The Set Where Alec Baldwin Shot a Cinematographer Already Had Gun Incidents

Crew members complained about safety on the set.

On October 21, actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza on the set of the film “Rust.” Preliminary reports indicate that the gun Baldwin fired contained one live round. Here is what has been established about the incident so far. 

The set already had safety problems

There had already been safety problems on the set. This is reported by Deadline, citing several sources. 

Among the problems was at least one incident in which a prop gun misfired. Baldwin fatally wounded cinematographer Halyna Hutchins with that same weapon. 

A source told the outlet: “The gun misfired twice in an enclosed space, and then went off in the hands of the person holding it.” In addition, crew members complained about inadequate COVID-19 precautions on the set. 

Several crew members submitted resignation letters

Deadline reports that seven people left the set just a few hours before the incident, but not all of them submitted resignation letters.

One of those who quit wrote on a private Facebook page that, in addition to safety problems with the weapons, crew members faced delayed pay and a refusal to provide hotel accommodation, even though they had requested it in their contracts.

According to that person, after the resignations, Rust Productions, the company producing the film, hired four non-union workers to replace those who left, and also tried to file a complaint with police against the departing crew members. 

Rust Productions said it was unaware of safety problems

In response to a request from journalists, Rust Productions said it knew nothing about safety problems. 

The statement reads: “The safety of actors and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company. Although we were not aware of any formal complaints about safety issues with firearms and other props on the set, we will conduct an internal review and suspend filming. We will continue to cooperate with Santa Fe authorities in their investigation and will offer actors and crew psychotherapy services during this tragic time.” 

Alec Baldwin did not know the gun could be loaded with live rounds

Neither actor Alec Baldwin nor assistant director Dave Halls knew that the gun could be loaded with live rounds. This is reported by THR, citing court documents. 

On October 22, officials from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office searched the set. It emerged that Hannah Gutierrez, who was in charge of weapons, had placed three pistols on a cart on the set. Halls picked up one of them but did not suspect that it was loaded with live ammunition. 

Film and prop historian Michael Curry told Fox News that this was an “unprecedented violation” in handling weapons on a film set. “It is simply unbelievable,” he said, because a weapon must go through a multi-step check before it reaches actors’ hands, during which prop personnel must make sure all safety requirements have been met. 

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry is monitoring the investigation into Hutchins’s death

Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said it is monitoring the investigation into the death of Halyna Hutchins. The late cinematographer held Ukrainian citizenship. 

An official ministry representative said the consulate general in San Francisco has been instructed to maintain contact with the American law enforcement agencies investigating the incident. 

A family friend told The Sun that Hutchins’s parents are processing documents to travel to the United States: “They are grieving, but at the same time they are asking questions and want answers. If someone made a mistake, they must pay for it.” 

A scholarship fund for female cinematographers has been established in Hutchins’s honor

The scholarship was established by the American Film Institute, which is now accepting donations. Screenwriter and director Olya Oparina, a close friend of Hutchins, said that the goal of the fund is “to help female cinematographers build sustainable careers in the film business.” 

Eleven years ago, the two moved to Hollywood together and worked on a number of projects together, including the 2017 film “Snowbound.” Oparina said that Hutchins “throughout her career advocated for women cinematographers and directors, because she was familiar with the difficulties women face in the entertainment industry.”