On the WTF with Marc Maron podcast, George Clooney opened up about the heartbreaking on-set shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, which occurred during the filming of the movie “Rust.” Clooney drew a poignant connection between this tragic incident and the death of his close friend Brandon Lee in 1993. Lee lost his life due to an accidental shooting while filming “The Crow.”
Reflecting on these devastating incidents, Clooney underscored the importance of stringent safety protocols on film sets, particularly when handling firearms. He shared his personal practice of rigorously inspecting guns before every use, regardless of who assures him of their safety. This, he said, is a practice born from the lessons learned after Lee’s tragic death.
Clooney did not hold back in criticizing the lack of experience of the armorer on the “Rust” set. He highlighted the challenges that arise when trying to differentiate between dummy bullets and live rounds, a critical issue that contributed to both tragedies. Clooney expressed his belief that these incidents were the result of avoidable mistakes compounded by poor judgment and a disregard for established safety standards.
In the wake of these events, Clooney called for more robust safety measures in the film industry. His plea for change was echoed by others affected by these tragedies, including Eliza Hutton, Brandon Lee’s fiancée, and actor Alec Baldwin, who was involved in the “Rust” shooting. Both Hutton and Baldwin have also advocated for enhanced safety protocols on sets to prevent such senseless tragedies from happening again.