Rust Movie Productions, the company behind Alec Baldwin‘s film “Rust,” is conducting an internal review following an on-set shooting that resulted in the death of a crew member.
On Thursday, the 63-year-old actor discharged a prop gun during a rehearsal, resulting in the death of Halyna Hutchins, who was working as the film’s director of photography.
The movie’s director, Joel Souza, was also injured but has since been released from a hospital.
Since the shooting, reports have surfaced that crew members were unhappy with working conditions – some made specific mention of gun safety – before the incident. Fox News has not independently confirmed these accounts.
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“The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company,” Rust Movie Productions said in a statement to multiple outlets. “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.”
Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged a prop firearm on the set of his movie ‘Rust,’ resulting in the death of a crew member and injuring another.
(Photo by Lou Rocco/ABC via Getty Images)
Crew members reportedly walked off the set in protest of working conditions in the hours before the shooting, according to the Los Angeles Times.
Crew members’ grievances included issues with collecting paychecks, long commutes and long hours, three people familiar with the matter told the Times.
Additionally, standard safety protocols, like gun inspections, were reportedly not performed on the “Rust” set. At least one camera operator spoke to a production manager and complained about gun safety on the set, per the outlet.
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Rust Movie Productions, the company behind the film, has launched an ‘internal review’ of the incident.
(NEWS NATION via KRQE)
According to the outlet, the scene during which the deadly shooting occurred features a gunfight that begins in a church, and Baldwin was supposed to back out of the building.
Hutchins was reportedly lining up her next shot when she was hit with the projectile while Baldwin was preparing for a scene in which he draws his gun from a holster.
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Per the Times, the shot hit Hutchins near her shoulder and continued through to hit Souza. The B-camera operator was unharmed, but Hutchins immediately fell to the ground as crew members attempted to stop the bleeding.
Director of photography Halyna Hutchins died after being hit by a projectile. She reportedly had advocated for safer working conditions after other crew members complained.
(Photo by Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie)
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Authorities have launched their own investigation but have not filed any charges. Baldwin has said he is “fully cooperating with the police investigation.”
Production on the low-budget indie flick has been halted.
