Alec Baldwin shooting: ‘Rust’ crew members had safety concerns before incident
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By Bob D'Angelo, Cox Media Group National Content Desk
Hours before actor Alec Baldwin fatally shot cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on the set of “Rust,” camera crew members and their assistants complained of poor working conditions and safety issues, according to a published report.
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Russ Backers, a stagehand and welder in IATSE Local 33, lays down his union pin for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a candlelight vigil for her, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Candles flicker during a vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Attendees embrace at a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, pictured in photographs in the background, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Attendees kneel at a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, pictured in photographs, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil A woman lays down a candle during a vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, seen in photographs at top right, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Attendees hold candles during a vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Attendees hold candles at a vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Attendees at a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins look at an image of her at work, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Karin Tucker, who was head of admissions for the American Film Institute when the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was a student there, takes part in a candlelight vigil for Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Lisa Walker, right, joins other attendees at a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil An image of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins is projected at top left at a candlelight vigil for her, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Attendees gather in the hundreds for a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil Attendees hold candles during a vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
Photos: Halyna Hutchins, cinematographer killed on 'Rust' set, mourned at candlelight vigil A man puts up a wreath before a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Sunday, Oct. 24, 2021, in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe, N.M., killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)
The Los Angeles Times, citing three people who were “not authorized to comment” on the record, said the workers walked off the set.
The crew members told the newspaper they were frustrated by long hours, long commutes to the Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico, and by waiting for their paychecks. The Times, quoting the anonymous workers, said that safety protocols for the low-budget film, including gun inspections, were not strictly followed. At least one camera operator complained last weekend to a production manager about gun safety on the set of the film, the newspaper reported.
Hutchins, 42, was killed and director Joel Souza was wounded when Baldwin, 63, fired a prop gun he believed was safe to use, officials said in a search warrant filed in a Santa Fe, New Mexico, court. The bullet struck Hutchins in the chest and injured Souza, 48, who was standing behind her, in the shoulder, according to The Associated Press and KOAT.
Assistant director David Halls told investigators that he did not know there were live rounds in the gun, KOAT reported. It was one of three prop guns being used as the crew was rehearsing, according to the television station.
Filming for “Rust” began in New Mexico in the first week of October, the Santa Fe New Mexican reported. Production was expected to continue into November with 75 in-state crew members, 22 principal actors from New Mexico and 230 local people providing background talent, the newspaper reported.
According to the Times, two crew members said that Baldwin’s stunt double accidentally fired two rounds on Oct. 16 after being told that the gun was “cold” -- a phrase used to describe a weapon that has no ammunition, including blanks.
“There should have been an investigation into what happened,” a crew member told the newspaper. “There were no safety meetings. There was no assurance that it wouldn’t happen again. All they wanted to do was rush, rush, rush.”
One crew member was so concerned about the prop gun misfires that he texted the film’s unit production manager, according to the Times, which reviewed the message.
“We’ve now had three accidental discharges. This is super unsafe,” the text message stated, according to the newspaper.
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office responds to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set. (Luis Sanchez-Saturno//Santa Fe New Mexican via AP)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say The Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office responds to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set. (Luis Sanchez-Saturno/Santa Fe New Mexican via AP)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say This aerial video image provided by KOAT 7 News shows the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office responding to the scene of a fatal accidental shooting at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set near Santa Fe, N.M., on Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021. Authorities say a cinematographer has been killed and a director injured Thursday after they were shot by a prop firearm on the "Rust" movie set. (KOAT 7 News via AP)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows a lighted 'emergency' sign near the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows the entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows a sign directing patients to the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say An exterior view shows a sign directing patients to the emergency entrance to Christus St. Vincent Medical Center, where "Rust" director Joel Souza was transported, on October 21, 2021, in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Souza was injured and director of photography Halyna Hutchins was killed on set while filming the movie "Rust" at Bonanza Creek Ranch on Thursday. The film's star and producer, Alec Baldwin, discharged a prop firearm that hit Hutchins and Souza, authorities said. (Sam Wasson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say Authorities identified the slain victim as Halyna Hutchins, a 42-year-old cinematographer, The Associated Press reported. She is shown here in a 2019 file photo. (Fred Hayes/Getty Images for SAGindie)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say The film’s director, 48-year-old Joel Souza, was taken to a nearby hospital and treated for injuries, officials said. He is shown here in a 2019 file photo. (Jim Spellman/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin fired 'prop gun' that killed 'Rust' cinematographer, officials say In this Sept. 21, 2015, file photo, actor Alec Baldwin attends a news conference at United Nations headquarters. A prop firearm discharged by Baldwin, who is starring and producing a Western movie, killed his director of photography and injured the director Thursday, Oct. 21, 2021, at the movie set outside Santa Fe, N.M., the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office said. (AP Photo/Seth Wenig, File)
“The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company. Though we were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down,” Rust Movie Productions, LLC said in a statement. “We will continue to cooperate with the Santa Fe authorities in their investigation and offer mental health services to the cast and crew during this tragic time.”
Thursday’s incident occurred on the 12th day of a 21-day shoot, the Times reported.
The scene to be filmed was a gunfight that began in a church, and Baldwin’s character was supposed to back out of the sanctuary, according to production notes obtained by the newspaper.
Hutchins was looking into a monitor behind a camera operator lining up her next camera shot when she was killed, the Times reported. Souza was crouching just behind her.
Baldwin removed the gun from its holster once without incident, but the second time he did so, ammunition flew toward the three people around the monitor. The bullet missed the camera operator but hit Hutchins near her shoulder and then hit Souza, according to the Times.
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years Here are some memorable photos of actor Alec Baldwin through the years. (Juan Naharro Gimenez/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1985: Author Gore Vidal poses with actors that will appear in the NBC-TV miniseries "Dress Gray" on Dec. 16, 1985. Actor Alec Baldwin is at left. (AP Photo/Lacy Atkins)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1988: Geena Davis and Alec Baldwin, right, react in horror when they first encounter the demonic Betelgeuse (Michael Keaton) in the supernatural comedy "Beetlejuice," 1988. (AP Photo)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1990: Actor Alec Baldwin, left, is shown during rehearsals at NBC's "Saturday Night Live," with musical guests the B-52s, Keith Strickland, second from left, Kate Pierson and Fred Schneider, partially obscured, in New York on April 19, 1990. (AP Photo/Mark Lennihan)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1991: Composer John Barry stands between presenters Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin as he holds his Oscar for best original score for the film "Dances With Wolves" backstage at the 63rd annual Academy Awards in Los Angeles on March 25, 1991. (AP Photo/Bob Galbraith)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1992: Actors Kim Basinger and Alec Baldwin appear at a special industry screening of "Final Analysis," in which she stars, in Los Angeles on Feb. 7, 1992. (AP Photo)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1993: Actress Julie Harris, right, poses with actor Alec Baldwin, center, and actress Joan Van Ark at the gala benefit for the American Academy of Dramatic Arts at the Plaza Hotel in New York City, Sunday evening, Feb. 7, 1993. (AP Photo/Teddy Blackburn)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1994: Actress Kim Basinger is shown in a June 26, 1994, photo with her husband, actor Alec Baldwin. (AP Photo)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1995: Actor Alec Baldwin arrives for the 1995 Tony Awards at Broadway's Minskoff Theater in New York on June 4, 1995. (AP Photo/Joe Tabacca)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1996: Al Pacino and Alec Baldwin star in "Looking for Richard." (Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1998: Married American actors Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger sit at a table during the Golden Globe Awards ceremony held at the Beverly Hilton, Beverly Hills, California, on January 18, 1998. (Ron Wolfson/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 1999: American actor Alec Baldwin and wife Kim Basinger. (Diane Freed/Liaison via Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2000: Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Kim Basinger arrive for the world premiere of "I Dreamed of Africa" on April 18, 2000, at Sony Theatres Lincoln Square in New York City. (Laura Walters/Liaison Agency via Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2001: Actor Alec Baldwin arrives at the world premiere of Disney's "Pearl Harbor" on May 21, 2001, in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii. (Chris Weeks/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2002: Actor Alec Baldwin speaks to delegates having dinner at the Florida Democratic Party State Conference on April 13, 2002, in Lake Buena Vista, near Orlando, Florida. (Matt Stroshane/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2004: Best supporting actor winner Alec Baldwin attends the National Board of Review of Motion Pictures 2003 annual Awards Gala at Tavern on the Green January 13, 2004, in New York City. (Evan Agostini/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2004: Alec Baldwin and his date attend the American Theater Wing luncheon honoring Isabelle Stevenson at the Pierre Hotel on April 19, 2004, in New York City. (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2005: Actor Alec Baldwin and daughter Ireland Eliesse Baldwin arrive at PETA's 15th Anniversary Gala and Humanitarian Awards at Paramount Studios on September 10, 2005, in Hollywood, California. (Stephen Shugerman/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2006: Actor Alec Baldwin speaks during a segment of "The Late Late Show With Craig Ferguson" at CBS Television Studios on November 3, 2006, in Los Angeles. (Frederick M. Brown/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2007: The cast of "30 Rock" poses in the pressroom with their Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series during the 59th annual Primetime Emmy Awards at the Shrine Auditorium on September 16, 2007, in Los Angeles. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2008: Actors Tina Fey (left) and Alec Baldwin pose in the press room with their Emmys for Best Actor for "30 Rock" during the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards held at Nokia Theatre on September 21, 2008, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2009: Actor Alec Baldwin (left) and his daughter, Ireland, pose with his award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Comedy Series for "30 Rock" in the press room at the 15th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 25, 2009, in Los Angeles. (Jason Merritt/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2010: Co-hosts Steve Martin (left) and Alec Baldwin onstage during the 82nd annual Academy Awards held at Kodak Theatre on March 7, 2010, in Hollywood, California. (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2011: Hilaria Thomas (left) and Alec Baldwin attend Tony Bennett's 85th Birthday Gala Benefit for Exploring the Arts at the Metropolitan Opera House on September 18, 2011, in New York City. (Jemal Countess/Getty Images for Tony Bennett)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2012: Alec Baldwin (left) and Hilaria Thomas attend the 2012 Ripple of Hope Gala at the New York Marriott Marquis on December 3, 2012, in New York City. (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2013: Actor Alec Baldwin and wife Hilaria Thomas arrive at the 19th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on January 27, 2013, in Los Angeles. (Frazer Harrison/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2014: Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Baldwin attend the Elton John AIDS Foundation's 13th annual An Enduring Vision Benefit at Cipriani Wall Street on October 28, 2014, in New York City. (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images for CIROC Vodka)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2015: Alec Baldwin and Hilaria Thomas attend OCRF's 18th annual Super Saturday NY Hosted by Donna Karan and Kelly Ripa on July 25, 2015, in Water Mill City. (Mike Coppola/Getty Images for OCRF)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2016: Alec Baldwin as Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump and Kate McKinnon as Democratic presidential candidate Hillary Clinton during the "Debate Cold Open" sketch on "Saturday Night Live" on October 1, 2016. (Will Heath/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2017: Alec Baldwin speaks onstage during the We Stand United NYC Rally outside Trump International Hotel & Tower on January 19, 2017, in New York City. (D Dipasupil/Getty Images)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2018: Board of Directors Co-Chair Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and their children attend the red carpet and chairman's reception at Suna Residence during the Hamptons International Film Festival 2018 on October 6, 2018, in East Hampton, New York. (Eugene Gologursky/Getty Images for Hamptons International Film Festival)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2019: Ireland Baldwin and Alec Baldwin attend the Comedy Central Roast of Alec Baldwin at Saban Theatre on September 7, 2019, in Beverly Hills, California. (Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Comedy Central)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2020: Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and Carmen Baldwin pose backstage at the Badgley Mischka show during New York Fashion Week: The Shows at Gallery I at Spring Studios on February 8, 2020, in New York City. (Cindy Ord/Getty Images for NYFW: The Shows)
Photos: Alec Baldwin through the years 2021: Alec Baldwin, Hilaria Baldwin and their kids attend as DreamWorks Animation presents "The Boss Baby: Family Business" world premiere at SVA Theatre on June 22, 2021, in New York City. (Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Universal Pictures)