum]

Lots and LOTS of good reading here. At least one, and maybe a few folks in the industry chime in with first hand knowledge of how firearm safety measures exist and are followed in the industry.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/off-topic-discussions/1104960-how-does-happen-movie-set-death.html

[pwd72s]

Originally Posted by Bill Douglas

The courts will decide what is fact and what is opinion. And form a complete picture of events and what actually happened.

there is lots of speak saying he wasn't meant to swing the gun around and pull the trigger at her. Maybe he was meant to. Also that stupid girl, the armourer, what she was up to in regard to letting guys do plinking at "beer cans" on set just for fun.

So we'll see what happens.

Bingo. Highly unlikely he'll do any jail time.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by pwd72s

Bingo. Highly unlikely he'll do any jail time.

Yep, but still sucks big time to be him on many, many levels.

[Arizona_928]

Chewbacca defense.

If the trigger wasn't pulled...

[Baz]

[Steve Carlton]

I don't think Baldwin is guilty of anything as an actor, but as a producer, he could certainly be responsible. I don't know what his actual responsibilities were on Rust as a producer. The court can sort that out. There's a different protocol on movie sets vs "real life," and many here don't want to accept that. Again, for the courts to decide.

I think the armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed is worthless and the most responsible, along with David Halls, who broke set protocol and handed Baldwin the pistol, saying it was cold. He took a plea deal. In my opinion, he and Reed are by far the most responsible.

[Deschodt]

i did not consider the producer angle, well put...

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Steve Carlton

I don't think Baldwin is guilty of anything as an actor, but as a producer, he could certainly be responsible.

I guess there is some sort of caste system here. An unnamed member says the same MF thing in post #4 yet receives no accolades.

I don't think he's pissed off but SOAMFB

Oh wait. California mafia. I get it.

[Sooner or later]

Originally Posted by Bob Kontak

Just from my armchair I would think Alec Baldwin the producer would have to accept responsibility.

Well done!
Brilliant!
Somebody gets it!

[KFC911]

LOL ....

Gotta agree with ya Steve...

That makes two of us that see it that way !

[Bob Kontak]

Originally Posted by Sooner or later

Well done!
Brilliant!
Somebody gets it!

That's what I'm talking about! My ego has been vindicated.

[masraum]

Originally Posted by KC911

LOL ....

Gotta agree with ya Steve...

That makes two of us that see it that way !

That guy's a genius. It's too bad/weird that no one thought to say that before him!

[craigster59]

Originally Posted by masraum

I think that Craig had said that in the movie industry, the guns should never be fired with people "down-range." If there's a time when the gun is pointed at a camera and fired, the cameras are started and then the behind the scenes folks move before the firearm is fired.

The firearm is either pointed away from the camera 20-30 degrees either side or if directly at camera you would use a remote to pull focus and pan up/down, side to side.

A lot of Cinematographers have their own "camera package" that they bring along and are paid a fee for. When the crew walked off the production I figure someone took the remote package with them.

It sounded like the shot being setup was looking down the barrel of the gun. Whether a blank was going to be fired during the scene I don't know but this trial and the outcome is going to change the usage and handling of firearms on set. I can guarantee that.