10-26-2021
This statement is made by a collection of leading On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters working within the motion picture industry. Foremost, we offer our condolences to the family and friends of Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who tragically and needlessly lost her life on-set in New Mexico on October 21st. We also wish Director Joel Souza and all affected by this tragedy a speedy recovery. The fatal incident that occurred during filming of the production “Rust” is currently under investigation, and we ask that the media refrain from drawing conclusions before all the facts are known.
While we await the investigation and welcome its conclusions, there are some things we do know about the show “Rust,” how it was run, the poor choices that were made, and the circumstances that led to the death of Ms. Hutchins.
Point 1 – On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters have an exemplary performance history of safety, professionalism, and accomplishment in the film industry. High profile media attention, celebrity talent, and the demand for realism have pushed the skills of On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters to the highest levels in any industry, including among stunt performers, explosives and pyrotechnics and other high-risk participants in film production.
The safety of the actors and all crew members is our highest priority.
Industry records establish that there have been a total of three (3) firearm deaths on film sets since 1984. Of those three, two took place outside of California and with non- union or inexperienced crews. The last firearms death that took place on a studio/union film was Jon-Erik Hexum in 1984. From 1993 (the year of the Brandon Lee tragedy) to 2021 there were no firearms fatalities on any set in the United States or Canada. You will not find a related high-risk industry with a better safety record.
As a comparison, we cite film industry statistics. From 1990 until 2021 there were over 117 film industry deaths, with 23 attributed to Construction, 30 in aircraft related accidents, 23 involving Stunts, and at least 41 deaths distributed across the spectrum of Industry Trades. Firearms usage on sets, despite its high profile, represents an incredibly small percentage of on-set fatalities despite being considered a high-risk component of film production. We attribute this exceptional overall safety record to the professionalism and skill level of those On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters that handle firearms on the vast majority of film productions in the United States and Canada.
Point 2 – The recent authorized strike by IATSE and the tragedy on the set of “Rust” are related and indicative of the same underlying issue. Crews are overworked, under trained, under-supported, and there is an industry wide unwillingness to pay crews in a manner commensurate with their experience and cost of living. Attributed largely to New Media, the number of projects in production has increased exponentially. While at the same time, the formal and informal apprenticeship models that were the heart and soul of our industry have been destroyed by run-away production and related policies and incentives.
Point 3 – Firearms are ubiquitous on film sets and have been since the birth of our industry over 100 years ago. Our job is specifically intended to keep all actors and crew safe while providing the utmost realism and quality in film production. These goals can and do work together under the skilled supervision of On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters. Millions of blank rounds have been fired on film sets since 1990. The phenomenally low accident rate is a testament to the professionalism of the artisans and craftspeople who have made this industry their calling. Those of us who have taken on this responsibility make it a point of professional pride and honor to strictly follow established, tested, and proven safety procedures. These safety procedures were developed over time by skilled and experienced professionals, many of whom hold licenses and permits unique to the industry. These procedures should never be diminished or marginalized in the name of cost cutting or budget limitations.
If you can’t afford to do it right, if you can’t afford to take care of our crew, then you shouldn’t do it.
Point 4 – The tragic loss of life in this case was likely the result of incompetence and inadequate use of professionals who serve as the gatekeepers to the film industry’s safety protocols and standards. We can state that this tragedy was not caused by a lack of established rules or procedures. As On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters we see that the incident was completely preventable and should not have occurred, given the longstanding and well-established safety regimen that we work under and implement every day in our industry. The incident was caused, in part, by producers who were unwilling to hire competent people following our long established and tested firearms safety procedures. We are aware of numerous violations of Safety Bulletin Number 1 (see attached) that occurred on this production. Exactly how many violations and which ones will be confirmed by the investigation, but we believe that the evidence will show that this tragedy was a failure of protocol and not due to the need for new or additional regulations.
The vetting of On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters needs to be a priority.
It is becoming increasingly clear that “Rust” was a film where safety was not prioritized. It has been reported that “Rust” was a poorly run production, and that “corners were cut” in several areas, including critical safety concerns. There have been reports of crew walkouts over numerous crew safety complaints, including: travel time, lack of COVID 19 precautions, payroll issues, and firearms safety.
Point 5 – There is no substitute for the reliability and production value that a real firearm brings to a film or television project under the supervision of a properly trained On-Set Armorer or Weapons Master. In the wake of this tragedy there have been several calls to substitute other options in place of real firearms on set. This quick response is misguided and does not reflect an understanding of the industry, creative expectations, and decades spent refining safe on-screen simulated gunfire. The phenomenal firearms safety record that professional film crews have achieved is the result of consistent education with a relentless focus on safety and responsibility.
A single project’s refusal to recognize established safety protocols compounded by that project’s failure to utilize well trained professionals should not require changing the entire movie industry. Instead, it should put renewed focus on time-tested procedures and the importance of hiring professionals versed in proper on-set firearms safety protocols. For instance: A car accident at an intersection does not require elimination of vehicles, it requires adherence to the rules of the road and education and implementation of those rules among all participants. We call for renewed vigilance and commitment by Film Producers to recognize the importance of a safe work environment.
The tragedy in New Mexico is not an indictment of professional film crews’ ability to safely perform their craft. It is an indictment of the modern production culture, which for the last 30 years has pursued tax credits and found every way imaginable (and several that weren’t) to sacrifice crew health and safety in the name of budget consciousness. This tragedy was an apparent accident; but it was also a predictable outcome of the incentive structure within the modern film industry and how films are budgeted by producers.
Our film culture used to be an ecosystem of mutually supportive companies, studios, and crafts people who worked together to accomplish incredible things. We trained our community to the highest standards, and together we kept each other safe while creating our society’s preeminent art form.
There was a time when we trusted and could depend on each other. Somewhere along the way we lost sight of that. We hope this tragedy marks a turning point for our entire industry; a moment to refocus our collaborative efforts on crew safety by using time- honored procedures and the crews who understand them.
Respectfully,
The Unified Voice of On-Set Armorers and Weapons Masters
www.csatf.org/production-affairs-safety/safety-bulletins
www.csatf.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/05/01FIREARMS
Thank you to Tactical Pro Shop for sharing this with our readers.
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