Rust Shooting: Baldwin Sued Following Accidental Killing

By Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

Nearly four months after actor Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged a firearm on the set of movie Rust, the husband and son of killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins have filed a lawsuit for her wrongful death. The people involved, as well as the production as a whole, have already been sued several times over the tragic accident. However, this is the first time a suit has been brought by persons related to the victims.

The suit itself targets both the producers on the Rust set, as well as Alec Baldwin, who fired the fatal shot. Its focus mirrors past allegations against the production that safety concerns and proper protocol were disregarded in favor of saving money on set. Similar concerns had been brought to production management long before the fatal shot was fired. There were several other accidental discharges of firearms being reported along with managing forcing crew members to drive over 50 miles to and from set following sometimes 12-hour long shifts, seemingly for the purpose of saving money. 

Additionally, the action draws scrutiny to how the event actually unfolded. Baldwin claims that when he was handed the gun, he was told it was “cold” meaning it was not loaded with any ammunition, including blanks. Regardless, the suit alleges he should have checked the gun, or a fake gun should have been used for the rehearsal, as is industry standard. It also combats Baldwin’s claim in an interview with ABC that he “didn’t pull the trigger.” Though Baldwin has yet to face any criminal charges, and it is unlikely that he will, the suit implicated the actor directly in the death of Hutchins in a very powerful way. It claims that if not for the disregard of safety standards and the recklessness of Baldwin, “Halyna Hutchins would be alive and well, hugging her husband and 9-year-old son. ” 

Baldwin’s attorney has claimed that allegations of the actor’s carelessness are entirely false, but it is clear to see that with no charges being brought against anyone for the tragedy on the Rust set, the family of Hutchins is looking for answers as to who can be held responsible for her death. The film industry at large has still been reeling from the incident, and the implications of this fatal tragedy may affect Hollywood for years to come. 

Rust Shooting: Conflicting Tales of A Tragedy Behind the Silver Screen

By: Madelynn Loring, Staff Writer

On October 21, 2021, tragedy struck the set of upcoming Western drama Rust. While rehearsing a scene, Alec Baldwin, the lead actor of the film, fired a live round from a revolver, killing award-winning cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza. Since then, Hollywood has been reeling from the shock of this traumatic event. The actor has reportedly been distraught, making only a few public statements about the event and complying completely with law enforcement investigations. Rust Production Studios, responsible for the production of the film, released a statement claiming that, “the safety of the cast and crew is [their] top priority,” yet conflicting stories have emerged from the set concerning the accuracy of this claim. 

Before the fatal shooting occurred, there were already safety concerns on the set of Rust, including other incidents with prop guns. Two misfires had occurred previously, in which Baldwin’s stunt double fired two shots from a prop gun which was supposed to be “cold” or unloaded of all ammunition, including blanks. Aside from concerns over arms on the set, six unionized camera crew members walked off the morning of the shooting, citing concerns about the rushed and inconsiderate atmosphere of the set. They alleged that they were told they would need to commute 50 miles from Albuquerque to the set following their 12-hour shifts, or pay for their own lodging in nearby Santa Fe. Citing concerns about safety on the road, they refused to work, and instead of heeding Hutchins’ concerns over the safety of her team, a producer threatened to call security on the union members if they did not leave immediately. They were then replaced nearly instantaneously by non-union camera operators, just six hours before the shooting occurred. 

While these concerns are certainly a cause of dismay at what appears to be an avoidable tragedy, these claims have been countered by other crew members and Baldwin himself. On November 3, Baldwin shared the post of crew member Terese Magpal Davis, who staunchly denied the claims that the set of Rust was unsafe in any capacity. She aligned herself with the production studio’s assertion that the set was up to standard, saying that, “they cared about us while we all worked together and they continue to care.” She even went so far as to decry the statements of her fellow workers, saying that, “the story being spun of us being overworked and surrounded by unsafe, chaotic conditions is bullshit,” and that the “ugly, false noise is compounding the hurt.” Baldwin resposted her statement on his Instagram, evidently unconvinced by claims of unsafety.

As this is such a convoluted and chaotic situation, it is unlikely that we will ever know the truth or fully understand what transpired on the set of Rust before the fatal accident, and what, if anything, could’ve been done to prevent it. However, it is worth noting that Alec Baldwin is, without a doubt, a high-budget actor and thus his experience is unlikely to be even remotely similar to that of crew members who, as shown by the actions of the producer the morning before the shooting, were viewed as entirely replaceable. This tragedy is drawing immense attention to the importance of valuing workers, even if they aren’t Golden Globe winners. Had concerns from the crew members over gun and other safety concerns been addressed, or had filming at least been delayed for the unionized workers grievances to be acknowledged, perhaps the untimely death of Hurchins could have been avoided.