Woman dies in film set tragedy
BALDWIN ‘DISCHARGED’ PROP GUN
HOLLYWOOD is in shock after actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun that killed a cinematographer and wounded his director on the set of his latest film.
The 63-year-old star was reportedly in tears outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office after the tragedy on the New Mexico set of western movie Rust.
Halyna Hutchins, 42, a Ukraine-born cinematographer, died after being hit by shrapnel or bullets from the prop gun.
Director Joel Souza, 48, is in hospital. His condition is unknown. A police statement confirmed Hutchins and Souza were “shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin”.
Hutchins, who was named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer in 2019, was taken by helicopter to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she died.
No charges have been filed over the incident.
“The Santa Fe County Sheriff’s office confirms that two individuals were shot during filming of a scene on the set of the movie western Rust,” it said in the statement.
“According to investigators, it appears that the scene being filmed involved the use of a prop firearm when it was discharged. Detectives are investigating how and what type of projectile was discharged.”
Before the incident, Baldwin posted on social media a photo of himself on the set dressed in western costume.
“Back to in person at the office,” the actor, who starred in TV series 30 Rock and won an Emmy for his comic portrayal of former president Donald Trump, wrote. “Blimey … it’s exhausting.”
The set – at Bonanza Creek Ranch in Sante Fe – was sent into lockdown and production was stopped. A production spokesman said the “accident” involved “the misfire of a prop gun with blanks”.
In Rust, Baldwin stars as Harland Rust, an outlaw with a price on his head. He is producing the independent movie. Baldwin’s agent is yet to make a comment about the tragedy.