Alec Baldwin fired prop gun, killing 1 on movie set, Oct 2021 #4

[DI_Isokawa]

I wonder how a criminal investigation can be 'complete', if witnesses on scene won't speak to investigators?

The article refers to the NM state OSHA investigators, not the Sheriff's office.

 

[deugirtni]

I wonder how a criminal investigation can be 'complete', if witnesses on scene won't speak to investigators?

The article refers to the NM state OSHA investigators, not the Sheriff's office.

Yes.. I guess I was being an arse and assuming that he also wasn't speaking to LE.. which isn't necessarily the case. Jeez, can't say I blame him for not wanting to speak to additional organizations until he finds out how the police investigation is going to potentially affect him. imo.

 

[Cool Cats]

‘Rust’ First Assistant Director Ordered By Judge To Stop Avoiding OSHA Over Fatal Alec Baldwin Film Shooting

A New Mexico judge has ordered that the First Assistant Director at the heart of the fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins can no longer avoid sitting down with the state investigators.

District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid on Friday granted the state’s Environment Department request for a subpoena for David Halls. After apparently ducking various attempts at an interview as a part of an ongoing Occupational Safety and Health probe, Halls is now expected to sit down with state officials on Tuesday morning.

"It’s the bureau’s understanding that Mr. Halls was inside the church when this fatality and injury, this workplace fatality and injury to the second person, occurred,” read court documents first filed this week by New Mexico Environment Department assistant general counsel Mia Napolitano. “So the bureau needs to question Mr. Halls on what occurred inside the church.”

The defendant in the state filing was actually Rust Movie Productions LLC, of which Halls is considered by the Environment Department to be in a management position.

“Mr. Halls could also inform the bureau as to who else was inside the church and who else we should interview,” the filing adds. “It’s also the bureau’s understanding Mr. Halls conducted safety meetings on site and had a role in safety on set.”

 

[DI_Isokawa]

Mr. Halls has an interesting background:

Alec Baldwin Fatal Shooting Film AD Was Fired Before For Gun Discharge – Deadline

 

[MsMarple]

‘Rust’ First Assistant Director Ordered By Judge To Stop Avoiding OSHA Over Fatal Alec Baldwin Film Shooting

A New Mexico judge has ordered that the First Assistant Director at the heart of the fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins can no longer avoid sitting down with the state investigators.

District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid on Friday granted the state’s Environment Department request for a subpoena for David Halls. After apparently ducking various attempts at an interview as a part of an ongoing Occupational Safety and Health probe, Halls is now expected to sit down with state officials on Tuesday morning.

"It’s the bureau’s understanding that Mr. Halls was inside the church when this fatality and injury, this workplace fatality and injury to the second person, occurred,” read court documents first filed this week by New Mexico Environment Department assistant general counsel Mia Napolitano. “So the bureau needs to question Mr. Halls on what occurred inside the church.”

The defendant in the state filing was actually Rust Movie Productions LLC, of which Halls is considered by the Environment Department to be in a management position.

“Mr. Halls could also inform the bureau as to who else was inside the church and who else we should interview,” the filing adds. “It’s also the bureau’s understanding Mr. Halls conducted safety meetings on site and had a role in safety on set.”

Looks like things are getting real. I suspect the state of New Mexico isn’t too keen on their investigations being shoved aside by Hollywood lawyers. IMO.

 

[DI_Isokawa]

Looks like things are getting real. I suspect the state of New Mexico isn’t too keen on their investigations being shoved aside by Hollywood lawyers. IMO.

But it loves the 993 million dollars of economic activity the productions bring in:

Study: NM film incentives produce $933M in annual economic impact

The downside of the tax-incentivized indie film business is covered here:

‘Rust’ Producers’ ‘The Tiger Rising’ Presented Red Flags – The Hollywood Reporter

Accident investigations that start after law enforcement has moved in seldom come up with any meaningful results. Everybody has lawyered up, clammed up, and compared notes in private. Plus in this case there is a paucity of physical evidence and what there is has been hopelessly contaminated.

 

[al66pine]

AD Halls. Background?

Mr. Halls has an interesting background: Alec Baldwin Fatal Shooting Film AD Was Fired Before For Gun Discharge – Deadline

@DI_Isokawa Thanks for your post w link to Oct 29 article.*
I don't pretend to know anything about unions or how union status may/may not be significant or even relevant to the events. However FWIW as a fi-core member Mr. Halls had taken "Safety Pass Training" required for ADs.

I wonder how much, if any, firearm handling was covered in the safety course, given that not all TV/movies have firearms in the script/on the set. my2cts.

________________________
From article, Halls was ---
"... what’s commonly known as a “financial core” non-member – or an “agency fee paying non-member” – meaning that he either chose not to join the DGA or had resigned his membership.
"DGA rules require that “If you are an Assistant Director, Unit Production Manager, Associate Director, or Stage Manager, you must take Safety Pass Training.” And though Halls is not a DGA member, safety records show that he has completed both “Mandatory DGA Safety Training” and “Covid-19 Prevention Training....” bbm
* ‘Rust’ First AD Dave Halls Not A DGA Member, But Took Mandatory Safety Training – Deadline

 

[al66pine]

AD Halls. Safety on Previous Set?
Also from same Deadline* article link,
Halls was fired on previous set for unexpected. discharge of firearm. Details, such as who fired gun, were not given.
I wonder if the door hit his backside on the way out. "Production did not resume filming until Dave was off-site."

Appears he is not a noob AD, as Halls has racked up (no pun intended) 83 credits as "Second Unit Director or Assistant Director" from 1996 to current, per imdb.com.**my2ct
____________________________

* "Halls had previously been fired from the set of another indie film, Freedom’s Path, in 2019 after producers said a crew member was injured when a gun was “unexpectedly discharged.” “Halls was removed from set immediately after the prop gun discharged,” the Rocket Soul Studios producers told Deadline, adding that “Production did not resume filming until Dave was off-site. An incident report was taken and filed at that time.”
‘Rust’ First AD Dave Halls Not A DGA Member, But Took Mandatory Safety Training – Deadline

** Dave Halls - IMDb

 

[steeltowngirl]

‘Rust’ First Assistant Director Ordered By Judge To Stop Avoiding OSHA Over Fatal Alec Baldwin Film Shooting

A New Mexico judge has ordered that the First Assistant Director at the heart of the fatal shooting by Alec Baldwin of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins can no longer avoid sitting down with the state investigators.

District Court Judge Bryan Biedscheid on Friday granted the state’s Environment Department request for a subpoena for David Halls. After apparently ducking various attempts at an interview as a part of an ongoing Occupational Safety and Health probe, Halls is now expected to sit down with state officials on Tuesday morning.

"It’s the bureau’s understanding that Mr. Halls was inside the church when this fatality and injury, this workplace fatality and injury to the second person, occurred,” read court documents first filed this week by New Mexico Environment Department assistant general counsel Mia Napolitano. “So the bureau needs to question Mr. Halls on what occurred inside the church.”

The defendant in the state filing was actually Rust Movie Productions LLC, of which Halls is considered by the Environment Department to be in a management position.

“Mr. Halls could also inform the bureau as to who else was inside the church and who else we should interview,” the filing adds. “It’s also the bureau’s understanding Mr. Halls conducted safety meetings on site and had a role in safety on set.”

New Mexico OSHA is involving themselves now. Did they have firearm set safety rules in place prior to the shooting fatality on the Rust set? Apparently some states (like California) require at least some level of safety coordination between the state OSHA and DGA.

The only mandate is, prior to a DGA member starting work, “The Employer must confirm with the DGA, in writing, that it has established a written safety program to the extent required by applicable law.” In many states outside of California, there is no such requirement.
https://www.latimes.com/entertainme...oblems-on-set-here-are-some-ways-to-find-help

The cinematographer union is asking for industry change.

SAFETY
RESOLUTION: The Use of Firearms on Set
In light of the tragedy that took place on the set of Rust in New Mexico that led to the death of our beloved member, Halyna Hutchins, on Sunday, November 14, the members of the IATSE Local 600 Safety Committee recommended that Local 600’s National Executive Board adopt the following resolution regarding the use of firearms in our industry. The National Executive Board endorsed the resolution unanimously.

While we recognize that Local 600 alone cannot implement these rules and/or laws, we feel it is important that Local 600 lead the conversation. This conversation should include all other stakeholders in our industry, including those represented by the other Unions and Guilds, as well as experts in the field of firearm use on set.

WHEREAS, we recognize that live firearms have, when dealt with professionally, been safely used on and continue to be safely used on film sets without incident, and;

WHEREAS, we recognize that higher qualifications to become an armorer and a unified set of guidelines for firearm use on set are needed within our industry, and;

WHEREAS, we recognize that safety in the workplace, including firearm safety, is always the responsibility of the employer;

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED, that the Local 600 Safety Committee and the Local 600 National Executive Board recommend the following plan be pursued by the Local in an effort to ensure that we never experience another firearm related injury or death on set:

• An industry wide pledge to use replicas whenever possible, and when not possible, to use only modified firearms that cannot fire live ammunition (defined as ammunition with a projectile).
• A proposal that the firearm safety standards outlined in the CSATF Safety Bulletins #1 & #2 be a contractual requirement through all national IATSE collective bargaining agreements.
• The introduction of legislation that requires adherence to the firearm safety standards outlined in the CSATF Safety Bulletins #1 & #2, including the prohibition of live ammunition on any film set.
• A requirement that CSATF’s Course S - Firearm Safety for the Entertainment Industry, or an equivalent training, be mandatory for any individual on set, including, but not limited to, all crew and members of any Guild employed on production.
• A requirement that a properly trained and certified armorer be present on any set acting solely as the armorer on any day where any firearm, whether a prop or modified to shoot blanks or not, is expected to be used. The armorer must have the final word on how many armorers are required when firearms are used on sets. This requirement does not apply to rubber guns.
• The posting and discussion of CSATF Safety Bulletins #1 & #2 at a safety meeting on any day firearms are on set.
• A detailed explanation and demonstration of the protocols for handling and clearing weapons given by the armorer or their appointed designee each time a gun is on set. Guns must be cleared before and after each take.
• A requirement that written protocols, including a proper chain of custody and the sequence of clearing any firearm, must be discussed during the safety meetings for all productions when firearms are used on set. These protocols must be attached to the call sheet on any day that a gun is being used.
• Continued advocacy for an independent safety officer on every set (modeled after the safety officer required in Australia and New Zealand).
• A mandate that production provide a detailed incident report both verbally and in writing to the cast and crew and their labor organizations if any incident involving a firearm occurs on set.

Adopted by the International Cinematographers Guild, IATSE Local 600 National Executive Board on Sunday, November 14, 2021.

 

[DI_Isokawa]

The only mandate is, prior to a DGA member starting work, “The Employer must confirm with the DGA, in writing, that it has established a written safety program to the extent required by applicable law.” In many states outside of California, there is no such requirement.

The New Mexico Film Office set safety page can be found at:

Set Safety – NMFilmOffice

This page was put up on 9 Nov 2021:

New Mexico Film Office adds 'Set Safety' tab to website

 

[steeltowngirl]

The New Mexico Film Office set safety page can be found at:

Set Safety – NMFilmOffice

This page was put up on 9 Nov 2021:

New Mexico Film Office adds 'Set Safety' tab to website

Thank you for locating this. I like that they are asking for more state involvement:

Forrest said, while putting these resources in one place is helpful, the state could take enforcement a step further.

"Would it be the worst idea in the world to have a safety czar at the state level, who would visit sets and be able to look at the programs and standardize what sort of procedures are going on," he said.

He argued the change would add protections to New Mexico's film industry for our current and future workers.

"We want our students to work," he said. "We want to put people into the workforce and we don't want people to be unsafe, we don't want people to get hurt."

 

[Gardenista]

Alec Baldwin's Cell Phone Target of New Search Warrant in 'Rust' Case

 

[DI_Isokawa]

Alec Baldwin's Cell Phone Target of New Search Warrant in 'Rust' Case

The interesting part of the story is that the sheriff is interested in stuff that happened before production started.

 

[MajorHoople]

Search warrant issued for Alec Baldwin's phone weeks after fatal shooting on Rust set | Daily Mail Online

"Judge David Segura, a magistrate in Santa Fe, approved the request on Thursday afternoon.

The investigator, Detective Alexandria Hancock - referred to in the warrant as the 'affiant' - said that they requested Baldwin hand over his phone, but the actor and his lawyers said that they require a warrant first.

'Affiant requested Alec's phone from him, as well as his attorney, and was instructed to acquire a warrant,' the warrant request states.

Hancock, in the request for the warrant, spelt out in detail what she wanted to obtain from Baldwin's phone - a list that included his contacts, call records, photos, videos, and text messages."

 

[RANCH]

Hannah said when she checked the gun after the incident, she checked the cartridge which would have been the one fired and said the fist one she pulled out didn't have: “that” (pointing to the projectile end of a bullet). Hannah said she checked all the other rounds and they all had the ringing sound when she shook them, or a hole in the side, indicating it was a dummy round. Hannah advised the box of dummies may have some “wonky” rounds, and they received the box approximately a week ago from Seth (Seth Kenney), her supplier.

The above quote is from the search warrant for AB's phone. HGR say's that there may have been some "wonky" rounds in the box of dummies she used. Why she would load a "wonky" round into the gun is beyond comprehension. The only way it could happen is if she was negligent in doing her job. JMO.

BREAKING: Authorities probing the fatal 'Rust' shooting have filed a search warrant to get Alec Baldwin's cell phone, according to documents obtained by Insider

 

[DI_Isokawa]

This is getting more bizarre by the minute.

Why did she "check the gun?" Has she never watched a police drama? It was evidence in a fatal shooting.

And why did the inventory of dummy rounds require "topping up?" They are static props, not consumables.

You should go to the link and download the affidavit. There is some interesting stuff there.

 

[10ofRods]

The affidavit is indeed interesting - AB's entire digital life is being requested.

I figure that LE have received varying accounts from the witnesses, so far, and that things do not tally up. In particular, it will be interesting to see whether AB had texted HGR before she was hired and what exactly was exchanged before, during and after hiring.

Did AB have direct say in rejecting the more experienced (and more expensive) armorer? His PR team has put it out and about that HGR had "two years" of experience (which she denies on a podcast she did). In fact, she had been hair and wardrobe until two months before being contracted for Rust.

 

[10ofRods]

The interesting part of the story is that the sheriff is interested in stuff that happened before production started.

Yes - exactly. Who hired HGR? And why? What was that discussion like?

I bet it's all preserved in AB's iCloud account.

 

[Luna20]

Search warrant issued for Alec Baldwin's phone weeks after fatal shooting on Rust set | Daily Mail Online

"Judge David Segura, a magistrate in Santa Fe, approved the request on Thursday afternoon.

The investigator, Detective Alexandria Hancock - referred to in the warrant as the 'affiant' - said that they requested Baldwin hand over his phone, but the actor and his lawyers said that they require a warrant first.

'Affiant requested Alec's phone from him, as well as his attorney, and was instructed to acquire a warrant,' the warrant request states.

Hancock, in the request for the warrant, spelt out in detail what she wanted to obtain from Baldwin's phone - a list that included his contacts, call records, photos, videos, and text messages."

So that means he had the opportunity to delete any incriminating correspondence. He must be so angry!

 

[jjenny]

The above quote is from the search warrant for AB's phone. HGR say's that there may have been some "wonky" rounds in the box of dummies she used. Why she would load a "wonky" round into the gun is beyond comprehension. The only way it could happen is if she was negligent in doing her job. JMO.

BREAKING: Authorities probing the fatal 'Rust' shooting have filed a search warrant to get Alec Baldwin's cell phone, according to documents obtained by Insider

What did she even mean by "wonky" rounds? Dummy rounds aren't supposed to be functional, how can they be wonky?