Even While Acting, You Shouldn't Point a Gun at Cast's Head

[308Mike]

Linkarooni - they got EXTREMELY lucky!!! A shooting with a borrowed gun (which apparently NOBODY checked to see if it was still loaded):

Actor Accidentally Shot During Florida Play Rehearsal

Wednesday, January 21, 2009

BRADENTON, Fla. — Tragedy nearly struck a group of actors in Florida when authorities say a loaded gun was accidentally used during a rehearsal.

Bill Bordy, vice president of the Sarasota Senior Theater in Bradenton, was rehearsing a scene from John Steinbeck's "Of Mice and Men" Monday evening when he picked up a pistol he had borrowed from another cast member.

Bordy pointed the loaded revolver at the head of another actor, Fred Kellerman, and pulled the trigger.

Bordy's aim was off and only grazed Kellerman's ear. He was taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.

Just two hours after the shooting, the play went on as scheduled with another actor performing Kellerman's part.

No charges have been filed, but the shooting is still under investigation.

[Weetabix]

Just two hours after the shooting, the play went on as scheduled with another actor performing Kellerman's part.

Sissy. Whatever became of troupers?

[D5CAV]

I remember the track coach in college had a starter pistol with a solid barrel -- no hole. IIRC, these cost a fraction of what a real pistol cost -- maybe $50? Why wouldn't they use one of these instead of a real pistol? What's wrong with an Airsoft pistol? Are these guys nuts? Maybe they're trying out for a 'Darwin' instead of an 'Oscar'.

[Rusty Ray]

If they were going 'By the book', then it should have been a luger. Anyway, I will take this as a lesson, learn from this guy's lucky escape and continue to apply as much firearm safety as I can.

Patronisingly yours - Rusty.

[Precision]

I guess actors are not taught the 4 rules?


Morons.

[Draven]

We taught ours the four rules, and made sure they understood em before i let them touch any firearms

[crazylegs]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but wouldn't even a blank pistol be potentially deadly at that range?

The scene does call for an execution style headshot, right?

Word to the actors, I'd recommend an entirely fake pistol.
Chat with your local pyrotechnic expert if you want a real report and gunsmoke smell ambiance.
Or get a recorded gunshot if you are on a budget.

What was the name of that one actor who accidentally killed himself by shooting himself in the head with a blank revolver?

[Catbird]

What was the name of that one actor who accidentally killed himself by shooting himself in the head with a blank revolver?

You're probably thinking of Jon-Erik Hexum.

Brandon Lee was killed by a squib load with an unnoticed stuck round propelled by a subsequent blank.

Last November, 15 year-old Tucker Thayer apparently killed himself with a revolver firing blanks. This happened at Desert Hills high school in St. George, UT, where the gun was being used for sound effects in a school play.

[Mud_Dog]

What was the name of that one actor who accidentally killed himself by shooting himself in the head with a blank revolver?

You're probably thinking of Jon-Erik Hexum.

Brandon Lee was killed by a squib load with an unnoticed stuck round propelled by a subsequent blank.

Last November, 15 year-old Tucker Thayer apparently killed himself with a revolver firing blanks. This happened at Desert Hills high school in St. George, UT, where the gun was being used for sound effects in a school play.

I saw Joe Bowman perform last year, and during his demonstration he told us of a fellow he used to know who had found a blank firing pistol and wanted to scare some female coworkers. So when he showed up he put the pistol to his head and pulled the trigger. The concussion fragmented his skull then sent the shards into his brain and he died instantly.

They should have gone to Wally world and picked up a cap pistol and a can of black spray paint. The illusion would have not been much different.

Is it to much to ask that firearm safety be taught in public school?

[1911Man]

Is it to much to ask that firearm safety be taught in public school?

Yes, it is! You see if they taught firearms safety then they'd have to have either a real gun or a gun analog (fake gun, forked stick, finger and thumb) or even a picture of a gun. All of those things would violate the "Zero Tolerance" policy on violence and harm the psyches of the little angels they're trying to educate. So you see, it really is impossible.

<storms off muttering about commies and GFW's taking over the whole world>