‘Rust’ Director Says He Has “No Relationship” With Alec Baldwin, Is Unsure Whether Justice Was Done

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‘Rust’ Director Says He Has “No Relationship” With Alec Baldwin, Is Unsure Whether Justice Was Done

As a movie enthusiast with a keen interest in the behind-the-scenes drama of filmmaking, I find myself deeply moved by Joel Souza’s poignant and thoughtful reflections on the tragic events that unfolded during the production of “Rust.” His experiences have undoubtedly shaped his perspective, leading him to emphasize the importance of safety protocols in an industry where such incidents are far too common.

In a recent discussion, the director of the film “Rust,” Joel Souza, has shared insights about the making of this indie Western production. Tragically, on October 21, 2021, during the filming, he was injured, and cinematographer Halyna Hutchins lost her life when a prop gun that actor Alec Baldwin discharged accidentally went off.

Souza recently talked with Vanity Fair in an online interview, which was their first conversation about the project since the tragic incident in New Mexico. The director was questioned about whether he believes justice has been served, following the conviction and 18-month imprisonment of armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed for involuntary manslaughter. Additionally, first assistant director Dave Halls accepted a plea deal for negligence involving a deadly weapon. Although Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, his case was ultimately dropped.

“Souza admitted he wasn’t certain if justice had been upheld, nor did he understand the situation any longer. To put it straightforwardly, he confessed his ignorance on this matter.”

About who should take responsibility for the recent incident, I honestly think it’s unfair and absurd to deny that mistakes were made. No one would claim that these mistakes were deliberate. However, when it comes to matters of ammunition, firearms, and safety, there’s no room for error. It simply can’t be ignored. Therefore, the armorer had to face consequences for her actions. And in a twist of events, Dave decided he too needed to address this issue.

He added, “The live bullet got put in the gun. It was a horrible mistake to make, and [Gutierrez-Reed is] now living with the consequences of that mistake. … Everything that happened was born out of that sin, out of that moment. That single act is what put the rest of this into motion.”

In April 2023, the majority of the cast joined Souza in Montana to wrap up filming, having resumed production. As of March, the movie is now fully completed. However, Jensen Ackles did not reprise his role as the U.S. marshal and was replaced by actor Josh Hopkins in the film. The director has confirmed that they’ve already secured some foreign territories for distribution, but domestic distribution deals are yet to be finalized.

Souza shared that at first, he hadn’t intended to complete the movie. However, he ended up doing so because it would be financially beneficial for Matt Hutchins, who is now a producer on “Rust,” and out of respect for Halyna Hutchins’ final work. Souza also mentioned that in the moment when he was shot, he didn’t want to survive. But as time passed, he felt grateful for his life and wanted Halyna’s last project to be seen by everyone.

As a devoted fan, I’ve learned that the sequence filmed in a chapel where the gun accidentally went off won’t make it into the final cut of the movie, as Director Souza has firmly stated, “I’m not going back to that. I don’t want viewers anticipating or searching for such a scene. Nothing like that was ever intentionally included.”

During the interview, Souza mentioned that he and Baldwin have been acquainted since 2015 and shared a strong bond before starting work on Rust. Souza reminisced about their past, stating that they had disagreements regarding Baldwin’s character before the firearm accident. When filming resumed, Souza expressed that he made it clear to Baldwin that he didn’t want his creative direction for the project to be challenged.

Regarding our collaboration with Baldwin to complete the movie following Hutchins’ passing, Souza expressed that it was a difficult process, but we managed. He obtained the desired performance from me, and there is neither friendship nor animosity between us. We don’t have any relationship in that sense.

Souza expressed uncertainty about whether Baldwin was acting carelessly or if the actor could have taken additional precautions when checking the prop firearm.

Souza expressed that there’s a debate: one side argues that meddling with it might cause safety concerns, while the other suggests it’s just common sense to handle it carefully. Frankly, he’s unsure about the situation. The authorities have decided to file charges against him. Whether he was excessively charged, he can’t say for certain.

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2024-08-16 00:25