A week before Alec Baldwin’s tragic shooting accident claimed the life of one crewmember and injured another, Jensen Ackles, his star, spoke out at a fan convention about his weapons training.
The 43-year-old was speaking at a Denver event for Supernatural (his former long-running CW show) when he shared with the crowd about a big shootout’ he had the next day for his upcoming film.
The day before, Rust star Alec Baldwin accidentally shot Halyna Hutchins to death, a married mother-of-2 aged 42. He was also the Director of Photography for his new movie.
Tragic irony: A week before a tragic on-set shooting accident involving Alec Baldwin would claim the life of one crew member and injure another, his co-star Jensen Ackles discussed his weapons training for the film, Rust, while at a fan convention
Ackles, who played Dean Winchester on Supernatural for 15 seasons, shared with a crowd a story about his brief gun training for Rust one week before Baldwin’s tragic shooting accident.
Ackles was heard saying, “I’ve got an early call tomorrow morning to have a big shootout,” in a video taken by a fan. They had me pick my gun and they were like “Alright, which gun would you like?” I was confused and said, “I don’t know.” I was like, “I don’t know.” The armorer was like, ‘Do you have gun experience?”
“A little.” She was like, “Okay, so this is how you load it. This is how we verify it and make sure it is safe.”
Jensen’s Supernatural star Jared Padalecki and the crowd both burst into laughter at his on-camera experience.
He continued his story, telling the group about the armorer who told him to fire blank rounds in a field.
“So she’s like, “I’ll just stick some blanks in there, and just fire a few rounds towards the hill.
Ackles was heard saying, “I’ve got an early call tomorrow morning to have a big shootout,” in a video taken by a fan. They had me pick my gun and they were like “Alright, which gun would you like?” I was confused and said, “I don’t know.” I was like, “I don’t know.” The armorer was like, ‘Do you have gun experience?”
“I walk out, and she’s like, “Just make sure to pull the hammer all of the way back and aim for your target.”
Demonstrating how he did it in training, Jensen said he whipped the gun out of his holster and expertly fired the weapon, leading the armorer to jokingly call him ‘an a**hole’ for pretending like he was inexperienced.
Jensen didn’t mention the film’s name during his appearance but said he was happy to be in a Western.
He said that his manager had put him on a Zoom conference call with Alec Baldwin and the director before he landed the role. Joel Souza, the director of photography, was also injured in the shooting accident that claimed his life on Thursday.
A distraught Baldwin said on Friday there are ‘no words to convey his shock and sadness’ after accidentally shooting and killing the female cinematographer on the set of his new movie Rust, and that he was cooperating fully with the police investigation into what happened.
He is believed to have fired one shot from a prop pistol that somehow struck both Hutchins’ and the movie’s director.
Witnesses cited by Showbiz 411 said the single bullet struck Hutchins in the body, and pierced Souza’s clavicle. Hutchins was airlifted by Showbiz 411 to the hospital, but was later declared dead. Souza was taken by ambulance to the hospital, but was released Thursday evening.
Behind the scenes: Demonstrating how he did it in training, Jensen said he whipped the gun out of his holster and expertly fired the weapon, leading the armorer to jokingly call him ‘an a**hole’ for pretending like he was inexperienced
Baldwin, 63 years old, was taken to the sheriff’s department to be interrogated. After a tearful interview, he was released without being charged. He was then photographed doubled over in shock as he spoke on phone.
Baldwin tweeted two times Friday that he described the shooting as a tragic accident.
“There are no words to express my shock and sadness over the tragic accident that claimed Halyna Hutchins’ life, a wife, mother, and highly respected colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. He said that his heart was broken for her husband, their son, Halyna’s family, and all those who knew and loved her.
Matthew Hutchins, Hutchins’ husband in grief, told DailyMail.com Friday morning that he had spoken to the actor.
Alec Baldwin said that he had spoken to him and was very supportive.
It is not clear if it was a live or blank round that was fired. Baldwin was heard asking others why he was being handed a hot gun by the prop masters’ union.
Tragic: A distraught Baldwin said on Friday there are ‘no words to convey his shock and sadness’ after accidentally shooting and killing the female cinematographer on the set of his new movie Rust, and that he was cooperating fully with the police investigation into what happened (Baldwin pictured in tears after being questioned by police)
He said, “In all of my years, I have never been handed a gun,”
Baldwin’s spokesman said on Thursday night that the incident was caused by a gun loaded full of blanks.
It is common on movie sets for actors to use real guns loaded with blanks or dummy bullets to give a more lifelike effect in shooting. It is not clear how a blank could have caused Hutchins’ death, or how a live bullet accidentally got into the gun’s chamber after Baldwin pulled the trigger.
Named as yet, the movie’s prop master (normally in charge of weapons) has not been revealed.
Police have not provided any details, except that a projectile’ was fired from a prop gun’. They are still investigating.
IATSE 44, Prop Masters Union, informed members by email on Thursday night that a live’ round had been fired.
DailyMail.com has also obtained a portion from the set of the 911 call. A woman can be heard saying, “We have two people accidentally killed” in the three-second clip.
According to a press release, the production had ’73 New Mexican actors and 22 New Mexico principal actors’ as well as 230 New Mexico background talents, according to an earlier press release.
According to the prop masters’ union email, the ‘Props, Set Decoration, Special Effects and Construction Departments were staffed by New Mexico crew members’ – none of whom belonged to the union.
Mike Tristano (60), a Hollywood armorer who has 30 years of experience, spoke to Dailymail.com and said that the armorer is responsible for gun safety on set.
The name of the movie’s armorer/warrior master has not yet been released. According to the Sante Fe Sheriff’s Department, it will continue to interview “witnesses” on Friday.
Tragic: Halyna Houtchins, 42, was killed in the shooting incident at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Joel Souza (right), was also hurt.
Tristan stated that there should have been blanks in this gun. The job of the on-set armorer is to verify this before turning the weapon over.
“They make sure that the actor stands on a line and never points the gun at the cast or crew… The editing makes it appear like they were pointing at each other.
“That’s why everyone is confused in the industry.” It is still a mystery how this happened.
Tristan added that he has worked with Baldwin before, on the set of 1998 film Thick as Thieves, calling him ‘very safe’ and a ‘total professional’.
He said, “I was surprised to learn it was him,”
DailyMail.com has also obtained a portion from the set of the 911 call. A woman can be heard saying, “We have two people accidentally killed” in the three-second clip.