Frame by frame, damning truth about the shot that horrified Hollywood: As harrowing video emerges showing the final moments of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’s life, TOM LEONARD examines the shooting on Alec Baldwin movie set
A young mother lies on the floor of a dusty Western film set, her life ebbing away as paramedics crowd around her. Beside her, a colleague — Joel Souza — groans in pain from his own gunshot wound.
It’s difficult to think of more disturbing footage to have come out of violence-obsessed Hollywood — because this scene is entirely real.
The final moments of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’s life — after she was accidentally shot by actor Alec Baldwin while preparing to film a scene for a low-budget movie, Rust — have been revealed by police in a trove of dozens of previously unseen videos and images.
Action: Alec Baldwin prepares to resume filming after a difficult morning on the set of movie Rust
Speedy: The actor practises
They shed new light on a tragedy that rocked Hollywood and sparked a fierce debate about safety standards.
How tragedy on set sparked blame game
The calamity that took place on a New Mexico ranch last October also set off an ugly blame game that, pending the results of a police investigation, still hangs over those responsible for on-set gun safety and the irascible Baldwin, the film’s principal star as well as its co-producer and co-writer. He has denied any responsibility, insisting he was passed the gun having been assured it was not loaded.
The Hunt For Red October and Mission: Impossible star also insists he never actually pulled the trigger, simply partially pulling back the hammer and then letting it go as he followed instructions to aim his vintage revolver at the camera.
Last week, New Mexico’s Occupational Health and Safety Bureau issued the maximum possible fine — $137,000 (£109,000) — to the production company behind the film, determining that it wilfully failed to provide adequate safety precautions…
