The death of the director of photography for the western Rust, accidentally killed on the set of the film by a shot by American actor Alec Baldwin, created a shock wave in the Quebec film industry.
“I read that [jeudi soir] very late and I didn’t think it was true, ”says artistic director André Chamberland, in an interview with Press. He notably worked on the set of Beans, feature film whose story takes place in the midst of the Oka crisis. “It’s a shock, that’s for sure,” he continues.
Weapons on a film set are never loaded. Rather, blank ammunition, or empty cartridges, is used.
PHOTO ROBERT VROOM, PROVIDED BY ANDRÉ CHAMBERLAND
André Chamberland
It has never happened that a real ball lands on a plateau, it is impossible.
André Chamberland
“The only thing we can do [c’est utiliser] air guns that throw marbles. And that is not the actor who is going to do it, it is [une personne spécialisée dans les] special effects ”, specifies the artistic director, who also worked on the production of the detective series Victor Lessard.
Protocols and ways of doing things
The handling of any weapon that is not a replica is entrusted to a gunsmith. André Chamberland hired the one who worked on the set of Beans.
IMAGE PROVIDED BY THE PRODUCTION
Kiawentiio and Rainbow Dickerson in Beans, by Tracey Deer
The gunsmith is responsible for the weapons. In addition to supervising them, the professional trains the actors on the use of weapons and teaches them the methods of shooting.
“When there is a meeting where weapons are presented, the gunsmith is there, and there is no one who touches the weapons,” said Mr. Chamberland. It is also prohibited to point a weapon, even if it is not loaded, at anyone except when a scene requiring it is being filmed.
“I never thought that something could happen,” insists Mr. Chamberland.
Legal and moral responsibility
Andrew Campbell, a 32-year gunsmith, has trouble understanding how the drama involving Alec Baldwin could have happened. He works on sets from 80 to 120 films per year. He was notably hired on the set of Polytechnic, realized by Denis Villeneuve.
“There is legal responsibility for weapons on a set. It is I, as a gunsmith, who am responsible for all the empty weapons on a tray, ”explains Campbell.
It is mandatory for us to arrive on a plateau with secure weapons.
Andrew Campbell, gunsmith
In Quebec, a specific permit is required for a gunsmith to practice his profession. The professional is also subject to annual audits, specifies Mr. Campbell.
The Alliance québécoise des technicians de l’image et du son (AQTIS) also requires that a gunsmith has undergone training on criminal liability in occupational health and safety, and first aid training, among others.
According to Andrew Campbell, his job carries a moral responsibility. Everyone should feel safe.
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Maxim Gaudette in Polytechnic, by Denis Villeneuve
The day when the scene of the attack in Polytechnic was filmed, Mr. Campbell got all the actresses together and gave each of them white roses, he tells Press. “I am your protector on set today. I guarantee your fear [n’a pas à être réelle], but that it is acting [du jeu] He told them.
Mr. Baldwin [va demeurer] for the rest of his life with [le souvenir] that he killed a person, even though it wasn’t his fault. It’s huge [comme] responsibility.
Andrew Campbell, gunsmith
So how does he explain that such a tragedy occurred among our neighbors to the south? The gunsmith considers that the supervision of weapons and the profession of gunsmith is “more relaxed” in the United States. It is possible that a prop player is an occasional gunsmith, or that a person who owns a weapons store occupies this function on a board. A practice that is not safe, according to Mr. Campbell.
“For films, certain weapons require that we make modifications to fire blank bullets, which do not exist for real weapons”, specifies the gunsmith, who worked on American sets.
AQTIS was unable to comment on this situation on Friday.