Well-known filmmaker Alec Baldwin was filming the Western film Rust when he had a shooting accident, resulting in one death and one injury, shocking the industry.
Although the specific details have yet to be investigated, industry insiders say the live-fire accidents in gunfight scenes are the result of a combination of factors: insufficient budget, inexperienced or overworked staff, and non-compliance with rules and regulations.
"There are only one hundred to two hundred gunners in the entire prop world, which is the worst accident and the shame of the industry," said Merrick, former chairman of the props group at IATSE's 44th local chapter. The report pointed out that in order to reduce costs, the film did not employ union members, and the props department was handed over to non-union members in other states.
"Actors place heavy trust in the prop department, especially gunners and pyrotechnics, which are the two things that are most likely to lead to casualties," Merrick said, "We have careful rules and regulations, first of all, to ban the production of real bullets on the set, including the caravan for the actors to rest." The gunners checked the ammunition used in the shooting over and over again, working with the director, actors, and camera departments to seal off the entire filming scene. ”
Since the Lee Kwok-ho incident in 1993, people have been extremely concerned about the safety of guns on the shooting site, and the first deputy director will frequently intervene before the shooting of each scene to check the safety of guns. Members of the Props Guild are required to take a basic safety course in which firearm safety knowledge and codes of practice are taught.
"Trained gunners will lead by example to teach everyone to follow three guidelines for firearm operation, one is regarded as ready to be loaded; second, the muzzle of the gun is not pointed at anyone; third, do not put your finger on the trigger, unless you are 100% sure to shoot"; "The shooting scene will not use live ammunition, the film will use various means to deceive the audience, so that everyone thinks that there is live ammunition ready, as Hollywood did long before the advent of computer special effects." ”
Merrick said that the actors did not aim their guns at their opponents when filming, but pointed to a safety angle just in case. Moreover, when the actor shoots the gun battle scene, it is customary to use a prop gun to complete most of the shots, and the prop gun does not have the ability to fire unless it is transformed.
When it was time to fire, the director would pause the shooting, and the gunner would come forward to retrieve the prop gun, hand the actor a real gun with an empty package, and then shoot the shot; after shooting, the gunman immediately recycled the gun and replaced it with a prop gun. Prop management expert Michael Corrie explains, "This security procedure has a long history, guns are under strict control, and there will be no accidents. ”
Corrie argues that an accident on the set of Rust can only be explained by the abandonment of these rules. Both Merrick and Corrie believe that Baldwin doesn't need to check his gun before shooting: "The actor's attention is focused on dialogue and emotional expression, how to stand, how to interact with the opponent, the actor is full of these, they don't care if the set board will fall, whether the gun in their hand will sound." 」 ”
"Baldwin doesn't check the gun for bullets, that's the gunner's responsibility," Corrie guessed that an assistant director picked up a gun from a trolley, handed it to Baldwin without any inspection, and declared it safe— ultimately confirming that the gun could kill people at the cost of one death and one injury.