Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins Killed by a Prop Gun on a Film Set. Here’s What We Know So Far
Halyna Houtchins, a cinematographer, was shot to death by Alec Baldwin on Thursday during filming in New Mexico.
They had just finished filming Westerns. RustBaldwin stars as an 1880s criminal on a Santa Fe ranch. Joel Souza, the film’s director, was also injured during the incident, and taken to Christus St. Vincent’s Regional Medical Center for treatment.
“According to investigators it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a prop firearm when it was discharged,” Juan Rios, a spokesman for Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office, told the Albuquerque Journal. “Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.” The Sheriff’s Office said that Baldwin was questioned by investigators and released; no have been no charges had been filed and the incident remained under investigation.
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Baldwin replies on Twitter
On Friday morning, Baldwin addressed the incident on Twitter, writing: “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.”
Tributes pour in for Halyna Hutchins
Hutchins (42), was the director of photography. RustShe was born in Ukraine. It was in Ukraine that she was born. Interview with 2019 American Cinematographer that she was an “army brat” who grew up on an Arctic military base. Although she began her journalism career, she switched to filmmaking in the middle of work on British film productions. She was awarded a scholarship by American Film Institute Conservatory.
Hutchins has worked recently on several films, including Blindfire The Mad Hatter ArchenemyJoe Manganiello was the producer of the movie, which featured Joe Manganiello as star. “I was so lucky to have had Halyna Hutchins as my DP on Archenemy. Her eye was so sharp and her visual style impeccable that she made you want to watch what she did next. She was a fantastic person,” Manganiello wrote on Instagram on Friday.
In a statement, the movie’s production company, Rust Movie Productions LLC, wrote: “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. 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.”
Hutchins is the only woman working in this field, which is almost entirely male. Only 6% of the 250 highest-grossing movies were made by cinematographers in 2020. According to a new study. Hutchins described herself as an “adrenaline junkie” on her Instagram, which was filled with images of her on film sets across the world. On Twitter, there were many tributes to Hutchins as the news broke.
“One thing I learned is that cinematography is not something you do by yourself. It’s a group [project],” Hutchins said in the American CinematographerInterview. You need to develop your own vision, but the key to a successful film is communication with your director and your team.”
Prop gun raises questions about set safety
It is just the latest incident in a long list of gun-related incidents on set. Bill Davis, an expert on prop guns, stated on KRQE in Albuquerque that many of the guns on set are real firearms with blanks. However, blanks are not allowed. can still be dangerousIt is especially dangerous when you are close to the target. Jon-Erik Hexum, an actor in 1984, accidentally shot himself using a.44 Magnum pistol that was loaded with blanks from the set. Protect YourselfHe joked about it and held the gun up to his temple before pulling the trigger. Actor Brandon Lee was the father of Bruce Lee. He was filming when he died. Crow A gun with blanks was actually a pistol, but the barrel had a bullet in it.
A team is usually required to fire a gun at a set of film cameras. team of people signing offThe list includes safety officers, propmasters, special effects technicians and stunt coordinations. On Friday morning, Indiewire reported that IATSE Local 44, the union that represents prop masters, sent an email to its members saying that the gun used to kill Hutchins contained “a live round,” and that the production’s propmaster was not a member of Local 44. In a telephone call, an agent for Local 44 refused to comment.
The filming has only added to tensions about on-set safety regulations, which have been at the core of the dispute between Hollywood media and IATSE (the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees). This month more than 50k IATSE members were present. Voted to continue the strikeThey cited poor wages, insufficient rest and unsafe work conditions as reasons for their protest. (A strike was prevented when both parties reached an agreement. Negotiated a new contract (Last week.
“Across the board, this industry is filled with red flags for safety,” the film worker Paul Rodriguez told TIME earlier this month. “If you’re rigging grip or on electric, you could be 70, 80 feet in the air. Every day, there’s something where you could die.”
Hutchins died three days earlier Instagram photo postedCast and Crew of Rust–with Baldwin standing at the front holding a thumbs up sign–with the caption, “Standing in #IAsolidarity with our IATSE crew her in New Mexico on RUST.”
Joi Harris was a Vancouver stuntwoman who was fatally shot on Vancouver’s Vancouver set in 2017. Deadpool 2 when she was ejected from her motorcycle, with government investigators later concluding that “the employer failed to complete important health and safety documentation.” Two years later, the special effects coordinator Warren Appleby was killed in an accident while working on the TV series Titans. Friday’s prediction was made by actor Xander Bay that incident would serve as a turning point for the use of guns on set.
