Hollywood creators, led by Shonda Reims, Judd Appathoui, Jimmy Kimmel and Mark Ruffalo, signed an open letter urging their colleagues to reconsider using guns on screen.
“Like most Americans, we are outraged by the recent mass shootings in Buffalo and Uvalde. Considering more than 250 mass shootings this year, it’s an almost incomprehensible tragedy. “Something needs to be done,” nearly 200 Hollywood filmmakers, writers and producers said of the #ShowYourSafety pledge made by the Brady Center to prevent gun violence.
Creators include Gary Ross, Grant Heslov, Simon Kinberg, Hannah Mingela, Julianne Moore, Amy Schumer, and Irwin Winkler.
“We are not asking anyone to stop showing guns on the screen. “We urge writers, directors and producers to pay attention to gun violence on screen and best practices in the gun safety model,” reads the open letter. “Use our collective power for good.”
The call for gun safety was followed by mass shootings in Waldale, Texas, and Buffalo, New York. Brady’s non-profit organization works to enact, enforce and enforce what he believes are reasonable laws and public policy regarding gun violence at the federal and state levels.
The full letter from Hollywood creators is as follows:
An open letter to our colleagues in the creative community
Guns feature prominently on television and in movies around the world, but only in the United States is there an epidemic of gun violence. The responsibility rests with modest gun laws, which are supported by politicians who are more afraid of losing power than saving lives. We didn’t cause the problem, but we want to help fix it. As American storytellers, our goal is primarily fun, but we also recognize that stories have the power to make a difference. Cultural attitudes toward smoking, drunk driving, seat belts, and marriage equality have developed primarily because of the influence of film and television. It’s time to pick up the safety weapons.
We’re not asking anyone to stop showing the gun on the screen. We urge writers, directors, and producers to pay attention to on-screen gun violence and gun safety best practices. Use our collective power for good. Whenever possible we should have:
• Use our creativity to model responsible gun ownership and demonstrate the consequences of reckless gun use. We will try to consciously show the characters to lock the gun safely and not be accessible to children.
• During pre-production, have at least one discussion about how the weapon will appear on screen and discuss alternatives that can be used without sacrificing narrative integrity.
• Limit scenes that include children and guns, as guns are now the leading cause of death for children and adults.
We have no illusions that these actions are a common-sense substitute for gun legislation. Also, this list does not contain every nuance of on-screen weapons. However, this is one small thing we can do as a society to try to end this national nightmare. If you are a writer, director or producer, join us here by registering.
Source: Hollywood Reporter
Camila Luna is a writer at Gossipify, where she covers the latest movies and television series. With a passion for all things entertainment, Camila brings her unique perspective to her writing and offers readers an inside look at the industry. Camila is a graduate from the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) with a degree in English and is also a avid movie watcher.
