Alec Baldwin: What mistakes would have caused Halyna Hutchins’ death? Special effects specialist responds

A fatal tragedy that has not yet been determined responsible. Last Thursday, October 21, the actor Alec Baldwin He fired a prop gun and the projectile reached the director of photography Halyna Hutchins, causing her death during the filming of the movie “Rust” in Santa Fe, New Mexico (United States).

The bullet also hit the film’s director, Joel Souza, who was taken to the emergency room to be treated by specialists and is stable. Beyond that, the only thing that is known so far is that the county Sheriff’s Office is conducting the respective inquiries.

Last Friday images of Alec Baldwin were released after the event, where he looks completely dismayed when he leaves the interrogation with the authorities. “He offered his statements and answered their questions. He came voluntarily, and left the building after the interrogation was over. “a spokesman for the Sheriff’s department reported.

What would have happened?

Baldwin, who has a nearly 40-year career in the film industry, was in the middle of filming his new independent film about cowboys set in Kansas at the end of the 19th century, where guns are very prevalent.

The character of Baldwin en Harland Rust and at the time of the accident, they were filming a scene with a blank pistol. Juan Carlos Fajardo, specialist in special effects, explained to Trade that these weapons have the same size and weight as the real ones, but they are not lethal.

“The real weapon has a barrel through which the metal tip is fired, which is the part of the bullet that penetrates the target and destroys. Although it is true that the blank gun has a barrel, it is sealed, closed, covered by which nothing can be fired “, he specified.

Likewise, Fajardo pointed out that these weapons have special bullets, which only have gunpowder to generate the sound and light effect; the flash they produce comes out through small vent holes on the sides of the weapon.

How are these scenes prepared?

Productions should rehearse these types of scenes involving weapons so that the actors are clear about how to manipulate the artifact. In that sense, the special effects specialist said that, in this preparation, the actors use the exact replicas and the director marks the actions.

“There is a head of Stunts, that is, of stuntmen, who is also in that rehearsal to mark steps and times. All the actors who are going to have to use weapons in their character are trained before filming in shooting ranges so that they become familiar with weapons “, Juan Carlos Fajardo pointed out.

An important point that the specialist highlights is that in these trainings the actors are taught that a weapon – blank or not – is pointed at someone. That is a key point in that case.

Baldwin’s statements

The American actor used his social networks to comment on the accident that took the life of his coworker. “There are no words to convey my horror and sadness at the tragic accident that has claimed the lives of Halyna Hutchins, wife, mother and our admired colleague. I am fully cooperating with the police investigation to find out how this tragedy occurred, ”the first tweet reads.

“… and I am in contact with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, her son and everyone who knew and loved Halyna “, ended.

What will happen to the filming of “Rust”?

The accident has caused the recording of Alec Baldwin’s film, which was scheduled to continue until early November, to come to a standstill.

Production company Rust Movie Productions issued a statement adding that “The safety of our cast and crew remains our top priority”.