Countless workers in the film industry, including the American Society of Cinematographers, began to demand that working weapons be removed from the company entirely and replaced with more modern props and techniques.
“We have safe alternatives in visual effects and non-functioning firearms,” read the open letter from the CSA to Big Wigs in Hollywood. Another petition, launched on Change.org by “Peace After Marriage” director Bandar Albuliwi, calls for similar changes to be made and also criticizes the industry for doing nothing to keep its workers safe.
“There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century,” the petition says. “Real guns are no longer needed on film production sets. It’s not the early 90s when Brandon Lee was killed the same way. Change must happen before more talented lives are lost. More than 100,000 people signed the document online, including actors Lena Dunham, Sarah Paulson, Olivia Wilde and Anna Paquin.
So far, there has been little Hollywood comeback, but California State Senator Dave Cortese has pledged to introduce legislation that would ban all working firearms and live ammunition on film sets (via deadline).
