Several reports have shown that shortly before the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, the crew of the film rust complained about unsafe working conditions and left the set.
News broke last night that cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died on the set of “Rust” after Alec Baldwin discharged a prop gun thought to only contain blanks. Director Joel Souza also sustained injuries and was released from the hospital earlier today.
However, days prior to the accidental shooting, tensions had been building on the set of the film over crew concerns about unsafe working conditions, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Now, The LA Times and Deadline report that before the fatal accident, seven of Rust’s camera crew members walked off set in protest of unsafe working conditions. Sources say the workers’ complaints included being expected to arrive to set at 6:30 a.m., and only being offered accommodations in Albuquerque instead of Santa Fe (as they’d initially been promised), requiring them to make a 50-mile drive to set each day.
At one point, a group of nonunion workers showed up to replace the camera crew, who were members of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees.
“Corners were being cut — and they brought in nonunion people so they could continue shooting,” one person with knowledge of the situation told the Times. They also added that the prop gun that Baldwin killed Hutchins with had already misfired several times during the shooting.
“There was a serious lack of safety meetings on this set,” the person said.
Also, a member of the camera crew wrote on a private Facebook page, according to Deadline:
“We cited everything from lack of payment for three weeks, taking our hotels away despite asking for them in our deals, lack of Covid safety, and on top of that, poor gun safety! Poor on-set safety period!”
Baldwin said in a statement on Friday that he was working with authorities investigating the incident and offered his condolences to Hutchins’ family.
Baldwin said in a pair of tweets sent out from the account of his nonprofit, the Hilaria and Alec Baldwin Foundation.
“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother, and deeply admired colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.”
The Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office released a statement on Thursday after the apparent accident, saying that the investigation is ongoing and that no charges had been filed.
The statement said:
Santa Fe County Sheriff’s deputies were dispatched to the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set of the western “Rust,” October 21, 2021, when an 911 caller reported a shooting on the set.
The sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust. Halyna Hutchins, 42, director of photography and Joel Souza, 48, director, were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, [63], producer and actor.
Ms. Hutchins was transported, via helicopter, to University of New Mexico Hospital where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel. Mr. Souza was transported by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Medical center where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries.
This investigation remains open and active. No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives.
Sources: DailyWire, Los Angeles Times, Deadline
dan