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Los Angeles Times
30-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Alec Baldwin and other ‘Rust' producers settle crew members' lawsuit
Alec Baldwin and additional 'Rust' movie producers have agreed to settle a negligence lawsuit brought by three New Mexico crew members who witnessed the 2021 fatal shooting of the film's cinematographer. Crew members Ross Addiego, Doran Curtin and Reese Price filed the lawsuit in 2023, seeking compensation for the trauma they said they suffered after Baldwin accidentally shot Halyna Hutchins. The crew members were setting up their gear in a small wooden church on the movie set when the shooting occurred. In the lawsuit, the crew members blamed the tragedy on 'dangerous cost-cutting' and a 'failure to follow industry safety rules.' The movie's star, Baldwin, also served as a producer on the low-budget western. The plaintiffs sued Baldwin, his El Dorado Pictures company and Rust Movie Productions LLC, alleging negligence and intentional infliction of emotional distress. In the suit, the crew members argued that Baldwin and other producers 'cut corners, ignored reports of multiple, unscripted firearms discharges, and persisted, rushed and understaffed, to finish the film.' Baldwin and fellow producers have long denied such allegations. Last week, the two sides asked a New Mexico civil court judge to dismiss the case. 'All claims have been settled and compromised,' attorneys for both sides wrote in a joint June 25 motion. Terms of the proposed settlement were not disclosed. Representatives for the two sides declined to comment. 'Each party has agreed to bear its own costs and fees,' the lawyers wrote. The film was running behind schedule the day of the shooting after camera crew members had walked off the set. The camera technicians have said they were frustrated by inaction over their complaints of a lack of nearby housing, rushed conditions and safety violations, including accidental gun discharges. The shooting claimed the life of Hutchins, 42. She died that day, leaving behind her husband, their son and her family in Ukraine. The producers previously settled a wrongful death lawsuit brought on behalf of her husband, Matthew Hutchins. The film's director, Joel Souza, suffered a gunshot wound. He, Addiego and other crew members testified that they struggled for months with the physical and emotional toll after the shooting. Addiego was the film's dolly operator, responsible for operating the mechanisms for camera movement. Curtin was the set costumer, overseeing costumes and accessories. Price was the key grip, who handled the nonelectric support gear. New Mexico authorities brought three criminal prosecutions, including against Baldwin, who pointed the gun at Hutchins during a setup shot for a close-up of Baldwin's prop revolver. Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter and his high-profile trial ended abruptly last July after former New Mexico 1st Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer dismissed the charge. The judge found the special prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies had concealed evidence from Baldwin's legal team, which the judge said prejudiced the case against Baldwin. At the time, the actor-producer's team was exploring whether prosecutors and sheriff's deputies botched the investigation into how the bullets made their way onto the desert set. The weapons handler Hannah Gutierrez was convicted of involuntary manslaughter following a two-week trial last year. The Arizona woman was released from prison last month after serving 14 months. Assistant director David Halls was also charged. He pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a suspended six-month sentence. Baldwin and other producers resumed production of 'Rust' in Montana 18 months after Hutchins' shooting. The film was released this spring.
Yahoo
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Hannah Gutierrez, 'Rust' western movie armorer, released from prison
Hannah Gutierrez, the weapons handler in the ill-fated Alec Baldwin western movie "Rust," has been released from prison after serving 14 months for her conviction last year of involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez was released Friday from a New Mexico women's prison after completing her sentence in the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Gutierrez was one of three people charged in Hutchins' death on the movie set south of Santa Fe, N.M., but the only one who received a felony conviction. A jury found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death following a dramatic two-week trial last year in Santa Fe. New Mexico prosecutors faulted the Arizona woman for reckless handling of firearms and ammunition in violation of gun safety rules. The special prosecutor also argued that Gutierrez had unwittingly brought the live bullets with her to the popular western film location, Bonanza Creek Ranch, and mingled them with inert "dummy" bullets used on film sets. Gutierrez has denied that allegation. There was no conclusive evidence presented about the origins of the live bullets. Baldwin, who pointed the gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal, also was charged. He pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the shooting that killed the 42-year-old cinematographer, a rising star in the industry, and wounded the film's director, Joel Souza. The New Mexico judge overseeing the "Rust" criminal prosecutions, New Mexico 1st Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, dismissed the charge against Baldwin three days into his high-profile trial last July. Marlowe Sommer found the prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies had concealed evidence from Baldwin's legal team, which the judge said prejudiced the case against Baldwin. At the time, the actor-producer's team was exploring whether prosecutors and sheriff's deputies botched the investigation into how the bullets made their way onto the set. Read more: Behind the spectacular collapse of the Alec Baldwin 'Rust' shooting prosecution Assistant director David Halls was also charged in the shooting. Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a suspended six-month sentence, which ended in October 2023. Halls, who has since retired from the industry, agreed to pay a $500 fine, participate in a firearms safety class, refrain from taking drugs or alcohol and complete 24 hours of community service. Gutierrez had received the maximum sentence for her role. She was released on parole. She also is being supervised under terms of probation after pleading guilty to a separate charge of unlawfully carrying a gun into a Santa Fe bar that prohibited firearms a few days before the fatal shooting, according to the Associated Press. Terms of her parole include mental health assessments and a ban on firearms possession. Gutierrez, through her attorney, declined an interview request Sunday. 'When I took on 'Rust,' I was young and I was naive but I took my job as seriously as I knew how to," Gutierrez told the judge during her April 2024 sentencing hearing. Read more: Dramatic 'Rust' shooting testimony: 'The gun went off' and then, 'I can't feel my legs' Marlowe Sommer, who also presided over the armorer's case, gave Gutierrez the maximum sentence, saying: "You were the armorer, the one that stood between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. .. You alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal weapon." With Gutierrez's release, the criminal phase of the "Rust" saga has concluded. Several civil lawsuits against Baldwin and the producers, including from Hutchins' family members, remain unresolved. Baldwin and other actors and crew members finished filming in Montana, 18 months after the fatal shooting in New Mexico. The movie was finally released on just a handful of screens. Read more: The day Alec Baldwin shot Halyna Hutchins and Joel Souza The October 2021 shooting shined a harsh light on film set safety, particularly on low-budget productions. "Rust" was racked with problems, including allegations of safety rules and hiring inexperienced crew members such as Gutierrez. 'Rust' was just her second job as head armorer. She also was tasked with the job of prop assistant. Hours before the fatal shooting, 'Rust' camera crew members had walked off the job to protest safety concerns and a lack of housing near the film's set. Crew members complained about earlier accidental gun discharges. Gutierrez is the stepdaughter of well-known Hollywood armorer Thell Reed. Sign up for our Wide Shot newsletter to get the latest entertainment business news, analysis and insights. This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.
Los Angeles Times
25-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Los Angeles Times
Hannah Gutierrez, ‘Rust' western movie armorer, released from prison
Hannah Gutierrez, the weapons handler in the ill-fated Alec Baldwin western movie 'Rust,' has been released from prison after serving 14 months for her conviction last year of involuntary manslaughter. Gutierrez was released Friday from a New Mexico women's prison after completing her sentence in the accidental shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Gutierrez was one of three people charged in Hutchins' death on the movie set south of Santa Fe, N.M., but the only one who received a felony conviction. A jury found her guilty of involuntary manslaughter in Hutchins' death following a dramatic two-week trial last year in Santa Fe. New Mexico prosecutors faulted the Arizona woman for reckless handling of firearms and ammunition in violation of gun safety rules. The special prosecutor also argued that Gutierrez had unwittingly brought the live bullets with her to the popular western film location, Bonanza Creek Ranch, and mingled them with inert 'dummy' bullets used on film sets. Gutierrez has denied that allegation. There was no conclusive evidence presented about the origins of the live bullets. Baldwin, who pointed the gun at Hutchins during a rehearsal, also was charged. He pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter for the shooting that killed the 42-year-old cinematographer, a rising star in the industry, and wounded the film's director, Joel Souza. The New Mexico judge overseeing the 'Rust' criminal prosecutions, New Mexico 1st Judicial District Court Judge Mary Marlowe Sommer, dismissed the charge against Baldwin three days into his high-profile trial last July. Marlowe Sommer found the prosecutor and Santa Fe County sheriff's deputies had concealed evidence from Baldwin's legal team, which the judge said prejudiced the case against Baldwin. At the time, the actor-producer's team was exploring whether prosecutors and sheriff's deputies botched the investigation into how the bullets made their way onto the set. Assistant director David Halls was also charged in the shooting. Halls pleaded no contest to negligent use of a deadly weapon and received a suspended six-month sentence, which ended in October 2023. Halls, who has since retired from the industry, agreed to pay a $500 fine, participate in a firearms safety class, refrain from taking drugs or alcohol and complete 24 hours of community service. Gutierrez had received the maximum sentence for her role. She was released on parole. She also is being supervised under terms of probation after pleading guilty to a separate charge of unlawfully carrying a gun into a Santa Fe bar that prohibited firearms a few days before the fatal shooting, according to the Associated Press. Terms of her parole include mental health assessments and a ban on firearms possession. Gutierrez, through her attorney, declined an interview request Sunday. 'When I took on 'Rust,' I was young and I was naive but I took my job as seriously as I knew how to,' Gutierrez told the judge during her April 2024 sentencing hearing. Marlowe Sommer, who also presided over the armorer's case, gave Gutierrez the maximum sentence, saying: 'You were the armorer, the one that stood between a safe weapon and a weapon that could kill someone. .. You alone turned a safe weapon into a lethal weapon.' With Gutierrez's release, the criminal phase of the 'Rust' saga has concluded. Several civil lawsuits against Baldwin and the producers, including from Hutchins' family members, remain unresolved. Baldwin and other actors and crew members finished filming in Montana, 18 months after the fatal shooting in New Mexico. The movie was finally released on just a handful of screens. The October 2021 shooting shined a harsh light on film set safety, particularly on low-budget productions. 'Rust' was racked with problems, including allegations of safety rules and hiring inexperienced crew members such as Gutierrez. 'Rust' was just her second job as head armorer. She also was tasked with the job of prop assistant. Hours before the fatal shooting, 'Rust' camera crew members had walked off the job to protest safety concerns and a lack of housing near the film's set. Crew members complained about earlier accidental gun discharges. Gutierrez is the stepdaughter of well-known Hollywood armorer Thell Reed.
