BY RACHEL MASON VIA STORYFUL A California Democrat is calling for a ban on live ammunition on movie sets in response to the deadly “Rust” film accident last week that left the cinematographer dead after actor Alec Baldwin unknowingly fired a gun containing a lead bullet while filming in Santa Fe. State Sen. Dave Cortese of San Jose announced this week that he will soon unveil legislation for the 2022 session that would prohibit the use of live ammunition and guns that can fire live rounds in theatrical productions. Cortese said that language is already being drafted. Cortese, who chairs the Senate Committee on Labor, Public Employment and Retirement, said the proposal wouldn’t ban guns in motion pictures. Rather, it would set up safety requirements for their use on set.
“There’s a whole heck of a lot of better ways to get imagery of a firearm into film or video than to actually be rehearsing with or brandishing that kind of live weapon on a live set, a crowded set,” he said. The “Rust” accident devastated the entertainment industry after news broke that Baldwin, who was both the lead actor and a producer of the western film, fired a live round during a scene rehearsal that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
The bullet also injured the film’s director, Joel Souza, who was hospitalized and then released after treatment. Capitol Alert newsletter Get political and Capitol news in your inbox every weekday, plus breaking alerts. SIGN UP This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. An investigation is still underway, but New Mexico officials confirmed Wednesday that the gun was loaded with a lead projectile. Authorities also discovered 500 rounds of ammunition on the set of “Rust,” which they believed to be a combination of live and dummy rounds. Not all productions use real firearms as props, and the industry already has strict rules against using live ammunition.
When real guns are used, often for authenticity purposes, they’re usually filled with blanks to mimic a real discharge. Sometimes special effects are used in place of a blank. Specialized crew members, called “armorers,” handle firearm safety on set. Those in charge of the weapons on the “Rust” set have said they did not know the gun was loaded with a live projectile. One armorer said she did not know how live ammunition showed up on set, and claimed that the production lacked safety training. The incident prompted some within the industry to calling for a ban on using real guns on set.
Despite the tragedy, another California Democrat who oversees entertainment industry regulations said she isn’t sure a ban on live ammunition should be up to the Legislature. $2 for 2 months
Fullerton Assemblywoman Sharon Quirk-Silva, chair of the Assembly Arts, Entertainment, Sports, Tourism and Internet Media Committee, said she’s open to considering Cortese’s legislation that tightens existing rules.
But ultimately, Quirk-Silva said, the unions that have historically negotiated workplace safety regulations should determine what needs strengthening. “As far as saying no live ammunition, I would want to hear from both sides,” Quirk-Silva said. “The motion picture industry and workers. I like to see them negotiate this among themselves rather than the state get involved when we don’t need to.” Quirk-Silva also said California is home to some of the toughest gun laws in the country and that an on-set accident like this hasn’t happened in decades. “We want movie sets to be as safe as can be,” Quirk-Silva added. “We know California has the highest standards and will continue to work toward improving those standards if there’s a need.” CalOSHA spokesperson Luke Brown said that there “no workplace safety regulations specifically related to the handling of firearms on film and TV sets.” “TV and Film production sets in California for the most part just fall under general industry safety orders,” Brown said, adding that CalOSHA and the Department of Department of Industrial Relations do not get involved in labor contract negotiations.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees did not respond to The Sacramento Bee’s email request about what rules exist for using live ammunition in performances. Cortese acknowledged that labor groups might already have standing agreements that ban live ammunition on sets in California. Still, Cortese said there should be similar requirements for non-union sets and for California-based companies to adhere to when they’re working outside of the state. “There’s room for additional safety,” he said. This story was originally published November 2, 2021 5:00 AM. RELATED STORIES FROM SACRAMENTO BEE
Read more at: https://www.sacbee.com/news/politics-government/capitol-alert/article255387991.html#storylink=cpy
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