Entertainment
Petition to ban real guns on film sets passes 60,000 signatures after Halyna Hutchins shooting
A petition to ban real firearms from film sets after Halyna Hutchins’ death passed 60,000 signatures (Picture: Getty)
A petition to ban real firearms on film sets has passed 60,000 signatures in the wake of Halyna Hutchins’ death.
The cinematographer, 42, was accidentally killed on the set of Rust last week, when she was shot by a prop gun discharged by Alec Baldwin.
Director Joel Souza was also injured in the incident, but was later released from hospital.
Following the tragedy, filmmaker Bandar Albuliwi started a petition calling for real firearms to be banned from productions on Friday, with the Change.org page surpassing 60,000 signatures at the time of writing.
‘On October 21st, 2021 we lost an unbelievably talented cinematographer on the film set of RUST, due to a real gun being discharged with live ammunition in it,’ the petition read. ‘I am in shock and numb to my core. The bullet also wounded director Joel Souza.
‘Halyna graduated from the AFI Conservatory in 2015 with a MFA in Cinematography. I graduated in 2010 with a MFA in Directing. Like everyone in the “AFI Family”, we all knew one another. AFI is a very small community of filmmakers, trying their hardest to get their “big break” in the film industry after graduating from the program.
Alec Baldwin discharged the prop gun (Picture: Getty)
‘This up and coming cinematographer was named as an ASC “Rising Star Cinematographer” in 2019, and was finally breaking into the Hollywood film industry after hustling and shooting amazing content for half a decade.
‘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.’
‘We need to make sure that this avoidable tragedy never happens again,’ Albuliwi continued. ‘There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century. Real guns are no longer needed on film production sets. This isn’t the early 90’s, when Brandon Lee was killed in the same manner. Change needs to happen before additional talented lives are lost.
‘Please sign this petition and demand for Alec Baldwin to use his power and influence in the Hollywood film industry to make change and ban real guns on film sets.
‘While we’re at this topic, this would be a good time to begin discussing the horrendous working conditions of those who work in the film industry (both Hollywood and Independent Features).
‘THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN AND WE DEMAND CHANGE!’
Production on Rust has been halted amid a police investigation into Hutchins’ death.
Prosecutor Mary Carmack-Altwies has warned that criminal charges may be ‘on the cards’ pending their inquiry into the accident.
Baldwin, who was unaware there was a live round in the gun, has not been arrested or charged over the incident but was questioned by police along with many others.
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