Joel Souza, director of the ill-fated Western movie, shares his perspective on the production, his injuries and the legal proceedings following the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins.
- Aug 16, 2024
AceShowbiz - Director Joel Souza has spoken out about the "Rust" production, during which cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed when a prop gun handled by Alec Baldwin was discharged. In an interview with Vanity Fair, Souza expressed uncertainty about whether justice was served following the convictions of film armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed and first assistant director Dave Halls, while Baldwin's case was dismissed.
"I don't know," Souza said. "No one feels good about someone going to jail."
Regarding responsibility for the incident, Souza stated that mistakes were made but did not believe it was intentional. He emphasized the importance of accountability in matters of gun safety. Gutierrez-Reed and Halls were held responsible for their roles, while Souza acknowledged that a live bullet being loaded into the gun was the catalyst for the tragedy.
Most of the cast returned to finish filming "Rust" in Montana in 2023. Souza initially hesitated to complete the project but did so to benefit Hutchins' husband, who is now a producer on the movie. The scene where the fatal shooting occurred will not appear in the final cut.
Souza revealed that he and Baldwin had a good relationship before working on "Rust" but their disagreements over Baldwin's character caused tensions. Upon resuming production, Souza made it clear that he would not tolerate questioning of his creative vision.
"Getting through it was tough," Souza said about working with Baldwin. "We're not friends. We're not enemies. There's no relationship."
Souza questioned whether Baldwin acted recklessly or should have examined the prop gun more thoroughly. He acknowledged that charges were filed, but "whether he was overcharged, I don't know."
The interviewer described the moments leading up to the shooting, in which Souza stood behind Hutchins to observe the scene. "When I tried to get a look, that's when the gun fired," he recalled.
Souza initially hoped to succumb to his injuries but later expressed gratitude for being alive and wanting Hutchins' final work to be seen.
