Filming of the movie is on an indefinite hiatus after the cinematographer was fatally shot by Alec Baldwin during a scene rehearsal.
Producers for Rust, a Western movie starring Alec Baldwin, halted filming after the actor fatally shot a cinematographer with a prop firearm while on set. While an investigation into the shooting is underway, filming has been halted at the New Mexico ranch that has served as the set for much of the movie. Many speculated that the movie would never be completed after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and director Joel Souza were shot, but producers said Monday that the Western will merely take «a pause» from filming. «Although our hearts are broken, and it is hard to see beyond the horizon, this is, at the moment, a pause rather than an end,» an email from the producers to the crew read. The company also announced it will provide grief counseling to those involved. The email added that the production team is working in cooperation with the police investigation and launching an internal review of its own. According to an affidavit, Baldwin was practicing a scene where he had to point the revolver at the camera lens and suddenly the firearm went off, killing Hutchins. Souza was standing behind Hutchins at the time and was injured. The affidavit said assistant director Dave Halls, who handed Baldwin the gun, told the actor it was a «cold gun,» indicating the weapon was safe to use. The crew was also told that the firearm did not have live ammunition in it. For more reporting from the Associated Press, see below. 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.
