The producers of the film, in which actor Alec Baldwin accidentally shot the cinematographer to death on set, were fined, and were harshly criticized by the authorities for failing to comply with safety rules.
The makers of Rust “did not pay any attention to the risks involved in using firearms on set,” said the report by the New Mexico Department of the Environment.
The agency ordered the producer to pay the maximum fine of $136,785.
Last October, while rehearsing with what he thought was safe, Baldwin accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.
Baldwin, who is also the producer of the film, said he didn’t pull the trigger on set near Santa Fe and had no idea how the live bullet got into the gun.
In the report, the management of Rust Movie Productions company stated that “they knew that the firearms safety protocol was not followed on set, they did not consider personnel safety by not reviewing their work practices and taking precautions.”
The company stated that they do not accept the findings in the report and will appeal.
‘**Serious and deliberate mistakes**
James Kenney, of the New Mexico Department of the Environment, said: “Management has some faults, and there is more than enough evidence that if standard industry rules had been followed, the death of Halyna Hutchins and serious injury to Joel Sousa could have been avoided. Our investigation found that Rust Productions’ mistakes were both serious and We found that it was deliberate,” he said.
Company spokesperson Stefan Friedman said: “While we applaud the time and effort spent in the investigation, we do not agree with their findings and we plan to appeal. Our thoughts and prayers are with Halyna’s family.”
Alec Baldwin said that “a real bullet shouldn’t even be on set” and that the Colt 45 dummy gun fired when he cocked it.
When Baldwin said, “I held the gun where he told me to hold it and aimed it at the armpit,” he explained that for the scene he should not cock the gun and shoot. The actor said, “The trigger wasn’t pulled. I didn’t pull the trigger.”
According to court records, assistant director Dave Halls gave the gun to Baldwin and did not know it contained live ammunition.
The gun was given to Halls by the film’s 24-year-old gunman, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed. His lawyers said that Reed also said he did not know how the live bullet got into the gun.
