Candlelight vigil planned in Burbank for cinematographer killed on New Mexico movie set

BURBANK, Calif. (KABC) — A candlelight vigil is planned in Burbank Sunday for cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was killed when actor Alec Baldwin fired a prop gun on a New Mexico movie set in a shooting that has sparked renewed calls for stepped-up safety on film sets.

The Local 600 International Cinematographers Guild said the vigil will be held at the IATSE Local 80 headquarters, located at 2520 W. Olive Ave., from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.

“Let’s all take a moment and gather together to honor Halyna and her accomplishments and grieve together as one. Please bring your own candle, and join together for a candlelight vigil for Halyna,” the guild announced on Facebook.

Another vigil was held on Saturday at the Albuquerque Civic Plaza in New Mexico.

Baldwin has expressed “shock and sadness” over the death. Hutchins, 42, died at University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque following the on-set mishap Thursday.

The film’s director, 48-year-old Joel Souza, was also injured, but he was treated and released from the hospital.

“There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours,” Baldwin wrote on his Twitter page Friday morning. “I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son and all who knew and loved Haylna.”

Baldwin, 63, was filming a scene for the film “Rust” on a movie set south of Santa Fe, New Mexico, on Thursday when he discharged the prop weapon.

Sheriff’s officials were continuing to investigate what happened. Baldwin is a co-producer of the film. The circumstances of the shooting remain under investigation.

Late Friday, an affidavit in support of a search warrant in Santa Fe, New Mexico showed investigators stated that an assistant director on the film handed Baldwin the weapon and told the actor it was safe to use — unaware that it was loaded with live rounds.

READ MORE | Warrant: Alec Baldwin didn’t know weapon contained live round

Local 44 of the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, the union that represents prop masters, sent its members an email — subsequently obtained by The Times and other media outlets — saying “a live single round was accidentally fired on set” by Baldwin.

The tragedy was reminiscent of the 1993 death of actor Brandon Lee, son of Bruce Lee. Brandon Lee was fatally shot during filming of “The Crow,” with what was supposed to be a blank round but turned out to be a deadly bullet.
Lee’s sister, Shannon, posted a message on her brother’s official Twitter account Thursday saying, “Our hearts go out to the family of Halyna Hutchins and to Joel Souza and all involved in the incident on ‘Rust.’ No one should ever be killed by a gun on a film set. Period.”

The death of Hutchins has again renewed concerns about on-set safety.

On Friday, a member of the camera crew said that workers had walked off the set hours before the fatal shooting, protesting working conditions, including long hours, safety conditions and issues getting their paychecks.

READ MORE | Camera crew on set of Alec Baldwin movie walked off prior to shooting, member says

The “Rust” production company issued a statement Thursday saying, “The entire cast and crew has been absolutely devastated by today’s tragedy, and we send our deepest condolences to Halyna’s family and loved ones. We have halted production on the film for an undetermined period of time and are fully cooperating with the Santa Fe Police Department’s investigation. We will be providing counseling services to everyone connected to the film as we work to process this awful event.”

John Lindley and Rebecca Rhine, the national president and executive director, respectively, of the International Cinematographers Guild, issued a joint statement saying, “The details are unclear at this moment, but we are working to learn more and we support a full investigation into this tragic event. This is a terrible loss, and we mourn the passing of a member of our guild’s family.”

SAG-AFTRA President Fran Drescher and National Executive Director Duncan Crabtree Ireland issued a statement saying, “This is still an active investigation and we do not yet have all the facts. We will continue to work with production, the other unions and the authorities to investigate this incident and to understand how to prevent such a thing from happening again.”

City News Service, Inc. contributed to this report.