Alec Baldwin Rust shooting: Actor was ‘hysterical for hours’

First photos have emerged of Alec Baldwin meeting with cinematographer Halyna Hutchins’s family as the toll of the tragedy on the actor and crew is revealed.

Alec Baldwin was “hysterical for hours” following an accidental shooting on the set of his new film, Rust, that left cinematographer Halyna Hutchins dead and director Jole Souza injured.

The veteran actor, 63, is set “to take some time to himself and re-center himself,” a source told People.

“This was pretty devastating,” the source told the publication.

“This is how he handles difficult times. Whenever something bad happens, in the short term, he removes himself from (the) public eye.”

The source said Baldwin was “hysterical and absolutely inconsolable for hours” following the shooting: “Everyone knows this was an accident, but he’s absolutely devastated.”

It comes as crew member predicts the film “will never be finished”.

“None of us expect this movie to be finished. Ever,” the unnamed worker told The Sun.

“We know this is the end of the road for Rust sadly.

“Maybe way down the line it will get picked up again but right now, there’s no way it’s going to continue getting made. If by a miracle it ever is though, the movie will absolutely be dedicated to Halyna.”

Candles are placed around a photo of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins who was killed on set while filming the movie Rust at Bonanza Creek Ranch near Santa Fe, New Mexico. Picture: Getty Images

RUST CAN’T GO ON

The film couldn’t go on without the director, who is still recovering from his injuries, the source said.

“Not only is our director still (recovering), but there will be lawsuits I’m sure and a lot of other factors that will prevent this movie from ever being finished.”

It comes amid claims the prop gun that Baldwin fired on the Rust film set that killed Hutchins had been used for target practice by crew members.

US outlet TMZ reported the gun was more than a prop – it was allegedly being used by Rust crew members for target practice away from the movie set with real bullets.

Live bullets were also reportedly found by police being stored in the same place near blanks.

It comes as the father of Hutchins said Baldwin isn’t to blame.

As speculation ramps up whether or not police will lay charges over the shocking shooting, Baldwin met with the husband and son of Hutchins, the cinematographer who he tragically killed on the set of the Western drama.

BALDWIN NOT TO BLAME, SAYS HUTCHINS’ FATHER

Hutchins’ father, Anatoly Androsovych, has said the actor wasn’t responsible for her death.

“We still can’t believe Halyna is dead and her mother is going out of her mind with grief. But I don’t hold Alec Baldwin responsible — it is the responsibility of the props people who handle the guns.”

Baldwin was seen tightly hugging Hutchins’ husband Matt and the couple’s nine-year-old son Andros near a fountain at a New Mexico hotel after the trio had breakfast together at the hotel’s restaurant.

Alec Baldwin seen in Santa Fe with Halyna Hutchins' husband Matt and 9 year old son following the prop gun shooting incident. Picture: Backgrid Australia

It is the first time Baldwin has been seen since the film set shooting that killed Ms Hutchins, 42, and injured director Joel Souza, 48.

He also attended an intimate, private memorial for Hutchins alongside the grieving family and other members of the Rust crew.

Trauma counsellors who had been called to the film set to support the crew were also present.

Hutchins hadn’t been expected at Baldwin’s hotel, but went to Santa Fe after travelling to Albuquerque where his wife’s body was taken.

Mr Androsovych said Andros was “badly affected”.

“The little boy has been very badly affected — he is lost without his mother.

“Matt will decide if legal action is going to be taken.”

A witness told the New York Post Baldwin looked “beaten” as he met with Hutchins husband.

“His body language was [that] of a beaten man, he was slumped, he looked aged,” the witness said.

Alec Baldwin on the set of rust after the shooting. Picture: Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican

Baldwin had been staying at the property with his assistant for several weeks while Rust was in production.

The International Cinematographers Guild is holding a public memorial for Hutchins on Sunday evening local time.

QUESTIONS OVER SAFETY ON SET

It comes as a Hollywood film expert has claimed Baldwin failed the most basic and important rule of gun safety.

“Loaded or unloaded, a weapon never gets pointed at another human being,” said Bryan Carpenter.

“Even on a film or TV set, he said “you never let the muzzle of a weapon cover something you don’t intend to destroy.”

Halyna Hutchins who was shot on set of Rust being filmed in New Mexico by actor Alec Baldwin. Picture: Supplied

Meanwhile, a candlelight vigil was held in Albuquerque for Hutchins, with hundreds of people turning out to mourn the cinematographer.

A GoFundMe page set up to raise money for her husband and son has already raised US$170,270.

No charges have been laid over the incident, that has shocked the film industry and the world.

Baldwin was heard to ask why he had been handed a “hot” gun for the scene, after he was told it was safe to use.

Candles are placed in front of a photo of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a vigil in her honour in Albuquerque, New Mexico. Picture: Getty Images/AFP

INJURED DIRECTOR BREAKS SILENCE

Director Joel Souza has spoken for the first time since the tragedy, paying tribute to his colleague.

“I am gutted by the loss of my friend and colleague, Halyna. She was kind, vibrant, incredibly talented, fought for every inch and always pushed me to be better. “My thoughts are with her family at this most difficult time.

“I am humbled and grateful by the outpouring of affection we have received from our filmmaking community, the people of Santa Fe, and the hundreds of strangers who have reached out. It will surely aid in my recovery.”

Legal experts have suggested Baldwin, the film's executive producer, could face charges – even manslaughter.

The film shooting has sent shockwaves through the film industry. Picture: Jim Weber/Santa Fe New Mexican

“As an executive producer, you are in a position of control and you can get prosecuted criminally,” he said. “It’s the equivalent of drinking and driving, meaning someone may not have intended to cause great harm but they do,” Los Angeles based lawyer Joseph Costa said.

Documents filed at a Santa Fe court stated the gun was one of three that the film’s armourer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, set on a cart for the scene.

Ms Gutierrez-Reed, 24, had recently completed her first film as head armourer on The Old Way starring Nicolas Cage.

Audio of a podcast Reed did for that film revealed she worried “she wasn’t ready”.

She admitted: “I almost didn’t take the job because I wasn’t sure if I was ready, but doing it, it went really smoothly.”

US media have reported Gutierrez-Reed once gave a gun to an 11-year-old child actor.

Production on Rust has been suspended.

The incident allegedly happened on the set of upcoming Nicholas Cage film, The Old Way and temporarily halted filming, sources told The Daily Beast.

“She was reloading the gun on the ground, where there were pebbles and stuff. We didn’t see her check it, we didn’t know if something got in the barrel or not.”

Gutierrez-Reed allegedly handed the gun to child actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong, forcing concerned crew members to intervene, the report said. The gun was then checked for barrel obstruction.

Originally published as Alec Baldwin Rust shooting: Actor was ‘hysterical for hours’