The investigations into the fatal shots at the filming location of the western “Rust” are in full swing. Also in the sights is the assistant director Dave Halls.
He presented actor Alec Baldwin (63) with the film revolver with the words “Cold Gun”, meaning safe weapon. Seconds later, Baldwin pulled the trigger.
Halls assured the police that he did not know that they were loaded with live ammunition. As an assistant director, he has often dealt with film weapons, including during the filming of “Matrix Reloaded” (2003).
And now it comes out: Halls was fired during one shoot because a crew member was injured by a gun.
Halls was working as an assistant director on the set of Freedom’s Path in 2019 when a gun suddenly discharged. A member of the sound crew was injured in the rebound of the explosion. The film production company Rock Soul Studios confirmed to the news channel “CNN” that Halls was then terminated. He was removed from the set and fired from production, the company told CNN.
According to CNN, the member of the sound crew received medical care on site and should seek medical treatment. She was able to return to the location a few days later.
“Halls was removed from set immediately after the prop gun was unloaded. Filming did not resume until Dave left the location. At that point, a report of the incident was drawn up and filed, ”it said.
“Dave very much regretted the incident and understood the reasons for his release. A new assistant director and a new weapons master were hired for the duration of the shooting, ”says the production company.
Freedom’s Path is still in production and is expected to be released next year.
Halls himself has not yet commented publicly on Thursday’s tragedy.