Quentin Tarantino Speaks Out on Filming 'Rust', Partly Blames Baldwin

Lina Portman3 weeks ago

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Quentin Tarantino Speaks Out on Filming 'Rust', Partly Blames Baldwin

The case surrounding Alec Baldwin's shooting in “Rust” may have been dismissed, but director Quentin Tarantino believes he's not entirely blameless.

The 61-year-old “Pulp Fiction” director spoke with Bill Maher on Sunday’s episode of the comedian’s “Club Random” podcast and said actors like Baldwin are partly responsible for the safe handling of guns on sets.

During the discussion, Maher blasted the criminal case against Baldwin, saying it was absurd to claim that the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was his fault because he did not “intentionally shoot her.” The actor was charged with involuntary manslaughter after a gun he was holding went off on the set of the 2021 film “Rust,” fatally striking Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.

But Tarantino, whose films often feature gun violence, refuted Maher's argument, telling the actor: “The gunsmith, the person who handles the gun, is 90 percent responsible for everything that happens with that gun. But the actor is 10 percent responsible. It's a gun. You're, to some extent, a partner in that responsibility.”

USA TODAY has reached out to Baldwin's representatives for comment.

The Oscar-winning director added that an actor must take steps to ensure weapons are handled safely.

“They show you that the barrel is clear, that there’s nothing stuck in between,” he said. “They show you the barrel. And then they show you some version of, ‘Here are our blanks. Here are the blanks. And here’s the gun. Boom. Now you’re ready to go.’”

Alec Baldwin Rust's trial is over: Here are the most notable moments

Baldwin has denied any responsibility for Hutchins' death, saying he did not pull the trigger and that he was told there was no live ammunition in the gun. In July, the manslaughter charge against him was abruptly dropped amid allegations that prosecutors withheld evidence. The “30 Rock” star later thanked his supporters for their “kindness.”

Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the gunsmith from “Rust,” was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and sentenced to 18 months in prison.

Tarantino, who described the “Rust” shooting as the kind of mistake that “damages an entire industry,” also rejected Maher’s argument that guns should be empty on sets for safety reasons and digitally altered in post-production.

Alec Baldwin thanks supporters for 'kindness' after 'Rust' case dismissed

“It's exciting to shoot blanks and see the real orange fire, without adding orange fire,” the “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” director said, continuing: “For as many firearms as we've used in movies, (the fact) that we only have two instances of people being shot on set, that's a pretty good record.”

Tarantino was referring to actor Brandon Lee being fatally shot in an accident on the set of the 1993 film “The Crow.” Director Rupert Sanders recently told USA TODAY that he insisted that no live firearms be used on the set of his “The Crow” remake, which hit theaters Friday.

“We work in a very dangerous environment,” Sanders said. “There’s always a fast car with a crane attached to it, or a horse galloping, or the USS Roosevelt taking off. You’re always in the line of fire, but to me, safety comes first. It’s just not worth the risk.”

Contributed by: Erin Jensen, KiMi Robinson, USA TODAY: Andrew Hay, Reuters

Lina Portman

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