Actor accidentally kills cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounds director Joel Souza with a prop weapon
Alec Baldwin is devastated after accidentally killing the director of photography for the film ‘Rust’, Halyna Hutchins, a Western who the 63-year-old actor was filming in Santa Fe, New Mexico, with a prop pistol loaded with live ammunition. USA). “I have no words to express the shock and sadness over the tragic accident that has taken the life of Halyna Hutchins, wife, mother and colleague whom I deeply admire,” wrote Baldwin in a series of tweets.
“I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I remain in contact with Halyna’s husband, offering my support. My heart is broken for him, for his son and for everyone who knew and loved Halyna, ”said the star and producer of ‘Rust’. The confusing and tragic episode took place around two in the afternoon on Thursday at the Bonanza Creek ranch in Santa Fe, where several western scenes were filmed.
The prop pistol that killed Hutchins, 42, and also wounded Souza, 48, contained a “single real bullet,” according to an email sent by the Hollywood Workers’ Union to all its members. The message states that the members of the film crew in charge of the props and set decoration, special effects and construction do not belong to the union.
“The lead actor accidentally fired a single live bullet on set, hitting both director of photography, Halyna Hutchins, 600th member of our union, and director Joel Souza. Both were rushed to the hospital. Unfortunately, we lost Hutchins, ”the statement concludes. Baldwin, protagonist and producer of this western, fired the gun in what appears to be negligence in the filming because Hollywood prohibits in its filming protocols the use of any real bullet.
Lack of budget
Hutchins was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque, where she died. Souza was taken by ambulance to the Santa Fe Regional Medical Center, where he received treatment for his injuries and was discharged. The police investigation is now focused on finding out why there was a gun loaded with live ammunition on a film set. The sheriff’s office wants to clarify what type of projectile the weapon had, which is also unknown if it was used during the recording of a scene or in a rehearsal. For the moment, the authorities rule out filing criminal charges against the actor.
Several technical professionals complained about the lack of security on the set of ‘Rust’ in New Mexico
The production had budget problems, which prevented the hiring of a gunsmith. Instead, according to local media, a woman with no experience in this field was hired who was assisted by three film students. In addition, one of the members of this group took this hunting weapon last weekend without permission. When he returned, he neither cleaned it nor emptied the magazine and chamber, leaving the pistol with live ammunition. Baldwin, a well-known activist against the proliferation of firearms in the United States and highly critical of former President Donald Trump, was devastated. Photographs published by the local newspaper ‘Santa Fe New Mexican’ showed the anguished actor at the door of the sheriff’s office, where he was interrogated.
The lack of liquidity was also affecting the rest of the professionals. As reported by the ‘Los Angeles Times’, the camera crew complained about long working hours, late weekly salary payments and the lack of security on the set. A member of the production invited the cameramen and their assistants to leave the shoot at 6:30 a.m. on Thursday. They were replaced by non-union colleagues in order to continue shooting. “It was a way of assuming the budget,” one of these professionals told the Los Angeles newspaper.
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