The production company behind the film Rust is reportedly launching an internal investigation over claims of ‘safety concerns’ before the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins.
Alec Baldwin’s film Rust allegedly had a ‘serious lack of safety meetings’ and saw six members of the camera crew walk off as they protested the working conditions, it’s been claimed.
The actor, who was starring in and co-producing the film, accidentally shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with a prop gun this week, also injuring director Joel Souza, who has since been released from hospital.
According to Deadline’s report, there will now be an internal investigation into how the tragedy occurred.
In a report by the LA Times, it was also alleged that camera operators were left frustrated by the conditions on set, including long hours and low pay.
One unnamed crew member reportedly alleged that Hutchins, who was killed, was advocating for safer conditions for her team.
A source also claimed that there had been two misfires on the prop gun on Saturday and one the previous week, and that there was ‘a serious lack of safety meetings on this set.’
One crew member told the site that, on Thursday morning, the camera crew began to pack up their gear and leave.
It’s alleged that, after crew members were told production would pay for their hotel rooms in Santa Fe near the shoot, they were later told they would have to make the 50-mile drive from Albuquerque each day.
The site also reports that non-union crew members arrived to replace those leaving.
A member of the crew is quoted as saying: ‘Corners were being cut — and they brought in nonunion people so they could continue shooting.’
Rust Movies Production LLC told the publication in a statement: ‘The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company.
‘Though we were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down.
‘We will continue to cooperate with the Santa Fe authorities in their investigation and offer mental health services to the cast and crew during this tragic time.’
Hutchins, 42, was reportedly shot in the stomach when Baldwin, 63, discharged the prop gun during filming.
Baldwin spoke out, tweeting: ‘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.
‘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.’
In a statement, a rep for Rust Movies Productions LLC said: ‘The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones.
Who is Halyna Hutchins?
Halyna Hutchins, a mother of one, was born in the Ukraine and grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle before attending Kyiv National University.
After graduating with a degree in international journalism, she worked as an investigative journalist for British documentaries in Eastern Europe.
However, Hutchins’ true passion lay in filmmaking, and she moved to Los Angeles, where she got work as a production assistant and a grip electric.
She also shot her own short films, inspired by cinematographers including Christopher Doyle and Sergey Urusevskiy.
On the advice of cinematographer Robert Primes, Hutchins enrolled the filmmaking MFA programme at the American Film Institute Conservatory in 2013 and graduated two years later.
In 2018, Hutchins was one of eight female cinematographers selected for the inaugural 21st Century Fox DP Lab, and in 2019, she was chosen as a Rising Star by American Cinematographer magazine.
Hutchins went on to work on films including horrors The Mad Hatter and Darlin’ and police drama Blindfire, and the BET+ series A Luv Tale: The Series.
She also worked on the Joe Mangianello mystery thriller Archenemy, which premiered at Beyond Fest 2020 and received a nomination at the Sitges International Film Festival.
‘We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation.’
They added: ‘We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.’
The Santa Fe Police Department confirmed they are investigating the incident, and that Baldwin willingly gave a statement. He was seen outside the station in tears.
No charges have been filed.
The cinematographer’s website biography states that she was born in Ukraine and graduated from the AFI conservatory in 2015. She was selected as one of American Cinematographer’s Rising Stars of 2019 as well as a cinematographer for the 21st Century Fox DP Lab in 2018.
Hutchins also worked as an investigative journalist with British documentary productions in Europe before she moved onto films, and she held a graduate degree in International Journalism from Ukraine’s Kyiv National University.
Some of her movie credits include 2020’s Archenemy, 2019’s Darlin’ and The Mad Hatter, released this year.
Tributes have poured in following her death.
Metro.co.uk has contacted reps for Alec Baldwin and the production company for comment.