cross-posted from: https://lemmy.world/post/10928093
Grand jury in New Mexico charged the actor for a shooting on Rust set that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Actor Alec Baldwin is facing a new involuntary manslaughter charge over the 2021 fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of the movie Rust.
A Santa Fe, New Mexico, grand jury indicted Baldwin on Friday, months after prosecutors had dismissed the same criminal charge against him.
During an October 2021 rehearsal on the set of Rust, a western drama, Baldwin was pointing a gun at cinematographer Halyna Hutchins when it went off, fatally striking her and wounding Joel Souza, the film’s director.
Baldwin, a co-producer and star of the film, has said he did not pull the trigger, but pulled back the hammer of the gun before it fired.
Last April, special prosecutors dismissed the involuntary manslaughter charge against Baldwin, saying the firearm might have been modified prior to the shooting and malfunctioned and that forensic analysis was warranted. But in August, prosecutors said they were considering re-filing the charges after a new analysis of the weapon was completed.
I’m an actor, with some combat experience (99.9% swords, a couple of fake gun shots, but they were stage not film).
The idea of this happening is terrifying to me, and makes me want to never do firearms choreo. However, whether sword or firearm, if i injured someone during choreo I would know it’s my fault. I am supposed to always be able to control what I’m doing and if I’m advancing and cutting at their head, even if they forgot to parry or dodge my blade shouldn’t hit their head. If it does - my fault. Its drilled into us.
Having not done firearm choreo on film myself I can’t speak to it, but really there should be no reason to point a live gun (even w/ blanks) at someone, you can set spikes (floor marks) to cheat the angle (make it look like you’re standing opposite but you’re offset) and then you a tape measure to ensure if the gun discharges nothings in the line of fire.
Actors can spend hours with an intimacy coordinator working out a kiss, or with a dialect coach working on an accent, or stunt coordinator working out falling down some stairs, it shouldn’t be different for working with a deadly weapon.
This would be the equivalent of the blade flying off the hilt of your sword and hitting someone off scene. Would that still be your fault?