Santa Fe, New Mexico – During a recent episode of “Club Random with Bill Maher” podcast, renowned director Quentin Tarantino weighed in on the tragic shooting incident on the set of the movie “Rust”, where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins lost her life. Tarantino suggested that actor Alec Baldwin bears a portion of responsibility for the unfortunate events that transpired during the production.
In response to Maher’s question about Baldwin’s accountability in the shooting, Tarantino pointed out that while the armorer bears the majority of responsibility for handling the gun on set, the actor also holds a certain level of responsibility. He emphasized that actors are partners in ensuring safety when firearms are involved in filming scenes.
The incident occurred on October 21, 2021, during a rehearsal on the set of the Western drama in New Mexico, leading to the death of Hutchins and the injury of director Joel Souza. Baldwin was subsequently charged with involuntary manslaughter. However, the case was dismissed with prejudice by a judge in July due to evidence that had been allegedly concealed by prosecutors.
Following the tragedy, the armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison. Tarantino explained the established protocol for dealing with firearms on set, emphasizing the importance of due diligence and taking necessary precautions to ensure safety.
The director highlighted the responsibility of actors to address any issues with props during filming, underscoring the importance of communication and caution when handling guns on set. The incident brought sharp focus to the safety procedures and protocols in place on movie sets, prompting discussions within the industry about improving safety measures.
Regarding Maher’s suggestion about adding gun effects in post-production, Tarantino expressed his preference for the authenticity of shooting blanks on set to produce real visual effects, rather than incorporating them in post-production. The conversation surrounding the “Rust” shooting has raised important questions about safety standards and precautions in Hollywood’s filmmaking industry.