Alec Baldwin’s Rust Tragedy Gives Rise to a Petition Banning Live Weapons

The tragedy that occurred on the sets of Rust in Mexico has stirred up a meaningful discussion on the use of live weapons on sets.

Filmmaker Bandar Albuliwi started a petition on Change.org asking the Hollywood industry to ban the usage of real guns on set.

Albuliwi is a former classmate of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who was fatally shot dead by Alec Baldwin after he discharged a prop firearm. Even director Joel Souza, suffered injuries.

The filmmaker called out the various achievements of Hutchins, mentioning how AFI Conservatory graduates were always giving in their best and looking for their “big break” in the industry. Rust, according to Albuliwi, was going to be Hutchins’ big break.

She shot three feature films prior to Rust, but this would have been the movie that would have put her on the Hollywood map as a talented, female cinematographer working with an A-list celebrity.

Albuliwi

The filmmaker argued that there was no use of real guns in the 21st century, something a VFX artist also mentioned in his tweet.

CGI muzzle shots are included in the post-production of movies or shows, but a major reason creators don’t choose them is because of financial constraints.

Albuliwi also mentions the tragic case of Bruce Lee’s son Brandon Lee, who was similarly killed on the set of The Crow in 1994. He argues that the industry needs a change “before additional lives are lost.”

The petition currently sits at 32,004 signatures, implying the urgent need for Hollywood to ban live weapons. Until now, only The Rookie’s showrunner Alexi Hawley and The Boys’ Eric Kripke have announced that they will stop using live weapons on their sets from now on.

People still wait to see how many directors, creators, or showrunners stand up to this tragedy and honor Hutchins and others who have fallen victim to real weapons.

About Rust

Rust is a currently-suspended American movie written and directed by Joel Souza.

The movie is set in the 1880s and revolves around two “fugitives,” Harland Rust and his teenage grandson Lucas. Rust rescues Lucas from a death sentence for an accidental murder. The duo then run for their lives from a U.S. Marshall and a bounty hunter. 

Rust has been on an indefinite hiatus after a prop firearm accident killed the Head of Photography Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Souza. It stars Alec Baldwin, Jensen Ackles, Travis Fimmel, and Frances Fisher.

Source: Change.org