Famed director Quentin Tarantino has voiced his opinion on the tragic shooting that occurred on the set of the movie "Rust" in 2021, stating that actor Alec Baldwin holds a 10% responsibility for the incident that resulted in the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Tarantino shared his views during an interview on the "Club Random with Bill Maher" podcast, where he discussed the role of the actor in maintaining safety on set.

During the podcast episode, host Bill Maher asked Tarantino how Baldwin could be held at fault for the shooting. Tarantino responded by suggesting that while the armorer bears 90% of the responsibility for the gun's handling, the actor also has a 10% responsibility. He emphasized that as partners in ensuring safety, actors should be aware of their role when handling firearms on set.

The fatal incident took place while Baldwin was rehearsing a scene for the Western drama in New Mexico on October 21, 2021. The prop revolver he was holding discharged, fatally striking Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Tarantino explained that there are established protocols for dealing with firearms on set, which include showing the weapon to the actor and demonstrating that the barrel is clear.

In response to Maher's question about what Hutchins could have done differently, Tarantino mentioned the importance of steps such as showing the actor the cleared barrel of the gun. He further asserted that during filming, if an actor encounters any issues with the firearm, it is their responsibility to flag them immediately. Tarantino highlighted a scenario where an actor knows there are "hot rounds" in the gun and if one doesn't go off during a scene, it should prompt the actor to halt the filming and inform the crew.

The shooting incident shook the entertainment industry and prompted discussions about safety on film sets. Maher even suggested adding gun effects through post-production instead of using live ammunition, to which Tarantino voiced his opposition. He stated that the excitement of shooting with blanks and witnessing the real orange fire is an integral part of filmmaking, rather than relying on added effects in post-production.

NBC News has reached out to representatives for both Tarantino and Baldwin for their comments on the director's remarks. It is evident that Tarantino's perspective on the incident puts emphasis on the shared responsibility between the armorer and the actor in maintaining a safe working environment on film sets. The conversation surrounding this tragedy continues to generate important discussions about protocols and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.