Rust assistant director urges industry to ‘reevaluate practices’ after death on set
The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin a gun believed to contain a live bullet made his first comments on Monday about the movie set shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins last month.
Dave Halls, in a statement to the New York Post, did not address the details of the incident, which occurred during filming of the desert western Rust last month near Santa Fe in New Mexico but said he was “shocked and saddened” at the death of Hutchins.
According to court documents, Halls told Baldwin the gun was “cold” or safe when he handed it to him during a rehearsal on set, in costume.
Halls was also quoted as telling Santa Fe sheriff’s department investigators that he did not thoroughly check the gun before handing it to Baldwin.
Hutchins was shot and killed and director Joel Souza was wounded in the shoulder when the gun went off.
Authorities in Santa Fe are investigating the incident, including how live rounds got onto the set, and say they have not ruled out criminal charges. “Halyna Hutchins was not just one of the most talented people I’ve worked with, but also a friend,” Halls said in the statement.
“I’m shocked and saddened by her death,” he added. “It’s my hope that this tragedy prompts the industry to re-evaluate its values and practices to ensure no one is harmed through the creative process again.”
The tragedy prompted questions about Halls’ conduct on the day and in some past productions when he was overseeing action on the set.
But it also inflamed a wider debate about cost-cutting and safety in Hollywood, with crew members protesting conditions during the making of TV shows and feature films.
Baldwin on Saturday said he would support limits on the use of real guns in films and television shows, and described Hutchins as a friend.
“I’m not an expert in this field. So whatever other people decide is the best way to go, in terms of protecting people’s safety on film sets, I’m all in favor of,” the actor told reporters.