MOVIE NEWS – The director of Rust breaks his silence about the tragic shooting that changed everything…

Joel Souza, the director of Alec Baldwin’s upcoming western, has finally decided to speak out about the tragic events that took place on the set in October 2021. While filming Souza’s Rust, cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was killed after Baldwin shot her while rehearsing a scene. Souza was also injured in the tragic incident, which we have been trying to process for three years. The director just decided to speak.

In an interview with Vanity Fair for the first time since the Rust incident, Souza talked about his friendship with Hutchins, Baldwin’s attitude on set, and wrapping up the upcoming film. Souza’s approach is that of a man with a completely new outlook:

“When I tell someone it ruined me, I don’t mean in the sense that people might generally think. I don’t mean that it put my career in ruins. I mean, internally, the person I was just went away.”

Souza continues:

“It’s not like I was in love with the guy I was before, anyway. You look in the mirror the day after that happens, and now there’s somebody else there. I didn’t know things about the world one day, and now I do. And none of them are good.”

“It Felt Like Someone Hit Me With a Bat,” Souza Said of the Shot

Souza reflected on an incident where a prop gun containing a live round went off during rehearsal (which should not have happened). Hutchins was fatally wounded, and the bullet also passed through Souza’s body.

“It’s bizarre to have been shot, and then, who was holding the gun? That’s bizarre. I had this weird thought, like, God, I remember watching The Hunt for Red October in the movie theater when I was a kid. It’s like your older self whispers to your younger self, ‘Hey, that guy…someday…Life can take you down some very bizarre roads.'”

Joel Souza also remembered Halyna Hutchins

Souza hasn’t talked much about the case like he used to. Maybe because the investigation was still going on at the time. Now, he seems to be leaning more towards honouring Hutchins’ memory:

“Halyna was a very positive person… She had such a style to her. Everything was art for her. I loved the way she talked about her son. I loved the way she talked about her husband. And I thought, ‘Oh, this is cool,’ I wanted to craft the visuals in complete partnership.”

The director also talks about Hutchins’ role in Rust and their relationship with Baldwin:

“She was very excited about it. I’ve heard from folks that knew her better than I did that she would talk about her excitement for it.”

“She and I and Alec had dinner together at Geronimo in Santa Fe. And it was one of those nights that you have when you have dinner with Alec Baldwin… He’s holding court… We had this moment where we just sat in the car for a couple of minutes in silence, and she’s like, ‘That was kind of amazing.'”

“I think Alec was quite impressed with her as well.”

All that can be said is that the film shooting has been completed. Only after Baldwin was acquitted in court, of course. After recovering, Souza decided to finish the movie, but not due to a contractual obligation:

“I knew that the movie being finished would financially benefit Halyna’s family, which is very important to me. And I know this can sound trite for people who aren’t creative, but her last work matters. People seeing her last work matters. That was the tipping point for me in the decision.”

He also confirms that the scene in question was scrapped entirely, as was everything built upon it:

“Everything needed to be entirely reconceived there. There were a few things that came before that now wouldn’t make story sense. So we just sort of eliminated it and came up with something entirely different. I’m not going back to that. I’m glad you asked. I don’t want anyone who ever sees this to be waiting for that. No one ever pushed to keep anything like that.”

Source: Variety