Alec Baldwin shooting: director 'gutted' by death of cinematographer

Director of 'Rust' pays tribute to deceased colleague Halyna Hutchins

Alec Baldwin outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico, after he was questioned about a shooting on the set of the film 'Rust', which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. AP

A distraught Alec Baldwin lingers in the car park outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. AP

The entrance to the film set of 'Rust'. Reuters

The entrance to the Bonanza Creek Ranch used for film shoots. AP

A vehicle from the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office exiting the set of 'Rust'. Reuters

Media crews outside the gate of the film set of 'Rust'. Reuters

Director of photography Halyna Hutchins was fatally shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of 'Rust'. AP

Journalists outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office in New Mexico. AP

Security guards block the Bonanza Creek Ranch. AP

The Bonanza Creek Ranch where 'Rust' was being filmed, one day after the incident. Photo: Roberto E Rosales / Albuquerque Journal

A sign points to the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe. AFP

A security guard speaks with a compliance officer from the State of New Mexico at the Bonanza Creek Ranch where 'Rust' was being filmed. AFP

Security guards at the entrance of the 'Rust' film set. AP

A vigil in Albuquerque, New Mexico, held in the honour of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. AP

A candle bearing Halyna Hutchins's name is placed among others during a vigil in her honour. AP

A large crowd of movie industry workers and New Mexico residents attend the candlelight vigil. AP

New Mexico residents at the vigil. AP

Members of the local film community mourn the loss of Halyna Hutchins. Reuters

Film industry worker Jake Extine pays his respects. AP

A sign calling for workplace safety at the vigil. Reuters

People light candles to honour Halyna Hutchins. AP

The movie director who was shot and injured in an on-set accident involving actor Alec Baldwin said on Saturday he was "gutted" by the death of the cinematographer.

Joel Souza, who was hit in the shoulder when Baldwin discharged a prop gun containing live rounds, broke his silence as the investigation entered its third day, with several questions remaining over how the mistake happened.

"I am gutted by the loss of my friend and colleague, Halyna. She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch and always pushed me to be better," Souza said.

The shot hit cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in the chest, according to the Santa Fe County Sheriff's Office. She died of her wounds and Souza, who was behind her, was injured but later released from the hospital.

Souza did not give details of the accident or his injuries but said he was "humbled and grateful by the outpouring of affection we have received from our filmmaking community, the people of Santa Fe, and the hundreds of strangers who have reached out".

On Friday a Santa Fe judge approved a warrant for the sheriff's office to seize firearms, clothing, cameras, video tapes and ammunition from the Bonanza Creek Ranch outside Santa Fe, where Baldwin was filming the low-budget Rust.

Security guards were posted at the road leading to the ranch on Saturday.

According to an affidavit filed by a sheriff's office detective, Mr Baldwin was handed what he believed was a safe or "cold" prop gun during a rehearsal on Thursday, but it contained live rounds when it was fired.

No charges have been filed in the case.

US actor Alec Baldwin was the focus of an investigation into a shocking and deadly on-set tragedy. AFP

The crew member, or armourer, who handled weapons on the set was identified by US media as a 24-year-old woman, who spoke on a podcast earlier this year about learning the job from her veteran father but who only recently worked on her first film as head armourer. The woman could not be reached for comment on Saturday.

The International Cinematographers Guild was holding a candlelight vigil for Hutchins, 42, on Saturday evening in Albuquerque, about 64 kilometres from the ranch. A second vigil was scheduled for Sunday in the Los Angeles area.

"Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision, and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words. Our loss is enormous," her husband Matt Hutchins said on Twitter.

The American Film Institute set up a scholarship fund for female cinematographers in Hutchins' honour.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed after accidental discharge of a firearm on set. Reuters

Alec Baldwin, 63, best known for his roles in TV comedy 30 Rock and his Saturday Night Live impersonations of former US President Donald Trump, said on Friday he was shocked and heartbroken at Hutchins' death and was fully co-operating with authorities.

According to media reports and accounts on social media, some of the crew on Rust had walked off the job citing concerns about safety prior to Thursday's shooting.

"We cited everything from lack of payment for three weeks, taking our hotels away despite asking for them in our deals, lack of Covid safety, and on top of that, poor gun safety! Poor on-set safety period!" one camera crew member wrote on a private Facebook page, according to Hollywood publication Deadline.com

Rust Movie Productions said on Friday it was investigating the incident.

"Though we were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down," the company said.