$140,000.
This is the sum that the production of
Rust
will have to pay after having failed in its elementary obligations in terms of security on the set of the western.
The state of New Mexico, where Alec Baldwin's film was filmed and where cinematographer Halyna Hutchins died, imposed the maximum fine for what was described as an accident "that could have been avoid ".
"What we got, based on the findings of our investigators, was a set of obvious risks to employees regarding the use of firearms and management's failures to act on those obvious risks…" , said Bob Genoway, head of the New Mexico Office of Workplace Safety, when interviewed by The Associated Press.
Inaction
As the Santa Fe County Sheriff and his team continue to investigate the circumstances of the incident, it becomes abundantly clear that nothing was done properly to protect the film's employees.
“The security coordinator was present on set and took no direct action to address security issues.
Management had multiple opportunities to take corrective action and chose not to.
As a result of these lapses, director Joel Souza and cinematographer Halyna Hutchins were seriously injured.
Halyna Hutchins succumbed to her injuries,” reads the official report.
The production of
Rust
did not react to the announcement, but Alec Baldwin's lawyers jumped at the chance to defend the actor (who was also the film's producer).
“We appreciate that the report exonerates Mr. Baldwin by stating that he believed the weapon contained only blanks,” it read.
Halyna Hutchins' widower has yet to respond.
Movie theater
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Alec Baldwin
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