The global film industry recently witnessed a tragic incident that captured the attention of its audience. Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed, and director Joel Souza was critically injured when actor Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun loaded with what was supposed to be blank rounds during the filming of his new western film, “Rust,” in New Mexico.
In the film industry, blank rounds are typically made with paper, cotton, or plastic wadding, designed to create a flash and loud noise without any projectile that could cause injury or death. Despite this, accidents do happen, though they are rare. This incident brings to mind a similar tragedy from 1993 involving actor Brandon Lee, a martial artist and son of the legendary Bruce Lee, during the filming of “The Crow.”
While filming “The Crow,” Brandon Lee was fatally wounded during a scene where a gun was supposed to be loaded with blanks. However, an autopsy revealed that a real bullet had been lodged near his spine. The gun responsible for Lee’s death had been used earlier with live ammunition, and a real bullet had inadvertently remained in the chamber. When the gun was later loaded with blanks and fired, the bullet was dislodged and struck Lee.
Upon Lee collapsing on set, director Alex Proyas declared the scene’s end, assuming Lee was acting. It was only when a fellow actor checked on him and found him struggling to breathe that the emergency response was initiated. Lee was rushed to the hospital and underwent a six-hour surgery, but unfortunately, he did not survive. He was 28 years old. Despite the tragedy, “The Crow” was released on schedule, and Lee received posthumous acclaim for his performance. The film was a commercial and critical success, and no criminal charges were filed against anyone involved in the production.
In addition to Lee’s incident, another tragic event occurred in 1984 involving television actor and model John Eric Hexum. During a break on set, Hexum, feeling bored with the delay, picked up a .44 Magnum pistol he believed contained blanks and jokingly pressed it to his temple, pulling the trigger. Although no projectile was fired, the force of the blank round caused a bone fragment to be driven into his brain. Hexum was immediately rushed to the hospital and underwent surgery, but the damage was too severe. He was declared brain dead a week later, and life support was eventually removed, leading to his death.
These incidents underscore the critical importance of safety on film sets and the need for strict protocols to prevent such tragedies. Despite advances in safety measures, the film industry continues to remember these accidents as sobering reminders of the inherent risks involved in filmmaking.
