Rust shooting incident

On October 21, 2021, a weapon used as a prop on a movie set in the United States, shot a projectile that killed one person.[1][2] Normally, scenes on film or TV where a gun is shot use blanks. Blanks make a bang and give off smoke, but fire no projectile (bullet).

The incident at the Rust movie set in the ghost town, Bonanza City, New Mexico, was not caught on camera.[3]

In 2023, authorities said that Criminal charges will be made against Alec Baldwin and the armorer (Hannah Gutierrez Reed);[4] The charges of involuntary manslaughter will be filed (or received by the court) at the end of January.[5][6][7][8][9][10]

The incident started a debate about working conditions in the film industry, and the use of real guns as props.

Background

There have been reports[11] about workers not being satisfied with working conditions, "and [reports about low safety or] lax safety standards on the" movie set, media said.

The movie has a low budget,[11] of $6–7 million.[12][13]

The shooting
Copy or replica of a Colt gun

During the incident, a gun with a caliber .45 barrel - was used as a prop;[14] The gun discharged, and the camera woman Halyna Hutchins was then seen to be bleeding; She later died. The director of the movie, Joel Souza was injured.

When that gun had been handed to Alec Baldwin, the assistant director said that the weapon was safe to use;[15] [Minutes or seconds] after that, the gun discharged while Baldwin was holding the gun.[14][15]

Pews in rows in a church

"In the commotion after the shooting [... the assistant director] found the weapon [...] on a church pew. He [... took the weapon] to [... the armorer] and told her to open it so he could see what was inside. There were at least four dummy bullet casings [... or cartridges and] one empty casing"; That is media's understanding after talking to the assistant director.[14]

The gun from the incident is a "a long-barreled [...] revolver"; It is an Italian [copy or] reproduction.[14]

Investigations and charges

The incident is under investigation (as of 2022's first quarter)[9] by the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office, and the First Judicial District Attorney (of New Mexico), and New Mexico Occupational Health and Safety Bureau.[16][17]

"After lunch, the film’s prop master" took the gun out of the safe and gave it to the armorer; That is what the armorer said to the police.[14] Later, the armorer showed[8] the prop weapon to the assistant director "before continuing rehearsal". Investigators say that the movie's assistant director had the prop weapon in his hands, before giving it to Alec Baldwin.

The district attorney of Santa Fe, says that they[18] know who loaded (or put cartridges in) the gun.

Alec Baldwin is free to travel, media said on October 22, 2021.[19]

On January 19, 2023, Santa Fe's district attorney said that Baldwin and the armorer (Hannah Gutierrez Reed) will be charged with involuntary manslaughter;[20] The charges will be filed (or received by the court) at the end of January.[5]

The film's assistant director David Halls was charged with a misdemeanor: the negligent use of a deadly weapon; He told the court system that he is guilty; His punishment is six months of probation.[5]

Movie directors, producers, production companies and lawsuit

The movie director is Joel Souza (as of October); The producers of the movie are Alec Baldwin, Matt DelPiano, Ryan Donnell Smith, Anjul Nigam, Ryan Winterstern and Nathan Klingher.

The production companies (for the movie), are El Dorado Pictures, Cavalry Media, Thomasville Pictures, Brittany House Pictures, Short Porch Pictures.

An electrician that was on the movie set "has sued producers [...] and several crew members, [... saying that] negligence led to the [...] shooting", media said on November 10.[21]

The insurance policy for the movie, has a limit of USD 6 million.[22]

It is not known if the rest of the movie will be made; The production of this Western movie was suspended. However, filming is supposed to continue in January 2023 (according to media in October 2022).[23]

References
  1. Gonzalez, Sandra (October 22, 2021). "Director of photography killed, movie director injured after Alec Baldwin discharged prop firearm on movie set". CNN. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  2. Sheets, Megan (October 22, 2021). "Alec Baldwin's Rust co-star Jensen Ackles spoke about gun training days before set shooting". The Independent. Retrieved October 23, 2021.
  3. Romero, Simon; Jacobs, Julia (October 24, 2021). "Alec Baldwin Was Rehearsing Pointing Gun at Camera, Affidavit Says". The New York Times. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  4. https://www.vg.no/rampelys/film/i/KnPgGy/politiet-har-bestemt-seg-om-rust-tragedien-alec-baldwin-blir-siktet. VG.no
  5. https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-64337761. BBC
  6. https://www.vulture.com/2022/03/alec-baldwin-rust-shooting-what-happened-gun-details.html. Vulture.com. Retrieved March 12, 2022
  7. "District attorney hasn't ruled out criminal charges in fatal shooting on 'Rust' set". Archived from the original on 2021-10-28. Retrieved 2021-10-28.
  8. https://edition.cnn.com/entertainment/live-news/rust-shooting-investigation-10-27-21/index.html. Retrieved 28 October 2021
  9. https://deadline.com/2022/01/alec-baldwin-fatal-shooting-rust-phone-police-search-warrant-1234913061/
  10. Shafer, Ellise (October 22, 2021). "Alec Baldwin on Halyna Hutchins Death: 'There Are No Words to Convey My Shock and Sadness'". Variety. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  11. ‘Rust’ tragedy shines harsh light on economics of low-budget movies: ‘We can’t keep grinding people down’
  12. D'Alessandro, Anthony (October 23, 2021). "'Rust' Director Joel Souza 'Gutted By The Loss' Of DP Halyna Hutchins Following Tragedy On Alec Baldwin Western". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 23, 2021. We understand that the $7M production of Rust was 50% completed at the time of the tragic incident.
  13. Andreeva, Nellie (October 25, 2021). "Hollywood Studios Reviewing Gun Safety Protocols Following Fatal 'Rust' Shooting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 26, 2021. Rust had the budget of an average episode of a high-end drama series, about $6 million-$7 million, and a tight 21-day filming schedule.
  14. https://apnews.com/article/prop-gun-shooting-entertainment-shootings-movies-santa-fe-4a8e63727b0824d7a402f731b6ec54ea. Associated Press
  15. "Alec Baldwin told gun was safe before fatal shooting - court records". BBC News. 2021-10-23. Retrieved 2021-10-24.
  16. Robb, David (October 22, 2021). "'Rust' Shooting Under Investigation By New Mexico Occupational Health & Safety Bureau". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 22, 2021.
  17. Robb, David (October 25, 2021). "Cinematographers Guild Leaders Flew To New Mexico To Comfort And Support Members After Fatal 'Rust' Shooting". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved October 25, 2021.
  18. https://deadline.com/2021/11/alec-baldwin-shooting-rust-set-santa-fe-district-attorney-sabotage-1234871332/. "She declined to say who loaded the gun, but confirmed that they knew who did". Retrieved 10 November 2021
  19. https://outsider.com/news/entertainment/alec-baldwin-breaks-silence-death-cinematographer-prop-gun-incident/. Retrieved 28 October 2021. "Juan Rios, a spokesman for the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office [...] Rios also said that Alec Baldwin was free to travel. “He’s a free man,” Rios told reporters."
  20. https://www.vg.no/rampelys/film/i/KnPgGy/politiet-har-bestemt-seg-om-rust-tragedien-alec-baldwin-blir-siktet. VG.no
  21. https://www.wsj.com/articles/rust-crew-member-files-lawsuit-alleging-negligence-led-to-fatal-shooting-11636596061
  22. https://www.tmz.com/2021/10/26/rust-insurance-policy-6-million-hutchins-souza/
  23. Kilkeeny, Katie (October 19, 2022). "'Rust' Makes Early Plans to Restart Production in California". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 20, 2022.


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