Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

As a seasoned observer of human drama and tragedy, I find myself deeply moved by the heartbreaking tale of Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer who lost her life in a senseless accident on the set of “Rust.” As a storyteller myself, I can only imagine the countless stories she was yet to capture and share with the world.


I chose to forego attending the heartfelt premiere for “Rust” in Poland, a gathering that brought together the grieving director and close companions of the late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, in her memory instead.

Three years have passed since the debut of the Western movie, which was halted in October 2021 following an incident where a prop gun accidentally fired on set. This unfortunate event occurred when Alec Baldwin, aged 66, unintentionally discharged the weapon, leading to the tragic death of Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer from Ukraine at the age of 42. The director, Joel Souza, also sustained injuries in the incident, being 51 years old at the time.

The movie wrapped up shooting in May 2023 and made its debut at the EnergaCAMERIMAGE Film Festival in Toruń, Poland on a Wednesday. However, despite the dismissal of his involuntary manslaughter case making headlines, Baldwin was conspicuously absent from the event.

Souza was spotted sitting in the theater with the festival’s artistic director Marek Zydowicz, as a few hundred audience members packed into the theater. 

Souza expressed his enthusiasm about sharing Halyna’s work with others, expressing hope that they would value her creations. He admitted that making this decision wasn’t straightforward, but it became crucial not only for him, but also for Halyna’s husband. He further stated that the film’s release will offer a chance to view the world as Halyna saw it.

One delightful aspect of films is that they offer a glimpse into the perspectives of those who create them, allowing you to virtually explore the world through their eyes.

‘The cinematography is stunning and I hope people can appreciate that,’ the director added. 

As an ardent admirer, I was eagerly waiting for Baldwin’s appearance at the event in NYC on Monday, but alas, he was conspicuously absent from the scene, pushing his stroller instead.

Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

It’s generally believed that Baldwin was not included in the event because there were concerns that his attendance might outshine the debut.

It’s been disclosed that the church scene, which was being worked on during the time Hutchins was fatally shot, has been taken out of the movie, according to Souza.

He said, “It’s vanished now, it no longer exists. We weren’t ever going to complete that… I altered the script and eliminated any trace of it.

As a passionate enthusiast, I found myself caught up in the digital whirlwind Tuesday morning when tickets for the world premiere went on sale, causing such high demand that the exclusive booking site experienced a crash and quickly started selling out.

In addition to presenting the first-ever performance, the festival coordinators organized a talk show following the screening, inviting Souza, filmmaker Bianca Cline who replaced the original project, as well as Halyna’s mentor Stephen Lighthill to participate in the discussion.

The trio discussed events surrounding the movie and how production continued with Bianca following Hutchins’ death, as well as talk about the role of women in cinematography and safety on film sets. 

Before the contentious debut, Baldwin faced criticism from Olga Solovey, the mother of Hutchins, who opted not to attend the occasion instead.

It had long been my dream to witness my daughter’s work debut in Poland. Sadly, this cherished aspiration was cruelly taken from me when a gun discharge by Alec Baldwin resulted in the loss of my beloved daughter.

Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

Alec Baldwin’s persistent unwillingness to apologize or accept accountability for his role in the tragedy that took my daughter’s life intensifies my suffering even more. Rather than seeking justice, he aims to inappropriately capitalize on the situation where he took her life.

I’m so dedicated to seeking justice for my daughter that I won’t be partaking in the Rust festival promotions this year. The injustice she faced is too raw and real, making it impossible for me to participate under such circumstances.

Critics have been expressing strong opposition towards the decision to debut the movie worldwide following Hutchins’ unexpected demise, as organizers had chosen to do so.

Prior to the festival, Camerimage’s director, Kazimierz Suwała, shared with THR that Halyna had a deep affiliation with this event. She visited on multiple occasions.

Additionally, her friends reached out to us, sharing that prior to the start of filming on Rust, she had expressed to them how significant this project was for her, and her ambition was to showcase it at Camerimage.

‘So the screening is only about that: fulfilling her wish of showing her film at the festival.’

As reported by Deadline, it’s mentioned that Hutchins, who was born in Ukraine, allegedly advocated to the director during filming to showcase the movie at Camerimage, an event that recognizes distinguished international cinematographers.

In the heart of the festival, I paid tribute to Halyna, a soul we lost too soon, with a profound moment of silence. Later, a panel of fellow cinematographers and I engaged in a thoughtful discussion about enhancing set safety, a topic that’s close to my heart after her departure.

Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

Now, let’s reminisce together, along with fellow cinematographers and film lovers, about her extraordinary life.

As a diligent follower of events, I found myself following the case of Baldwin’s involuntary manslaughter trial closely. However, to my surprise, the trial was dismissed, as the honorable judge determined that crucial evidence had been improperly handled.

In various instances, the actor from The Boss Baby has emphatically stated that he never fired the gun and was unaware of its containing live bullets.

In April, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, responsible for weapons on the set, received an 18-month prison sentence following her conviction related to the tragic event.

Gutierrez-Reed petitioned the New Mexico court to either overturn her verdict or arrange for a fresh trial, claiming that the prosecution neglected to disclose evidence which might have proved her innocence regarding the shooting incident on the set of Rust.

In her written ruling, Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer stated that the defense lawyers for Gutierrez-Reed failed to prove that the trial’s result might have been altered if the unavailable evidence had been presented.

Additionally, the judge declined Gutierrez-Reed’s plea for release from detention, as her petition for a retrial had already been turned down, making it redundant.

As a lifestyle expert, I’d rephrase it like this: “Last summer, I observed that Judge Marlow Sommer halted and terminated the trial of Baldwin due to misconduct on the part of the police and prosecutors. They had withheld crucial evidence from the defense during the 2021 shooting incident involving Hutchins.

Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
Alec Baldwin skips emotional Rust premiere where wounded director weeps over late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins

In a film set outside Santa Fe, the principal actor and co-producer, Baldwin, was handling a gun during a rehearsal when it accidentally discharged. The bullet struck and fatally wounded Hutchins, while Souza sustained injuries.

In March, a jury found Gutierrez-Reed guilty of involuntary manslaughter following a trial supervised by Judge Sommer. Subsequently, he imposed the maximum sentence of 18 months on her.

Gutierrez-Reed is seeking a review of her previous conviction, as it is currently being reviewed by a higher court. Previously, jurors found her not guilty of charges that she manipulated evidence during the Rust investigation.

In simpler terms, it was alleged that Mr. Gutierrez-Reed unknowingly carried live bullets on the set of ‘Rust’, and he did not adhere to essential firearm safety guidelines.

The legal team for Gutierrez-Reed pointed out several pieces of evidence they claim prosecutors overlooked. This included a report from a firearms expert detailing the operation of Baldwin’s gun, ammo later handed over to authorities, and an interview with Seth Kenney, supplier of Rust’s ammunition.

Gutierrez-Reed is currently serving her sentence at the Santa Fe County Adult Detention Facility.

In the meantime, the charges against Baldwin were dropped due to judicial rulings in Santa Fe, New Mexico. The judge indicated that mistakes in the handling of evidence by the prosecution had occurred, and these errors were significant enough to compromise the fairness of the entire trial.

The ruling was made following an extended session when the jury was absent, as the contested bullets (originally meant for evidence) were allegedly hidden from Baldwin’s legal team and misplaced within another court case folder, according to their assertions.

In this case, the situation significantly disrupted Baldwin’s trial, as he pleaded innocent to charges of involuntary manslaughter (two counts) due to accusations of negligence against him.

Lawyer Gloria Allred, speaking on behalf of Hutchins’ parents, Solovey, Anatolii Androsovych, and sister Svetlana Zemko, made a statement following the dismissal of involuntary manslaughter charges against the actor.

Allred suggested that it would be appropriate for him to express his apologies directly, either through a phone call or video chat, to the parents.

This individual was someone’s child and someone’s sibling. It’s important to remember that it’s not just about Alec Baldwin; there are other victims involved in this case. These individuals may not be famous, but their lives and well-being matter greatly.

The dropping of charges in the criminal case concerning Alec Baldwin doesn’t equate to his being cleared of any wrongdoing. It’s essential to remember that Alec Baldwin remains responsible for the death of Halyna Hutchins.

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2024-11-20 18:52

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