RIP – Who Halyna Hutchins? Cinematographer Killed By Actor Alec Baldwin on Movie Set – Ms Hutchins, who was working as the director of photography on the movie Rust, was airlifted to the University of New Mexico Hospital, where she was pronounced dead, authorities said.
Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins accidentally shot dead by 63 year-old Hollywood star Alec Baldwin on the set of Baldwin’s movie Rust, has been remembered as a ‘brilliant talent’ and a rising star.
Who Halyna Hutchins?
Halyna Hutchins is a Los Angeles based cinematographer who enjoys experimenting with lighting and impressionistic storytelling.
The 42 year-old was injured when a prop gun was discharged by Baldwin on Thursday, October 21.
The mother-of-one was taken to the University of New Mexico Hospital by helicopter, and was pronounced dead at the hospital.
Hutchins was born in the Ukraine and grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle before attending Kyiv National University.
After graduating with a degree in international journalism, she worked as an investigative journalist for British documentaries in Eastern Europe.
However, Hutchins’ true passion lay in filmmaking, and she moved to Los Angeles, where she got work as a production assistant and a grip electric.
Tributes have been paid to a cinematographer who died after Alec Baldwin fired a prop firearm on a film set.
Ms Hutchins was working as the director of photography on the Western movie Rust.
The 42-year-old had the same production role on the 2020 action film Archenemy and has worked on a number of other movies, including The Mad Hatter and Blindfire.
In 2015, Ms Hutchins graduated from the American Film Institute and, in 2019, she was named a “rising star” by American Cinematographer.
According to IMDb, she also won the English Riviera Film Festival’s Jury prize for best cinematography for the short film Treacle in 2019.
Instagram post by woman shot by Alec Baldwin
Many of her colleagues and friends have paid tribute to the “brilliant talent” following her death.
Casting director Sidra Smith posted on Instagram: “This breaks my heart into pieces”
You May Also Like:
- Police charge 36-year-old man with murder of primary school teacher Sabina Nessa
- Relief and disbelief greet R. Kelly guilty verdict
- Singer Phi Nhung Died Age 49 – Husband, Family and Daughter
- What Did Yandere Freak Do? TikTok Murder or Manslaughter Explained
- Ken Griffin Lied Under Oath- Is He Going To Jail? Net Worth 2021
Actor Joe Manganiello, who starred in Archenemy called her an “incredible talent”
Director of the Archenemy, Adam Egypt Mortimer said she was “brilliant”
Lord of the Rings star, Elijah Wood said it was “devastating news”
Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn said his “heart goes out” to Ms Hutchins’ family
Screenwriter, Christopher Robert Cargill, known for Sinister, said Ms Hutchins’ death was a “tragic loss”
Brandon Lee’s sister, Shannon said on Twitter: “No one should ever be killed by a gun”
In 1993, Brandon Lee, 28, son of the late martial arts star Bruce Lee, died after being hit by a .44-caliber slug while filming a death scene for the movie The Crow.
Director and cinematographer, Elle Schneider said she was “devastated” by the “especially cruel” situation
The director of Rust, Joel Souza, was also injured in the incident and taken to hospital. He has since been discharged.
View this post on Instagram
Halyna Hutchins: 5 Fast Facts You Need to Know
The prop gun misfired, Deadline reports, when Baldwin was holding it on the New Mexico set of the movie Rust, which Variety describes as an “independent feature” being shot near Santa Fe.
According to the Santa Fe New Mexican, Baldwin was questioned by authorities and was seen in tears. The newspaper reported that authorities are trying “to determine if the incident was an accident” as well as “what type of projectile was discharged.”
According to Variety, Baldwin, a co-producer on the movie, plays “infamous outlaw Rust, whose 13-year-old grandson is convicted of an accidental murder.”
The death brings to mind the tragic ending of Brandon Lee, the son of Bruce Lee, who was killed in a prop gun accident on the set of the movie, The Crow in 1993. According to Biography.com, in that case, a bullet had become stuck in a prop gun that was only supposed to fire blanks. It’s not clear what specifically led to the prop gun tragedy that took Hutchins’ life.
Tributes flowed for Hutchins. “Absolutely horrifying and devastating news about cinematographer, Halyna Hutchins. My heart goes out to her family,” tweeted the actor Elijah Wood.
Here’s what you need to know:
1. Hutchins & the Film’s Director, Joel Souza, Were Both Shot by Baldwin; Hutchins’ Last Instagram Post Spoke About the ‘Perks’ of Shooting a Western
A news release from the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department says that deputies “were dispatched to the Bonanza Creek Ranch movie set of the western ‘Rust,’ October 21, 2021, when a 911 caller reported a shooting on the set.”
The sheriff’s office “confirms that two individuals were shot on the set of Rust. Halyna Hutchins, 42, director of photography and Joel Souza, 48, director, were shot when a prop firearm was discharged by Alec Baldwin, 68, producer and actor.”
Hutchins recently posted a video of herself on Instagram riding horses, and wrote, “One of the perks of shooting a western is you get to ride horses on your day off:)”
View this post on Instagram
2. Hutchins, Who Studied Cinematography, Was From Ukraine & Called Herself a ‘Restless Dreamer’
On her Facebook page, Hutchins described herself as the “Director of Photography at ICG: International Cinematographers Guild (IATSE Local 600).”
According to her website, Halyna Hutchins was “a Los Angeles based union cinematographer who graduated from the AFI conservatory in 2015 and has since established a track record of successful narrative features. Halyna was selected as one of American Cinematographer’s Rising Stars of 2019 as well as a cinematographer for the 21st Century Fox DP Lab in 2018.”
She wrote that she “studied Cinematography at AFI Conservatory,” lived in Los Angeles, California, and was from Kyiv, Ukraine.
On Instagram, Hutchins called herself, “Restless Dreamer. Adrenaline junkie. Cinematographer |ICG Local 600| Los Angeles| AFI Cinematography ?. Represented by Innovative Artists.”
You can see examples of her work here.
3. No Charges Have Been Filed in the Death of Hutchins, Who Grew Up on a Soviet Military Base & Worked as an Investigative Journalist on British Documentaries
Hutchins’ website says that she “grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle surrounded by reindeer and nuclear submarines. She holds a graduate degree in International Journalism from Kyiv National University in Ukraine and previously worked as an investigative journalist with British documentary productions in Europe.”
According to the website, “Her work on Adam Egypt Mortimer’s art house superhero action film Archenemy, starring Joe Manganiello, premiered at Beyond Fest 2020 and was in official competition at the Sitges International Film Festival, receiving a nomination for Best Motion Picture.”
The site added: “Halyna’s recent work also includes Blindfire, racially charged cop drama written and directed by Mike Nell starring Brian Geraghty (The Hurt Locker, TNT’s The Alienist) and Sharon Leal (Supergirl, Instinct),winner of Best Crime Drama at the Houston International Film Festival, 2020.”
View this post on Instagram
It continues, “Darlin’, a horror feature lensed by Hutchins and directed by Pollyanna McIntosh (The Walking Dead), has premiered at the SXSW film festival 2019 with limited theatrical release in the US while playing internationally at the Edinburgh Film Festival, Fantasia, London FrightFest, BiFan, Sitges, Galway Film Fleadh (Best International Film nomination), Fangoria Chainsaw Awards (Best First Feature nomination).”
Authorities have not filed charges in connection with Hutchins’ death, which remains under investigation.
The investigation “remains open and active. No charges have been filed in regard to this incident. Witnesses continue to be interviewed by detectives,” the Sheriff’s Department’s news release says.
It’s not yet clear whether there is any criminal culpability, but Baldwin was criticized by many people on social media anyway.
However, others offered well wishes and prayers.
“Deputies say the incident happened when a prop gun was discharged on #Rust set – looking into how and what type of projectile was discharged. @KOB4,” tweeted Tessa Mentus, KOB4 evening anchor.
4. Hutchins Was Transported to a Hospital, Where She Died
Hutchins was “transported, via helicopter, to University of New Mexico Hospital where she was pronounced dead by medical personnel,” says the Sheriff’s Department.
“Mr. Souza was transported by ambulance to Christus St. Vincent Regional Nedical Center where he is undergoing treatment for his injuries.”
Tessa Mentus, KOB4 evening anchor, wrote on Twitter, “MAJOR #UPDATE: @santafesheriff confirms actor and producer of #Rust, Alec Baldwin, discharged the prop gun on set that killed the film’s director of photography, Halyna Hutchins (42), and injured the film’s director, Joel Souza (48). @KOB4.”
5. Hutchins Posted Photos From the Set of the Movie, Rust, Praising the ‘Incredible Sky’ at Bonanza Creek Ranch
On her Facebook page, Hutchins’ top photo, from October 19, shows her on the set of the tragic film, Rust. “Our IATSE solidarity stand on RUST,” she wrote.
On October 11, she wrote, “Incredible sky of New Mexico at Bonanza Creek Ranch. #sunset #western #filming #onlocation #bonanzacreekmovieranch.”
