Alec Baldwin is back in the news, because he’s suing several members of the Rust crew due to the “immense grief, and the resulting emotional, physical, and financial toll, caused by the […] Cross-Defendants’ negligent conduct.”
Now, I wasn’t there, so it would be extremely irresponsible{{1}} of me to say what we’re all thinking. Instead, I want to talk to you about ways you can keep yourself safe on a set with guns.{{2}}
The Rules Are Simple
You’ve probably seen a thousand movies and TV shows with guns, yet the last time anyone can remember something like this happening was Brandon Lee’s tragic death on The Crow, nearly 30 years ago. The reason it’s so rare isn’t despite the fact that guns are dangerous, but because they are, and everyone knows it.
As we’ve said before, the two most basic rules of gun safety are easy to remember:
- Every gun is loaded.
- Never point a gun at anything or anyone you don’t plan to destroy.
On most sets, professional sets, these rules are understood and respected.
No one should ever touch a gun on set besides the armorer and the cast. And the cast should only hold it moments before the scene. This applies whether you have a gun loaded with blanks or dummy rounds, and even with fake guns. The rubber guns stunt people used are designed to look real, and should be treated as such, just in case.
Obviously, this includes you. As a general rule, if an AD or director asks you to do something, you do it. But if they ask you to grab the gun off the weapon’s truck and hand it to the actor, this is one of those times you should absolutely say no.
If you see anyone violating these rules, there’s only one thing to do…
Walk Away
I was working on a small indie a few years ago. It had, like, a 15 person crew, so I was a PA, producer’s assistant, craft services, and cast driver all in one. So, before the shoot, I got to sit in on the production meeting and take notes.
While we discussed a scene in which one character drew a gun on another, the director casually mentioned that he didn’t like the look of fake guns. Instead of using a plastic replica, he told us, he’d just bring his own, real gun to use.
I spoke up: “Then I’m going to be sick the day we shoot that scene.”
He laughed.
I didn’t.
Once he realized I wasn’t kidding, he tried to convince me there wasn’t a problem. He said it was perfectly safe, he wouldn’t even bring bullets. He ranted that I was just scared because I didn’t grow up around guns like he had.{{3}} He called me a pussy. He told me if I didn’t show up that day, I might as well not show up for the rest of the film.
I said, “Okay,” and stood up to leave.
The director, who had won some award for a short film he’d done the year previous, looked around at the others, like “Can you believe the audacity of this PA?”
In the lull, the producer finally had a chance to speak up. “You’re not bringing a gun to set. That’s the prop master’s job. And you’re not firing [TAPA]. She works for me.”
That shut the director up right quick. In fact, he didn’t speak to me for the rest of the shoot.
The toy gun looked fake as shit on set, by the way, but the DP knew how to light it properly. Add a little bit of sound effects in post, and no one watching at home could tell the difference.
But none of that matters. What matters is not getting shot. Some people say you have to suffer for your art, but not like that, and certainly not for a douche bag director who cares more about MuH rEaLiSm than the crew’s lives.
[[1]]And possibly legally actionable.[[1]]
[[2]]A set with guns, not keep yourself safe with guns. That’s a whole separate issue I won’t get into, either.[[2]]
[[3]]I’m not a gun person, but I have several friends who own guns for hunting and/or personal defense. After this incident, I asked them if they would be comfortable in this situation. Every single one, without exception, said they would never bring a weapon to set without an armorer dedicated to handling the gun.[[3]]
