Home

Alec Baldwin speaks for first time on camera since death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins on set of Rust

Headshot of Rangi Hirini
Rangi HiriniThe West Australian
Alec Baldwin and Hilaria stop to talk with photographers.
Camera IconAlec Baldwin and Hilaria stop to talk with photographers. Credit: AKMG/BACKGRID

A weathered-looking Alec Baldwin has spoken for the first time on camera since the fatal shooting on set of his new movie which killed one production staff and injured another.

Cinematographer Halyna Hutchins passed away on October 22 after she was accidentally shot by Baldwin onset of Rust when the actor accidentally misfired a prop gun.

In what appears to be an impromptu press conference with paparazzi, Baldwin and his wife Hilaria answered questions from the press — while the star recorded the ordeal on his phone.

“I’ve been ordered by the Sheriff’s department in Santa Fe, I cannot answer any questions about the investigation, I can’t it’s an active investigation,” the actor says.

Get in front of tomorrow's news for FREE

Journalism for the curious Australian across politics, business, culture and opinion.

READ NOW

“She (Hutchins) was my friend, the day I arrived in Santa Fe to start shooting I took her to dinner... we were a very, very, well-oiled crew shooting a film together and then this horrible event happened.”

Alec Baldwin and Hilaria stop to talk with photographers.
Camera IconAlec Baldwin and Hilaria stop to talk with photographers. Credit: AKMG/BACKGRID

The 63-year-old actor said he supports changes in the filming industry to increase safety for production and crew members.

“There are incidental accidents on film sets from time to time, but nothing like this...This is a one in a trillion episode, a one in a trillion event.”

The film’s director Joel Souza — who was also shot during the incident — was recently spotted for the first time with one of his arms in a sling.

Production has been halted on the film, as the investigation continues into Hutchins death.

Investigators in New Mexico, where the shooting occurred, said there was “some complacency” in how weapons were handled on set, but it was too soon to determine whether charges would be filed.

Santa Fe County Sheriff Adan Mendoza previously said 500 rounds of ammunition — a mix of blanks, dummy rounds and suspected live rounds — were found while searching the movie set.

Detectives have recovered a lead projectile they believe the actor fired and testing is being done to confirm whether the projectile taken from Souza’s shoulder was fired from the same long Colt revolver used by Baldwin.

Souza — who was standing behind Hutchins — told investigators there should never be live rounds present near the scene.

Get the latest news from thewest.com.au in your inbox.

Sign up for our emails