A second complaint was filed, Wednesday, November 17, in Los Angeles (California) against Alec Baldwin and the other producers of the film Rust – of which he is also a part -, after an accidental shooting of the actor on the set caused the death of the director of photography Halyna Hutchins, on October 21.
Mamie Mitchell, employed as a scriptwriter, had called for help just after the tragedy. She says she suffers from “Emotional distress” and other disorders resulting from injury “Intentionally caused” by production.
“The events which led to the triggering of a loaded weapon by Mr. Baldwin do not constitute mere negligence”script attorney Gloria Allred said at a press conference in Los Angeles. “On the contrary, from our point of view, Mr. Baldwin chose to play Russian roulette when he activated a weapon without having checked it and without the gunsmith having done so in his presence”, argues the lawyer. “His behavior and that of the producers of “Rust” were dangerous “, she says.
The assistant director and the gunsmith also targeted by the complaint
Also targeted by the complaint are assistant director David Halls, who had handed the gun to Alec Baldwin, telling him that it was harmless, and the armourer of the set, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who was responsible for the weapons at fire used by the team. The 24-year-old has repeatedly claimed that she was unaware of the presence of live ammunition on the set.
This live bullet was in Alec Baldwin’s revolver as he rehearsed a scene, and it killed Halyna Hutchins before ending its race in the shoulder of director Joel Souza.
“Mr. Baldwin and the [autres] experienced professionals knew that the weapon in question should never have been given to him by the assistant director ” but by the gunsmith of the shoot, accused Mme Allred. The actor “Could not therefore trust any statement of the assistant director on the harmlessness of the weapon”, she reproaches him.
The safety regulations in force in the film industry in the United States stipulate that the gunsmith must explicitly show an actor that the weapon is safe and then hand it directly to him. “Mr. Baldwin knew that was the rule and that it was broken. And he didn’t check the weapon himself ”, adds the lawyer.
Last week, Serge Svetnoy, chief lighting designer of the film present during the accidental shooting, lodged a complaint for “Negligence” against the actor, the production and the gunsmith.