Alec Baldwin ‘plays Russian roulette’ by not checking gun before firing it on set of Rust, lawyer says | US News
A member of the Rust crew said actor Alec Baldwin “chosen to play Russian roulette” because he didn’t test the gun on set before shooting.
Mamie Mitchell, the scenario supervisor, who called 911 after Baldwin shoots and kills cameraman Halyna Hutchins, is suing the star and the film’s producers, alleging that they failed to follow safety procedures.
At a news conference, Ms. Mitchell’s attorney Gloria Allred insisted Baldwin, an “industry veteran”, should not have been trusted to deliver a gun to him other than the owner or the person who armed the weapon.
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Script supervisor Rust recalls filming moment
The weapon was given to Baldwin by the assistant director Dave Halls, who is said to have shouted “cold gun”, which is meant to be lifted with live spins, before passing it on to the actor.
Ms Allred said: “Mr Baldwin chose to play Russian roulette where he fired a gun without checking it and without the presence of an armed person.”
“His behavior and that of the producers on Rust was reckless.”
She stated that the film’s script also never mentioned the use of a gun in the scene.
The script only required three tight shots for the shot – one of Baldwin’s eyes, another over a bloodstain, and a third on Baldwin’s torso “when he reached into his holster and removed his gun”, single lawsuit said.
Ms. Allred said safety failures included allowing live ammunition to be fired on set, leaving firearms and ammunition unattended and allowing people other than equipment and prop workers to handle them.
Halyna Hutchins (left) was shot and killed by Alec Baldwin (right)
This is “a case where injury or death is not just a possibility – it is a possible outcome,” she said.
Ms. Mitchell claims assault, intentional mental distress and intentional harm.
The script supervisor said she was standing less than four feet from Ms. Hutchins when she was shot.
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‘We need help’: Call 911 after filming on set
“I will never forget what happened on the set of Rust that day,” she said through tears. “I replayed the shot and the sound of the explosion from the gun over and over.”
She said she was abandoned and “frightened about the future”.
“This violent tragedy has taken away the joy in my life,” she added.
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Rust’s head of lighting sues Alec Baldwin
Recalling the moment of the shooting, she said she heard a “loud, high-pitched gunshot” and then someone groaned.
When she turned around, she saw director Joel Souza “falling back and clutching her upper body” and then noticed Ms Hutchins “going down”.
She said she then ran outside the set and called 911 for help.
Miss Mitchell returned home and then she heard that Miss Hutchins had passed away.
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Camera declares ‘Set of Rust is not secure’
She said she never wanted what happened on the set of Rust to happen to anyone else.
The lawsuit is the second related to the shooting.
Sky News has reached out to Rust Productions for comment.
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Mamie Mitchell alleges lack of safety measures on set of Rust
The company said the safety of the cast and crew is its top priority.
Baldwin previously called the incident “one in a trillion events”.
“We were a great team when we were filming a movie and then this terrible event happened,” he said.
