Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on the set of American Western film Rust by a prop gun fired by actor Alec Baldwin on October 21. Director Joel Souza was was also injured, but has since left hospital.
Police were called to the set of the film, which Baldwin co-produced, when a 911 caller reported shooting on the set at around 2pm.
In a statement, local police said: “The sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust. Halyna Hutchins, 42, director of photography, and Joel Souza, 48, director, were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, 63, producer and actor.
“Ms Hutchins was transported, via helicopter, to University of New Mexico hospital where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel. Mr Souza was transported by ambulance to Christus St Vincent regional medical centre where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries.
(Image: Alec Baldwin/Instagram)
“This investigation remains open and active. No charges have been filed in regard to this incident,” they said.
As the investigation gets underway, we take a closer look at the film they were in the middle of shooting.
What is Rust?
(Image: KOB 4)
The incident occurred on the set of the upcoming film Rust.
Here is the film’s plot, according to IMDB: “A 13 year-old boy, left to fend for himself and his younger brother following the death of their parents in 1880’s Kansas, goes on the run with his long estranged grandfather after he’s sentenced to hang for the accidental killing of a local rancher.”
Rust stars Baldwin, who plays Harland Rust, the grandfather. His co-stars include Frances Fisher – known for her appearance on Titanic and HBO’s TV series Watchmen – who plays the great aunt of 13-year-old Lucas, portrayed by Brady Noon.
Also starring is Travis Fimmel, known for his work as Ragnar Lothrok on the TV series Vikings, playing bounty hunter Fenton ‘Preacher’ Lang, whom Lucas and Rust must outrun.
Director and writer of the film was Souza who – according to his IMDB page – is a filmmaker in the San Franciso Bay Area, where he lives with his wife and two children. He was born in 1973 and has also written and directed the films Hanna’s Gold, Break Night and Crown Vic.
Production of the film has now been halted.
Who was Halyna Hutchins?
(Image: Halyna Hutchins/Instagram)
Hutchins, from Ukraine, was a 42-year-old ‘rising star’ who was raised on a Soviet military base and later studied journalism in Kyiv, and film in Los Angeles.
In a statement, the International Cinematographer’s Guild said Ms Hutchins’ death was “devastating news” and “a terrible loss”.
“The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more, and we support a full investigation into this tragic event,” said guild president John Lindley and executive director Rebecca Rhine.
Like what you see? Then fill your boots…
There’s MUCH more where that came from! Want all the jaw-dropping stories from the world of showbiz and up to the minute news from TV and soaps?
Well, we’ve got you covered with our showbiz, TV and soaps newsletters – they’ll drop straight into your inbox and you can unsubscribe whenever you like.
We’ll bring you the inside track from telly expert Ed Gleave and soap specialist Sasha Morris. Oh, and your daily fix of Piers, Katie Price, Demi Rose and all your other Daily Star favs.
You can sign up here – you won’t regret it…
She worked with Adam Egypt Mortimer on action film Archenemy in 2020.
He said: “I’m so sad about losing Halyna. And so infuriated that this could happen on a set. She was a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and to film.”
“She as a brilliant mind for light and texture. Her tastes and sensibility of what is cinematic were a huge asset for executing our style — the grimy but beautiful feeling I referred to as ‘romantic brutalism’,” he also said in a post about her last year.
“Being Ukrainian, she had a strong sense of a non-American approach”
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
