‘Rust’ director reflects on bittersweet premiere, three years after tragic on-set tragedy

A Film Marked by Tragedy and Triumph More than three years after the fatal on-set shooting that rocked the film industry, Rust made its debut at the Camerimage Film Festival in Poland on Wednesday. Directed by Joel Souza, the film’s premiere was filled with mixed emotions. “It’s bittersweet,” Souza shared in an interview following the screening. “I think we would all have preferred that the movie was finished a long time ago, that Halyna was there standing proudly talking about it.” A Tragedy That Changed Everything On October 21, 2021, Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was tragically killed when Alec Baldwin’s prop gun fired a live round of ammunition on set. The bullet also struck and injured Souza. The incident led to Baldwin being charged with manslaughter, though the case was dismissed earlier this year after a judge ruled that evidence had been suppressed during the investigation. "It's been so long living with the movie and everything that happened, and just all the sort of... insanity that engulfed everything,” Souza admitted. “There is a sense of relief, I think, in this moment finally having happened.” The premiere marked a poignant milestone in a project that has been haunted by the events surrounding it. Baldwin’s Absence and Family's Protest Alec Baldwin, the film’s star, was notably absent from the premiere, though Souza downplayed the significance of his absence, explaining that it was a cinematographers' festival. Hutchins’ family, too, was not in attendance. The family, from Ukraine, issued a statement through their attorney, Gloria Allred, announcing their boycott of the event. They cited Baldwin’s failure to issue a formal apology and expressed concerns that the film's producers were profiting from the tragedy. In response, Rust Movie Production issued a statement defending their position, saying that the decision to finish the film had been made with the full support of Hutchins’ family. “The idea that we are profiting from this tragedy is inaccurate and deeply disappointing,” the statement read. Honoring Halyna Hutchins' Legacy Bianca Cline, the new cinematographer for the film, spoke about the importance of completing the project in Halyna’s honor. “It’s also awful that that’s the only thing that the majority of the world knows Halyna for,” Cline said. “Hopefully, through this film, people will come to know her as a talented cinematographer and how she saw the world, rather than just focusing on the tragedy that happened.” A New Chapter for the Hutchins Family Hutchins' husband, Matthew Hutchins, who had been granted a financial settlement from Baldwin and the producers, played an active role in the film’s completion as an executive producer. His involvement marked a step towards healing and honoring his late wife’s work and legacy. Looking Ahead As the premiere unfolded, Souza expressed hope for the future of the film, and the producers are set to announce where moviegoers will be able to view the completed project. Though the circumstances surrounding the film’s production are steeped in tragedy, it is clear that the team’s determination to finish what Halyna Hutchins started is a testament to her talent and vision. Quick Hits: