The article paints a picture that Baldwin was handed a gun and proceeded to enact what he wanted to do. What is missing is whether he had to cock the gun, take aim at the camera, and pull the trigger. Shooting a blank can cause serious injury at close range. It would also damage the camera equipment. Shooting at an expensive camera, missing the camera, and hitting a person in close proximity. If they knew he was going to fire, they would not have been behind the camera. Loaded or not. Why would you even pull the trigger if you were just story-boarding the sequence?