The director of the movie Rust, Joel Souza, talked about the tragedy with Halyna Hutchins
16 august 2024 в 02:13
The director of the movie «Rust» Alec Baldwin, Joel Souza, breaks his silence about the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. During a new interview published on Thursday, August 15, the 51-year-old director noted that this event «completely destroyed» him.
«I don’t mean it put a nail in my career», - he explained to Vanity Fair. «I mean the person I was inside just disappeared. … You look in the mirror the next day after it happens, and there’s someone else there. I didn’t know some things about the world once, and now I do. And none of them are good».
Souza is a director and screenwriter of Western productions; Baldwin, 66, is a film star and producer. In October 2021, Baldwin was rehearsing a scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico with Souza and Hutchins behind the camera. In the scene, Baldwin aimed a gun at the camera. Unbeknownst to him, the gun contained live ammunition. The gun went off when he raised it, and Hutchins was fatally shot in the chest, with the bullet also hitting Souza in the hand.
«For me, everything became a bit unclear», - Souza claimed in his latest interview. He added that «all hell broke loose» when the gun went off. «The noise was much louder», - he explained. «It felt like I got kicked by a horse in the shoulder or someone hit me with a bat. The entire right side of my body went numb, completely numb, but at the same time, it hurt terribly».
Souza continued, recalling the «panic» that followed, noting that his first thought was «very angry» and «furious at the moment».
«I remember looking up, and they were lowering Halyna to sit her in front of me, and blood was coming out from under her white shirt», - he added. «It felt like all of this happened so quickly».
Hutchins was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead a few hours later. She was 42 years old. Since then, the film crew has been embroiled in legal disputes. Initially, Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charge was later dropped in mid-2023. However, the charge was reinstated earlier this year. In July, Baldwin’s case was closed after it was revealed that the state had withheld evidence from the actor’s defense team.
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She is serving an 18-month prison sentence.
Souza noted in his new interview that «none of this was fair», - adding that «no one deserved this, none of it, but it happened». As for Hutchins, Souza claimed that she was someone he felt a «very instant connection» with as a friend and colleague.
As for his relationship with Baldwin, Souza noted that they «survived» the ordeal and that they are «not friends», - but also «not enemies»
«I don’t mean it put a nail in my career», - he explained to Vanity Fair. «I mean the person I was inside just disappeared. … You look in the mirror the next day after it happens, and there’s someone else there. I didn’t know some things about the world once, and now I do. And none of them are good».
Souza is a director and screenwriter of Western productions; Baldwin, 66, is a film star and producer. In October 2021, Baldwin was rehearsing a scene at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in New Mexico with Souza and Hutchins behind the camera. In the scene, Baldwin aimed a gun at the camera. Unbeknownst to him, the gun contained live ammunition. The gun went off when he raised it, and Hutchins was fatally shot in the chest, with the bullet also hitting Souza in the hand.
«For me, everything became a bit unclear», - Souza claimed in his latest interview. He added that «all hell broke loose» when the gun went off. «The noise was much louder», - he explained. «It felt like I got kicked by a horse in the shoulder or someone hit me with a bat. The entire right side of my body went numb, completely numb, but at the same time, it hurt terribly».
Souza continued, recalling the «panic» that followed, noting that his first thought was «very angry» and «furious at the moment».
«I remember looking up, and they were lowering Halyna to sit her in front of me, and blood was coming out from under her white shirt», - he added. «It felt like all of this happened so quickly».
Hutchins was taken to the hospital and pronounced dead a few hours later. She was 42 years old. Since then, the film crew has been embroiled in legal disputes. Initially, Baldwin was charged with involuntary manslaughter, but the charge was later dropped in mid-2023. However, the charge was reinstated earlier this year. In July, Baldwin’s case was closed after it was revealed that the state had withheld evidence from the actor’s defense team.
Armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed was found guilty of involuntary manslaughter. She is serving an 18-month prison sentence.
Souza noted in his new interview that «none of this was fair», - adding that «no one deserved this, none of it, but it happened». As for Hutchins, Souza claimed that she was someone he felt a «very instant connection» with as a friend and colleague.
As for his relationship with Baldwin, Souza noted that they «survived» the ordeal and that they are «not friends», - but also «not enemies»
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
