(CNN) — The movie industry was shocked and mourning after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed on set when actor/producer Alec Baldwin discharged a prop firearm in October 2021.
Baldwin was charged on January 19, 2023 with “involuntary manslaughter” in the fatal shooting on the set of “Rust,” the Santa Fe district attorney’s office said.
Hutchins, who was 42, was the cinematographer on “Rust,” a western being shot in New Mexico that starred Baldwin, Travis Fimmel and Jensen Ackles.
According to law enforcement statements provided to CNN, Hutchins was shot around 1:50 p.m. on October 21 local time and airlifted to hospital, but died of her injuries.
Born in the Ukraine, Hutchins lived in Los Angeles and graduated from the American Film Institute in 2015. She is credited with producing 49 film, television and video titles during her career, according to IMDB.
She has worked on films such as “Archenemy,” starring Joe Manganiello, which was released last year, and was named a 2019 American Cinematographer magazine Rising Star.
A rising star and a restless dreamer
According to her website, Hutchins grew up on a Soviet military base in the Arctic Circle and initially studied journalism, graduating from kyiv National University with a degree in international journalism, before moving on to work on documentary productions across Europe and moving to the movies.
She describes herself on her Instagram page as a “restless dreamer. Adrenaline junkie. Cinematographer” and shared photos from the set of “Rust.”
Her last post, on Wednesday, featured a video of her riding a horse in New Mexico.
What Alec Baldwin Said
“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness at the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours,” Alec Baldwin said in 2021, in his first public statement after the tragic event.
“I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in contact with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart breaks for her husband, her son and everyone who knew and loved Halyna. “He added in a brief statement posted on his Twitter account.
The memory of the agency that represented Hutchins
The agency that represented Halyna Hutchins describes her as a “ray of light” who was always smiling and always had hope.
In a statement posted on their official Instagram page, Innovative Artists says Hutchins’ talent “was immense, second only to the love she had for her family.”
“Everyone in her orbit knew what was coming; a star cinematographer, who would be a force to be reckoned with,” she says. “All of us at Innovative Artists are heartbroken. We grieve for his family and hope this tragedy reveals new lessons on how to better ensure the safety of all crew members on set.”
The voice of the directors
Film director James Cullen Bressack commented on her post to say: “I will miss you my friend… This is devastating.”
Other directors paid tribute to Hutchins.
“Archenemy” director Adam Egypt Mortimer said: “I am so saddened by the loss of Halyna. And so enraged that this could happen on a set. She was a brilliant talent who was absolutely committed to art and film.” . He said in another tweet that she had “a brilliant mind.”
The AFI Conservatory, a film school that is part of the American Film Institute (AFI), tweeted at the time: “As is profoundly true of the art of cinematography, words alone cannot capture the loss of someone so dear. by the AFI community. At AFI, we are committed to keeping Halyna Hutchins alive in the spirit of all who strive to see their dreams come true in stories well told.”
Director Joel Souza, 48, was also injured in the incident and was taken to Christus St.
Baldwin was photographed looking distraught in the parking lot outside the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Office Thursday after being questioned.
Investigations are ongoing, with many wondering how such a tragedy can happen on a movie set, 28 years after Bruce Lee’s son, Brandon Lee, was accidentally shot and killed on set.
“In love with movies”
She “was just in love with movies and movie making,” said filmmaker and journalist Jim Hemphill, who profiled Hutchins in 2019 as part of an article on rising cinematographers.
“She grew up on a Soviet military base where there wasn’t much to do but watch movies. So she fell in love with movies at a young age, she came here, she was really making a name for herself as a cinematographer of genre movies. She was well known for action movies and horror movies. I think it’s a devastating loss for everyone in the movie community,” Hemphill told CNN.
According to Hemphill, his studies in journalism and documentaries influenced his work in the film industry. “They had [las películas y documentales] this kind of immediacy and realism, as well as this eye for beauty that she had and it was a really unique look,” Hemphill said. “She was really advertising herself as someone to watch.”
The case
In October 2022, the family of Halyna Hutchins and Alec Baldwin reached an undisclosed settlement in the wrongful death lawsuit filed against the actor and others, according to a statement released by the actor’s attorney.
In January 2023, news broke that Alec Baldwin and the film’s weapons specialist, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, “will each be charged with two counts of manslaughter in the death of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the 2021 film.” , in Santa Fe County,” announced Mary Carmack-Altwies, attorney for the First Judicial District of New Mexico.
CNN’s Sandra González contributed to this report.
