Hi everyone.
I worked in the film industry for some time. Many of my friends work in film and wanted to share with you some rumors and info about the shooting on the set of RUST.
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The armourer - the sole legal entity who can handle firearms on a film set - is a 25 year old junior. She is the daughter of a well-known and very well-respected armourer in the film industry, and was trained by her dad. It's conceivable that she could have made a mistake in handling of the firearms.
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Rules on set were NOT properly observed. Normally, the only person handling the firearms at all times should be the armourer. There were rumored to be issues on set whereby unvaccinated crews had quit or left the show. For whatever reason, the person handing the firearms to Baldwin was the Assistant Director (Not allowed).
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Alec Baldwin and crew were taking the firearms from set and playing with them on the weekends. They had developed extremely bad, irresponsible, and careless habits that ultimately led to the fatal shooting.
I was a film editor for 35 years and dabbled in other areas of film making (writing, producing and directing). Also being a firearms enthusiast, I acted as Armorer for a few low budget films. I NEVER allowed anyone to handle the firearms and I personally handed the firearms to the actors and retrieved them after each scene, NO middleman! PERIOD!