Halyna Hutchins.Photo: Mat Hayward/Getty
Halyna Hutchins, the cinematographer whodied in an accidental shootingon the New Mexico set of the forthcoming filmRust, remained on location after a walkout prior to the incident because she “felt the responsibility for everyone else’s job there,” according to Jonathan McAbee, an actor who knew Hutchins and has spoken to people on the film’s set.
While attending a candlelight vigil for the late filmmaker on Saturday evening, McAbee spoke with PEOPLE about Hutchins' dedication to her work and how she was always thinking of others, sometimes before even thinking of herself.
Noting that production of the project at hand “rest[ed] on her shoulders” given her role as cinematographer, McAbee explained, “She’s the one responsible for how this [film’s] gonna look.”
“She put her heart and soul into everything she did, and even after losing her whole crew — who walked off in protest — she stayed because she felt the responsibility for everyone else’s job there,” he continued. “If she left, production’s over and that’s what? Another 30 people’s jobs, livelihoods?”
“Something needs to be done that bans live firearms on set,” McAbee added. “There’s no reason why an actor cannot fake a recoil. … Every time you have a live firearm onset of any type, there’s a risk. And if I was on this show, I would have walked off too.”
Halyna Hutchins on the set of ‘Rust’.Halyna Hutchins/ instagram
That update came after a production source told PEOPLE that some crew members working on the movie “didn’t feel safe” on the set of theAlec Baldwinfilm.
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“They all made it clear they didn’t feel safe and that they had to spend a long time to get to set, so everyone was tired even before they got there,” the insider said. “They were concerned and angry that the proposed union strike that was meant to address these issues never happened.”
TheLos Angeles Timespreviously reported that a half-dozen camera operators and their assistants walked off the set in protest of tiring working conditions, long hours, and long commutes.
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A spokesperson for the movie’s production company, Rust Movie Productions, LLC, told PEOPLE on Friday, “The safety of our cast and crew is the top priority of Rust Productions and everyone associated with the company.”
“Though we were not made aware of any official complaints concerning weapon or prop safety on set, we will be conducting an internal review of our procedures while production is shut down,” the spokesperson continued. “We will continue to cooperate with the Santa Fe authorities in their investigation and offer mental health services to the cast and crew during this tragic time.”
TheRustfilm set has since been shut down following Hutchins' death, with production indefinitely paused, according to the production company.
“We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event,” Rust Movie Productions, LLC added.
source: people.com
