‘Why are we still doing this?’ Hollywood calls for ban on real guns on set after Alec Baldwin kills cinematographer
Hollywood stars and crew members came together to call for a ban on real guns on set after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was accidentally shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during the production of ‘Rust’ this week.
A petition calling on Hollywood to “ban the use of real firearms on film sets” received nearly 10,000 signatures following the incident, and support from actor Xander Berkeley, actress Tara Platt, and cinematographer Eben Bolter.
Sponsor Hollywood: It’s time to create "Halyna's Law", which will ban the use of real firearms on film production sets and create a safe working environment for everyone involved. (#addtheflashandbanginpost#safetyfirst ) https://t.co/AuoFQvWTR3
— Xander Berkeley (@xanderberkeley) October 22, 2021
Just signed this petition to try and bring about change in light of the devastating events yesterday. No one should be using real guns on sets. No husband should have to go on without his wife or kid without a mother because of a gun on a set. https://t.co/6q17RwJdbe
— tara platt (@taraplatt) October 22, 2021
Sign the petition to remove real guns from sets permanently. We’re making stories, not documentaries: https://t.co/CJpodOoWnt
— Eben Bolter BSC (@ebenbolter) October 22, 2021
“There’s no reason to have guns loaded with blanks or anything on set anymore. Should just be fully outlawed. There’s computers now,” tweeted Craig Zobel, who directed the controversial 2020 political horror movie ‘The Hunt’, and episodes of ‘Westworld’ and ‘The Leftovers’.
Zobel revealed that the gunshot effects in his show ‘Mare of Easttown’ “are all digital,” and added that though viewers “can probably tell” the difference, it doesn’t matter when “it’s an unnecessary risk.”
“I often get pushback when I demand completely disabled, non-firing weapons on set, but this is why,” director Megan Griffiths weighed in. “Mistakes happen, and when they involve guns, mistakes kill. No gun ever needs to fire on set. Muzzle flashes are the easiest & cheapest visual effect. Why are we still doing this?”
‘Star Wars: The Last Jedi’ director Rian Johnson also expressed support for a digital replacement of live gun effects, while ‘Straight Outta Compton’ star O’Shea Jackson Jr. said, “Things are gonna change after this tragedy.”
Hutchins was killed on Thursday after Baldwin fired a prop gun at her, which he was reportedly told by a director was safe to use. Hutchins was killed and director Joel Souza was hospitalized with injuries.
In a statement following the incident, Baldwin said his heart was “broken” and that he was “fully cooperating with the police investigation.”
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