The prop gun kill in Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” film reminded me of other reckless gun violence disasters in film. Specifically, when actor Jon-Erik Hexum shot himself in the head with a prop gun blank while pretending to play Russian roulette with a .44 Magnum on the 1984 CBS television series “The Cover-up.” Actor Brandon Lee, the 28-year-old son of the late martial arts star Bruce Lee, was struck by a .44-caliber bullet while filming a death scene for the 1993 film “The Crow” died.
And, after the first prop gun “accident” on a movie set, wouldn’t people wonder why safety measures weren’t enforced and higher fines imposed if they weren’t strictly followed?
However, since many people in showbiz are pampered elite, I’m not surprised that movie sets are still shallow, lazy and irresponsible!
In my opinion, the involuntary manslaughter sentence was the responsible action Mr. Baldwin took in this shooting case to ensure accountability.
However, the more politicized and double-normalized the absolute power involved in negotiating gun violence, the more the social manipulation of our gun-crazed society by the entertainment industry begins to look like a $1 deal between two rich brothers in the movie “Deal” place bets.
Rick Knight
Henrico County