{"id":44092,"date":"2021-10-25T14:15:00","date_gmt":"2021-10-25T20:15:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/making-of-alec-baldwin-movie-in-n-m-is-halted-after-fatal-shooting\/"},"modified":"2021-10-25T20:15:00","modified_gmt":"2021-10-25T20:15:00","slug":"making-of-alec-baldwin-movie-in-n-m-is-halted-after-fatal-shooting","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/making-of-alec-baldwin-movie-in-n-m-is-halted-after-fatal-shooting\/","title":{"rendered":"Making of Alec Baldwin movie in N.M. is halted after fatal shooting"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"This
This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe on Saturday. Actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western being filmed at the ranch on Thursday, killing the cinematographer, officials said. (Jae C. Hong\/Associated Press)<\/span>Jae C. Hong<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

LOS ANGELES \u2013 Production of the movie that Alec Baldwin was making when he shot and killed a cinematographer last week has been officially halted, but producers of the Western described the move as \u201ca pause rather than an end.\u201d<\/p>\n

In an email to crew members, the movie\u2019s production team confirmed that work on \u201cRust\u201d has been suspended at least until the investigation is complete. The team said it is working with law enforcement and is conducting its own internal safety review. The production company is also offering grief counseling.<\/p>\n

The sheriff’s investigation continued Monday. The team said that it could not respond to comments made in news reports or on social media. The email suggested that production could resume at some point.<\/p>\n

\"Attendees
Attendees at a candlelight vigil for the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins look at an image of her at work Sunday in Burbank, Calif. A prop firearm discharged last Thursday by actor Alec Baldwin, while producing and starring in a Western movie in Santa Fe killed Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. (Chris Pizzello\/Associated Press)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

\u201cAlthough our hearts are broken, and it is hard to see beyond the horizon, this is, at the moment, a pause rather than an end,\u201d the email read.<\/p>\n

Moments before the shooting, Baldwin was explaining how he was going to draw the revolver from his holster and where his arm would be positioned, court records show.<\/p>\n

The actor had been told that the gun was safe to use for the rehearsal of a scene in which he was supposed to pull out the weapon while sitting in a church pew and point it at the camera, the records said.<\/p>\n

Cameraman Reid Russell told a detective that he was unsure whether the weapon was checked before it was handed to Baldwin, and he did not know why the gun was fired.<\/p>\n

The camera was not rolling when the gun went off and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, Russell told authorities, according a search warrant affidavit released Sunday.<\/p>\n

Authorities said Friday that the assistant director, Dave Halls, had handed the weapon to Baldwin and announced \u201ccold gun,\u201d indicating it was safe<\/a>.<\/p>\n

When asked about how Baldwin treated firearms on the set, Russell said the actor was safe, citing a previous instance when Baldwin made sure a child actor was not near him when a gun was being discharged.<\/p>\n

The affidavit released Sunday also included statements by director Joel Souza, who was standing behind Hutchins and was wounded.<\/p>\n

It detailed the moments before the shooting and showed that there was turmoil on the set the day of the shooting. Several members of the camera crew walked off the production in a dispute over payment and lodging, Russell said, and he was left with a lot of work to do. Only one camera was available to shoot, and it had to be moved because the light had shifted and there was a shadow.<\/p>\n

\"Attendees
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)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Souza said he was focused on how the scene would appear on camera. He said he recalled hearing the phrase \u201ccold gun\u201d before the shooting, the affidavit said.<\/p>\n

He said the scene did not call for the use of live rounds. After a lunch break, Souza said he was not sure if the firearm had been checked again. Souza was looking over Hutchins\u2019 shoulder when he heard the gunshot, according to the affidavit.<\/p>\n

On Sunday, a crew member who worked with Halls on another project said she had raised safety concerns about him in 2019.<\/p>\n

Maggie Goll, a prop maker and licensed pyrotechnician, said in a statement that she filed an internal complaint with the executive producers of Hulu\u2019s \u201cInto the Dark\u201d series in 2019 over concerns about Halls\u2019 behavior on set. Goll said in a phone interview Sunday that Halls disregarded safety protocols for weapons and pyrotechnics and tried to continue filming after the supervising pyrotechnician lost consciousness on set.<\/p>\n

Halls has not returned phone calls and email messages seeking comment.<\/p>\n

The fatal shooting and previous experiences point to larger safety issues that need to be addressed, Goll said, adding that crew member safety and well-being were top issues in recent contract negotiations between a union that represents film and TV workers and a major producers\u2019 group.<\/p>\n

\u201cThis situation is not about Dave Halls. … It\u2019s in no way one person\u2019s fault,\u201d she said. \u201cIt\u2019s a bigger conversation about safety on set and what we are trying to achieve with that culture.\u201d<\/p>\n

The film\u2019s chief electrician, Serge Svetnoy, blamed producers for Hutchins\u2019 death in an emotional Facebook post on Sunday. Svetnoy said he had worked with Hutchins on multiple films and faulted \u201cnegligence and unprofessionalism\u201d among those handling weapons on the set. He said producers hired an inexperienced armorer.<\/p>\n

Since the shooting, other production crews have stepped up safety measures.<\/p>\n

Jeffrey Wright, who has worked on projects including the James Bond franchise and the upcoming movie \u201cThe Batman,\u201d was acting with a weapon on the set of \u201cWestworld\u201d when he learned of the shooting Thursday at a New Mexico ranch.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe were all pretty shocked. And it informed what we did from that moment on,\u201d he said in an interview Sunday at the Newport Beach Film Festival.<\/p>\n

\u201cI don\u2019t recall ever being handed a weapon that was not cleared in front of me \u2013 meaning chamber open, barrel shown to me, light flashed inside the barrel to make sure that it\u2019s cleared,\u201d Wright said. \u201cClearly that was a mismanaged set.\u201d<\/p>\n

Actor Ray Liotta agreed with Wright that the checks on firearms are usually extensive.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey always \u2013 that I know of \u2013 they check it so you can see,\u201d Liotta said. \u201cThey give it to the person you\u2019re pointing the gun at. They do it to the producer. They show whoever is there that it doesn\u2019t work.\u201d<\/p>\n

Baldwin, who is known for his roles in \u201c30 Rock\u201d and \u201cThe Hunt for Red October\u201d and his impression of former President Donald Trump on \u201cSaturday Night Live,\u201d has described the killing as a \u201ctragic accident.\u201d<\/p>\n

Flaccus reported from Portland, Oregon. Associated Press writers Michelle Eaton in Newport Beach, California, and Cedar Attanasio in Santa Fe contributed to this report.<\/em><\/p>\n

\"Candles
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)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"This
This aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., Saturday, Oct. 23, 2021. Actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western being filmed at the ranch on Thursday, Oct. 21, killing the cinematographer, officials said. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong)<\/span>Jae C. Hong<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Lisa
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)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Russ
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)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Attendees
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)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A Santa Fe County Sheriff's deputy briefly talks with a security guard at the entrance to the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. A camera operator told authorities that Alec Baldwin had been careful with weapons on the set of the film "Rust" before the actor shot and killed a cinematographer with a gun he'd been told was safe to use, court records released Sunday show. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong)<\/span>Jae C. Hong<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Attendees
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)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A film set at the Bonanza Creek Ranch appears in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. A camera operator told authorities that Alec Baldwin had been careful with weapons on the set of the film "Rust" before the actor shot and killed a cinematographer with a gun he'd been told was safe to use, court records released Sunday show. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong)<\/span>Jae C. Hong<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A security guard manning the entrance to the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set locks the gate after turning away workers who came to pick up equipment in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. A camera operator told authorities that Alec Baldwin had been careful with weapons on the set of the film "Rust." Baldwin shot and killed a cinematographer with a gun he'd been told was safe to use, court records released Sunday show. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong)<\/span>Jae C. Hong<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"A
A worker, who said he came to pick up some equipment, walks toward security guards at the entrance to the Bonanza Creek Ranch film set in Santa Fe, N.M., Monday, Oct. 25, 2021. A camera operator told authorities that Alec Baldwin had been careful with weapons on the set of the film "Rust." Baldwin shot and killed a cinematographer with a gun he'd been told was safe to use, court records released Sunday show. (AP Photo\/Jae C. Hong)<\/span>Jae C. Hong<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
\"Attendees
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)<\/span>Chris Pizzello<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

aerial photo shows the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe on Saturday. Actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on the set of a Western being filmed at the ranch on Thursday, killing the cinematographer, officials said. (Jae C. Hong\/Associated Press)Jae C. Hong LOS ANGELES \u2013 Production of the movie that Alec Baldwin was […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":44093,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[815],"naviga_topic":[],"class_list":["post-44092","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-associated-press-new-mexico"],"acf":[],"author_name":"dh_admin","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44092","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=44092"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/44092\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/44093"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=44092"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=44092"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=44092"},{"taxonomy":"naviga_topic","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dh.durangoherald.com\/tj\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/naviga_topic?post=44092"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}