Previous complaints about ‘unsafe behaviour’ assistant director who…

Who is responsible for the death of image director Halyna Hutchins on the set of the film Rust? The weapon that actor Alec Baldwin used to fire had to contain blanks. But it was loaded with real bullets.

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The investigation into the fatal shooting incident on the set of the film Rust focuses on two people. In addition to 24-year-old gun master Hannah Gutierrez Reed, assistant director Dave Halls comes into view. The man is very experienced, with The Matrix Reloaded and Fargo on his record, but according to CNN there have been complaints about his behavior on film sets since 2019. Two people who worked closely with him testified to CNN about this. The complaints are said to be about flouting safety regulations regarding weapons and pyrotechnics. There would also be inappropriate sexual behavior in the workplace.

Halls is the one who handed the gun to actor Alec Baldwin, who, unwillingly, killed image director Halyna Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza.

The police report shows that Halls yelled “cold gun” when he handed the gun to Baldwin, meaning there are no bullets in it and it’s safe to pull the trigger. In the meantime, research has shown that there was indeed a real bullet in the firearm, instead of blanks.

Safety instructions not followed

Maggie Goll, a pyrotechnic or fireworks specialist, has told CNN that Dave Halls has not held appropriate safety meetings in the past, nor has he systematically told the crew that a firearm was on set, although such an announcement is mandatory. It must also always be told whether it is a plastic replica, a weapon that has been disabled, a real unloaded weapon or one with blanks. Goll also mentioned a medical emergency on set after a fireworks incident, in which Hall is alleged to have ordered to continue filming the fire and flames scene. Without waiting for the medic and the safety officer to be back on set.

Another member of the film crew, who wishes to remain anonymous, also says that Halls was not careful with firearms safety regulations and that he declined questions about it. He was also said to have continued filming in the midst of a storm, when power lines got wet and the film crew was scared. Goll told CNN that she notified the appropriate authorities at the time, but that, to her knowledge, nothing has been done about her complaints.’

Hall did not respond when CNN asked him to comment on the allegations.

Inexperienced Weapon Master

Just before Halls got hold of the gun, Hannah Gutierrez Reed was holding it. She was the weapons master on set, the one who prepares the weapons and also explains to the actors how to handle them. There were three firearms on the set. The young woman was quite inexperienced in the trade. Last month she told the podcast Voices of the West that she had just finished shooting her first film (The Old Way with Nicholas Cage). “I almost declined because I wasn’t sure I was ready for the job. But it ran smoothly during filming.’

Hannah Gutierrez Reed is said to have first removed the empty shell from the weapon after the fatal shot, before handing the pistol over to the police.

Even before Baldwin accidentally fired the fatal bullet, seven crew members had already resigned due to dissatisfaction with the working conditions. Also, according to the Los Angeles Times, a weapon had gone wrong twice on the set.

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In New Mexico, a vigil was held for Halyna Hutchins. Some attendees called for better security measures on film sets with banners. And to stop using real firearms.

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