In a Los Angeles studio, filmmakers rehearse a scene with a rubber gun, only to be halted by Dutch Merrick, a seasoned armorer. “He’s aiming it at the crew just like on ‘Rust,’” Merrick points out, echoing the tragedy that occurred on Alec Baldwin’s “Rust” set in 2021, where a live round tragically killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
With Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial starting Tuesday, Merrick’s gun safety course has become crucial. Virginia Brazier, a production manager in the workshop, stresses the need for thorough vetting to ensure set safety.
Merrick critiques “Rust” for being underfunded, leading to the fatal accident, and drills in the three basic rules of firearm safety: point in a safe direction, keep your finger off the trigger, and always treat a gun as if it’s loaded.
The “Rust” incident has heightened caution among crews. Assistant Director Ryan Taylor notes increased scrutiny of props and stricter checks.
In response, Hollywood has updated firearm guidelines and mandated that only armorers hand weapons to actors. Productions seeking state tax credits in California will also need a security advisor from next year through 2030.
Some shows have abandoned real guns entirely. Dwayne Johnson’s production company now uses CGI for gunfire effects. However, Merrick warns that this “overcorrection” might undermine the authenticity of action scenes and create new safety concerns.
As Baldwin’s trial looms, Merrick and others worry that increased mistrust of firearms could impact actors’ focus on their roles.
