Several employees on the set in which Alec Baldwin accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins allegedly protested that same day over alleged poor working conditions and lack of security.
According to sources cited by the Los Angeles Times newspaper, half a dozen assistants and camera operators resigned en bloc on the day of the fatal accident, since in the previous days there were problems with that same weapon, which in their opinion was not properly supervised.
For its part, the Santa Fe Sheriff’s Office, in the state of New Mexico (USA), declined to comment on the matter and stated that it will not have more information until next week, as the investigation continues.
On Thursday afternoon, the producer of the film Rust indicated that the accident was due to a pistol loaded with blank cartridges and not bullets, although the authorities did not confirm this point.
“We haven’t even started the forensic investigation on that issue,” Sheriff’s spokesman Juan Ríos said in a statement released by Deadline magazine on Friday.
Also, three unidentified employees told the Los Angeles Times that a group of technicians complained that there was ” a very serious lack of security measures” on set.
up to half a dozen camera operators left the studio and were replaced by staff who were not affiliated with any professional union.
Two days earlier, Lane Luper , a camera assistant attached to the Iatse union (International Alliance of Stage Employees), described the alleged precarious conditions of the shoot through a series of comments on social networks.
Occurrence at the Bonanza Creek Ranch
The incident occurred around 1:50 p.m. (local time) at the Bonanza Creek Ranch . A Baldwin spokeswoman indicated that the shooting occurred by accident when the prop pistol failed, although the facts have not yet been clarified.
After being shot, the emergency services transferred the Halyn Hutchins to the Hospital of the University of New Mexico, where his death was declared. Joel Souza has been transferred to the Saint Vicente Regional Medical Center.
The authorities have indicated that the investigation is ongoing and that no charges have been filed. Meanwhile, production on the film, directed by Souza and with Baldwin as producer and actor, has been halted.
The cinematographers’ union (International Cinematographers Guild) issued a statement identifying the fatality. “We received the devastating news that one of our members, Halyna Hutchins, director of photography for a production called ‘Rust’ in New Mexico, died from injuries sustained on set,” explained John Lindley, president of the union.
