At Los Angeles range, director Michael Mann hospitalized after accidentally shooting himself with holstered gun

Accidental discharge at range

Mann was at a sanctioned gun range in Los Angeles on Halloween when a weapon discharged from his holster, according to his representatives. They said the incident caused a superficial injury.

A Los Angeles Police Department spokesperson told The New York Times that Mann was taken to a hospital in stable condition. Responding units confirmed the shooting was accidental, and the injury was minor.

Treatment and release

Mann’s representatives said he was treated and released on Sunday, the day after the Oct. 31 incident. They provided the update in a statement to E! News on Nov. 2.

A long interest in firearms

Mann, known for crime films including Heat and Thief, has pursued target shooting as a hobby for decades. He has discussed firearm practice in connection with making Heat’s pivotal shootout realistic.

Mann told The Guardian that he and the actors trained at Los Angeles County sheriff’s shooting ranges under safety procedures supervised by range masters. He said they practiced three days a week for months.

Preparing Heat’s shootout

Mann said he planned the choreography across two city blocks after finding a downtown Los Angeles location. In the scene, he explained, the characters move forward while taking turns laying down fire.

He said actors used full-load blanks during filming, and the sound bounced off nearby glass walls. Mann recalled that the rehearsals sounded frightening, so he placed about 10 or 11 microphones around the location and used sound recorded during filming.