BAD lighting may have complicated filming on the set of the movie Rust just moments before Alec Baldwin shot and killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
Cameraman Reid Russell, a witness of the fatal shooting that left Halyna dead, has opened up about the lighting issues on the film set prior to the accident, according to an affidavit.
The affidavit — which was used to obtain a warrant, according to Styleheavens — states: "[Russell] said while preparing, there was a shadow coming from the outside light and they had to move the camera at a different angle from Alec.
"He said Alec was trying to explain how he was going to draw out the firearm and where his arm would be at when the firearm was pulled from the holster."
"[Russell] was not sure why the firearm was discharged and just remembered the loud bang from the firearm," the warrant adds about the shooting which left film director Joel injured with a bullet to his right shoulder and Halyna dead.
Alec's gun reportedly had live ammo in it as the star was heard asking "why was I handed a hot gun" after accidentally shooting a crew member.
The actor was said to be practicing a "cross draw" technique and pointing the prop pistol at a camera when his firearm went off.
Cinematographer Halyna, 42, died from her injuries while director Joel, 48, was also hurt but has since been released from the hospital.
In the newly released affidavit, Joel recounted to investigators that he heard the phrase "cold-gun" as he prepped the scene, the New York Post reported.
The phrase is supposed to confirm that the weapon was safe to shoot and not loaded with live rounds.
As per the document, Joel revealed he had no recollection of whether the "revolver" was actually checked after a lunch break prior to the tragic incident that took place on October 21, 2021.
Read our Alec Baldwin shooting live blog for the very latest news and updates…
Joel explained that the firearms on the film set normally go through a safety check process: Armorer Hanna Gutierrez-Reed checks the guns first, followed by assistant director Dave Halls.
According to the document, cameraman Reid remembered seeing Joel with "blood on his person" and Halyna "unable to feel her legs."
He also noted that the incident was not caught on film.
Meanwhile, Rust assistant director Dave Halls had a record of “unsafe practices” on set, a prop maker has claimed.
Maggie Goll, who worked on Hulu’s Into the Dark anthology series in February 2019, said Halls “did not maintain a safe working environment."
In a statement to NBC News, Maggie said that Dave "at first he seemed like an older, affable first [assistant director] with the usual run of idiosyncrasies, but that facade soon disappeared."
"Sets were almost always allowed to become increasingly claustrophobic, no established fire lanes, exits blocked … safety meetings were non-existent,” she added.
Halls handed the prop gun to Alec, 63, before the actor fatally shot Halyna, 42, at the Bonanza Ranch in New Mexico, indicating the weapon didn’t carry live rounds by showing “cold gun,” according to court records.
Maggie, an experienced special effects technician and pyrotechnician claimed in one instance Dave had attempted to keep filming after the lead pyrotechnician had suffered a medical emergency and the set had become unsafe.
"There is absolutely no reason that gun safety should be ignored on set, even when it is a non-firing prop firearm," Maggie said.
It has also been said that the prop gun, held by Alec, was used for off-set target practice fun by the film's crew using real bullets, reports TMZ.
It’s also been alleged that Alec allegedly broke the "golden rule of safety" when he pointed a prop gun at a film crew member and shot them dead.
We pay for your stories!
Do you have a story for The US Sun team?
Email us at [email protected] or call 212 416 4552.
Like us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/TheSunUS and follow us from our main Twitter account at @TheSunUS
Source: Read Full Article
