Tragedy on set of film & "Rust" takes the life of DP Halyna Hutchins REST IN PEACE!
Now this is just off the press folks the same on set mistake which took the life of the son of legendary Bruce Lee Actor Brandon Lee, who died following an accident on the set of the movie The Crow in 1993 has now happened again, and this time it’s none other then his daughter hating, Trump hating, SNL loved and American joke Alec Baldwin who while on New Mexico Set Of the movie ‘Rust’ DP Halyna Hutchins Dies After Prop Gun Misfire. The Alec Baldwin starring Western; Director Joel Souza Also Injured during the accidental shooting.
At least from reports it’s an accident but how does an accident like this happen? as of Oct. 21 when actor Alec Baldwin, 63, “discharged” a prop gun that fatally killed a crew member on his new film Rust. Director of Photography Halyna Hutchins died after the on-set incident while director Joel Souza, 42 was injured, Santa Fe Police confirmed to DEADLINE. Per the outlet, Baldwin was “unaware” of the “type of ammunition in the gun” which ultimately lead to the fateful accident. Which is unlike what happened to Brandon Lee in that he was hit by a “blank” bullet which was jammed in the gun so when they loaded the next blank and shot him from up close the explosion was so big even for a blank it destroyed his intestines, and he died on the spot.
When told he needed to shoot the scene again, Baldwin jokingly said “why don’t I just shoot the two of you” then aimed and began firing the gun. Afterward Baldwin repeatedly asked “why was I handed a hot gun?” while the woman bled out. The Daily Mail reported. #AlecForPrison pic.twitter.com/46mcgTgCys
— J. (@JamieCorridon) October 22, 2021
Police have confirmed the report, although the investigation into the incident is still ongoing. We had tried to reach out to Alec’s rep for comment, but we did not yet receive a response. Further more he’s probably not going to speak about this since he’s a heartless ahole, and he’s a communist so he doesn’t give a crap about anyone but himself.
The Western which is set in 1880s Kansas and it’s written and directed by Souza. Hutchins, a talented DP in the industry, was leading the visuals for the project. On her official website’s “about” section, Halyna described herself as a “Los Angeles based union cinematographer.” She also graduated from the AFI conservatory in 2015 and had since worked on a series of narrative shorts and features. The 42-year-old was also one of the 8 Female Cinematographer’s for the 21st Century Fox DP Lab and was featured as one of the film industry’s “Rising Stars of Cinematography 2019” in American Cinematographer.
Speaking of her time at AFI, Halyna told the magazine that it made her “rethink” who she was as an artist and how she wanted to work in the industry. “One thing I learned is that cinematography is not something you do by yourself. It’s a group [project]. You need to develop your own vision, but the key to a successful film is communication with your director and your team.” Halyna describes herself as originally hailing from Ukraine and then growing up on “a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle” what a unique locale! The late artist also shared that she had a graduate degree in journalism from Kyiv National University in Ukraine and previously dabbled in investigative journalism “with British documentary productions in Europe” before settling in to cinematography. She also spoke both Russian and English, setting her apart for work in the states.
Taking whatever production assistant jobs she could in America, Halyna also shared with American Cinematographer that she worked in fashion photography as well to learn the “aesthetics of lighting how you create the mood, the feeling.” Across Halyna’s Instagram and website reels are numerous stills and clips from short films and features she’s worked on, ranging in genre and aesthetics. Since finishing her graduate work at AFI in 2015, she completed two features, Snowbound in Colorado and Darlin’. “Right now, I’m just really interested in finding fruitful collaborations,” she told American Cinematographer regarding her quest for continued experience. “To me, it’s the collaborative effort between creative minds that elevate each other’s work.”
She added, “I’m just hoping to find my Wong Kar-wai,” citing her inspiration from the renowned Hong Kong director who specializes in bold, immersive, atmospheric works. So there is no surprise Halyna was employed for a major feature starring a well known actor like Baldwin who has not had a hit film in what a decade or two? But considering her work over the years she was very qualified for the job. In a post from Oct. 2020, the DP shared a poster from a film she photographed, Sunday’s Child, which was accepted to a few film festivals while the horror feature, Darlin’, premiered at the SXSW film festival in 2019. The film, directed by Pollyanna McIntosh (The Walking Dead), also played internationally at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Fantasia, London FrightFest, and more.
In some of Halyna’s last posts on Instagram, she shared photos from the New Mexico desert on the set of Rust. One of the shots perhaps the most touching was a large group pic of the film cast and crew as Halyna shouted out the IATSE, or The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees union.
“Standing in #IAsolidarity with our @IATSE crew here in New Mexico on RUST,” Halyna wrote in the caption, reposting from another person working on the production. The historic strike, which honors the needs of the tireless workers in Hollywood who mostly operate behind the scenes, is still putting pressure on Hollywood to negotiate better working conditions and better pay.
Although we’re heartbroken at the tragedy of Halyna’s passing, her final days of living her passion and supporting her fellow artists to live their dreams with dignity and purpose is something to be acknowledged, remembered and cherished by us all. Rest in Peace…
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