The assistant director who handed Alec Baldwin the pistol that murdered a cameraman believes that the tragedy would cause the film business to “reevaluate its beliefs and processes” to ensure that no one is injured again.
Following the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins and the wounding of director Joel Souza during the filming of the Western “Rust” in New Mexico on Oct. 21, David Halls issued a statement to the New York Post, breaking his silence.
Hutchins was a buddy and one of the most talented persons Halls had ever worked with, according to Halls.
In a statement, he stated, “I’m stunned and saddened by her death.” “It is my goal that this tragedy forces the industry to reconsider its beliefs and methods in order to ensure that no one is injured again throughout the creative process.”
Halls didn’t go into depth about what he thinks should be changed or how the adjustments would have prevented the incident on the set of “Rust.”
Halls’ safety record has been questioned by colleagues on two prior projects. Halls has not responded to phone calls or emails seeking comment, and his attorney has not responded to messages left by The Associated Press on Monday.
Details concerning Hutchins’ death on the set of “Rust” near Santa Fe have been revealed via court records. According to authorities, Halls passed the handgun to Baldwin and remarked “cold gun” to indicate that the weapon was safe to use.
Last week, Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza stated that there was “some complacency” in the handling of guns on set. Even though the set’s guns specialist, armorer Hannah Gutierrez Reed, stated actual ammo should never have been present, investigators discovered about 500 rounds of ammunition – a mix of blanks, dummy bullets, and probable live rounds.
Gutierrez Reed claimed, through her lawyers, that she had no idea where the live rounds originated from and that producers were to fault for hazardous working conditions.
Baldwin was practicing a scenario in which he took a handgun from his holster and aimed it towards the camera, which Hutchins and Souza were behind, according to Souza. According to Souza, the situation did not necessitate the firing of live bullets.
The inquiry is still underway, and police have stated that considerable work remains to be done before charges are considered.
The circumstances of the movie-set shooting have perplexed Hollywood professionals. Other production crews have already increased their safety precautions as a result.
