Rust Never Sleeps

 

The tragic accidental shooting on the set of the western film RUST that resulted in the death of cinematographer Haylna Hutchins and wounding direct Joel Souza has the whole entertainment world buzzing at the moment as well as anyone with a social media account and an agenda. I guess that means me.

Alec Baldwin, pulling double duty as star and producer of said western, is the poor sap that pulled the trigger of a prop gun carrying a live round (!) killing the even more unfortunate Ms. Hutchins. What happened on the set that fateful day seems to be the result of gross (here's that word again) systemic problems in the entertainment industry that involve unsafe working conditions.

Had it been anyone else that isn't as volatile a presence, online and off, as Baldwin has been in recent years, the focus would remain on the real issues surrounding this tragedy. As John Belushi used to say, "But, no...!!!!" Baldwin is being attacked by the Right, demanding his head in the same way Kathy Griffin wanted Trump's in retaliation for being a poster boy for the Hollywood Elite. They are absolutely salivating at the thought of taking Al down and out, naturally not giving two shits that someone had to die for them to get their oh so moral victory. Every right wing shill in the land is standing in line at the Alec Baldwin dunk tank, waiting their turn with balls in hands, with the exception of their very own. But it's not as if he hasn't had a target on his back since Day One. In fact, he put it there himself. Ye reap what ye sow especially on Twitter.

And he will have more to answer for as a producer on this ill-fated film of his. So guess what, Republican hacks? He may never bounce back from this. The only working Baldwin will probably be your boy Stephen and won't you be glad? Coming soon: BIO-DOME 2! Someone probably a bit relieved to be out of the news cycle for now: Dave Chappelle. That is, unless Hannah Gadsby's packin' heat. 

This horrible occurrence on a movie set reminded me of a low budget action film I worked on as a second assistant director in the Eighties. During the first production meeting when the crew all introduced themselves, I discovered that the physical special effects would be handled by Pat Patterson, an old pro who worked on BONNIE AN CLYDE, including the iconic death scene of the notorious bank robbers. Why he was attached to this ultra low budget shoot was unknown to me except maybe he just needed the money. Anyway, the director of this opus (his first feature) announced to one and all that a sequence involving the hero and a gang of thugs would be shot at an old house set for demolition. They would be using real shotguns with live ammo to tear the place apart because they could and, gee, wouldn't it look cool? This John Landis wannabe got the shock of his life when Pat Patterson told him in no uncertain terms that there was no way in hell that would ever occur on any film he was involved with and if it did, he would walk right out the door then and there even though he had just arrived. Needless to say, it didn't happen. The scene was reworked in which I played one of the thugs in questions wielding one of the shotguns in question. No live rounds were fired, but like the rest of the weapons on the set, were real.

Later on, I was pulled into another scene at the last second and directed to fire a pistol toward the camera, which I did on the call of "Action". Instantly I was dressed down by the director because this had only been a rehearsal, info I could have used since everyone in the scene was under the same impression. And, since I fired toward camera, it understandably scared the holy shit out of the cinematographer. Quite the coincidence, eh, wot? I was pulled from the scene. 

That movie literally dodged a bullet there. RUST did not. More people need to speak out against this and many other hazards on movie and TV locations. A strike is looming as it is and this issue is going to be front and center as it should. Hollywood should quit patting itself on the back for its wonderful progressive advances that serve to make itself look good while standing on the backs of those working stiffs who keep the ball of wax from melting on a daily basis. Many issues are important, yes, but when lives are involved, every precaution should be taken and those responsible for the gross negligence of the sort that befell Halyna Hutchins should be held accountable to the full extent of the law.

Once Alec Baldwin recovers from the shock of it all, hopefully he will become the advocate for change he should been all along instead of the preening popinjay he became. Too bad change has to come at such a high price.