August 15, 2024 09:42 PM IST
In October 2021, a prop gun held by actor Alec Baldwin fired a bullet, killing cinematographer Helena Hutchins and injuring director Joel Souza.
Rust director Joel Souza has released his first Interview Since being shot on set by actor Alec Baldwin in October 2021, the director spoke to Vanity Fair about the experience and shared his opinion on the actor’s involuntary manslaughter charge. Heartbreakingly, he also shared that he hopes he ‘doesn’t wake up the next morning’ because of the pain. (Also Read: Events Leading Up to Alec Baldwin ‘Rust’ Shooting Trial)
‘There is no relationship’
Joel was asked if he had an opinion on Alex being charged with involuntary manslaughter. He said, “Does it matter whether I think it’s fair or not? There’s an argument that says, if he checks it out and starts tampering with it, he’s causing a safety problem. And then there’s another that says, it’s common sense, Jesus Christ. Be careful with this damn thing. So, honestly, I don’t know anymore. Charges were filed. That’s what they decided to do. Was he charged with more? I don’t know.”
Despite his injury, he returned to the set to complete the rest of the film. When asked if he had a relationship with Alex at the time, he said, “It was tough to get over it. We got through it. I got the performance I wanted. We’re not friends. We’re not enemies. There’s no relationship.” Joel also said that being shot by Alex was ‘weird’ because he ‘remembers seeing The Hunt for Red October (1990) in the theater as a child’ and thinking, ‘Hey, that guy… someday…’
Rust Removal
The shooting took place on set in 2021 when Alec accidentally fired a prop gun which killed cinematographer Halina Hutchins and seriously injured Joel. The director was standing behind the cinematographer and directing a scene when the gun went off. It hit Halina in the chest and hit Joel in the shoulder. The director described it as ‘being kicked by a horse’. The shooting of Rust was completed in March this year and a release date is yet to be decided.
