Rust assistant director Dave Halls blasted over ‘gun safety lapses’
Rust assistant director Dave Halls – who gave Alec Baldwin loaded pistol that killed cinematographer – ‘ignored gun safety protocols on previous production and was accused of being too “touchy” with staffers’
Prop maker and pyrotechnician Maggie Goll released a statement to CNN about Rust’s production assistant Dave Halls According to court documents, Halls was the one who handed the loaded gun to Alec Baldwin that accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins Goll claimed that Halls ignored gun safety protocols on the set of Hulu’s Into the Dark as he never held meetings or properly advised crew members She also claimed that another crew member told her that Goll made them uncomfortable as he would get very ‘touchy’ with themShe made the complaints to Blumhouse Productions and Director’s Guild of America about Halls’ behavior but claimed nothing had been done about it
<!–
<!–
<!–<!–
<!–
(function (src, d, tag){
var s = d.createElement(tag), prev = d.getElementsByTagName(tag)[0];
s.src = src;
prev.parentNode.insertBefore(s, prev);
}(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/1.17.0/async_bundle–.js”, document, “script”));
<!–
DM.loadCSS(“https://www.dailymail.co.uk/static/gunther/gunther-2159/video_bundle–.css”);
<!–
The assistant director on Rust has been accused of making a string of gun-safety gaffes on a prior production – and was also said to have made staff feel uncomfortable with his ‘touchy’ behavior.
Complaints against Dave Halls were made by prop maker and pyrotechnician Maggie Goll after working on him on a previous production with him on Hulu in 2019 called Into the Dark.
In Goll’s statement to CNN, she claimed that Halls never addressed weapon safety protocols in production meetings or when a firearm was to be used on the set.
Goll also said that she was told to ‘watch out’ for him by another crew member as Halls apparently tended to get touchy with them.
His on-set behavior may have cost the life of Hutchins after he was identified as the crew member who handed Alec Baldwin, 63, the loaded gun that killed the cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, 42, according to court documents.
Dave Halls, the production assistant for Rust, was accused of ignoring gun protocols on former film sets and being ‘touchy’ with crew members in a statement made by prop master and pyrotechnician Maggie Goll
According to court documents, Halls was the one who had handed Alec Baldwin the loaded gun that accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins
In reference to her experience on Into the Dark, Goll said she had worked with Halls between February to May of 2019 where he had neglected to hold production meetings to follow standard weapon safety protocols.
Those stipulate that any weapon being used on a set – real or fake – must be ‘introduced’ to the cast and the crew so that they are aware of its presence, and can follow other safety protocols.
‘The only reason the crew was made aware of a weapon’s presence was because the assistant prop master demanded Dave acknowledge and announce the situation each day,’ Goll said in the statement.
She also added that the prop master would reprimand Halls for not acknowledging the protocol.
According to her statement, the prop master would ‘announce each day when a gun would be required on camera, the disposition of that weapon — whether it was a rubber/plastic replica, a non-firing option, or a ‘cold’ functional, but unloaded option, allowing anyone to inspect said weapon prior to bringing it to set and presenting it to the talent.’
‘The Prop Master frequently admonished Dave for dismissing the talent without returning props, weapon included, or failing to make safety announcements.’
Goll said that she had previously worked with Halls on Hulu’s anthology series Into the Dark in 2019. Actors Jimmi Simpson (left) and Kylie Rogers (right) are seen on the set in 2018
Another unnamed crew member had also said that Halls would only hold short meetings about guns as necessary, but would often question why he was holding them as he said the protocols were the same as on every other film set.
Goll’s statement also added that a pyrotechnician was told to continue working on the set even after she had told him of a medical emergency.
‘I told him they are free to film whatever they want, but that there would be no fire or sparks, etc., until the medic, fire safety officer, and all of my crewmates were safely back on set,’ Goll added.
She also had discussed Halls’ ‘handsy’ misconduct that reportedly made other crew members uncomfortable.
‘On my first day back on the series, another crew member told me to ‘watch out’ for Dave, saying he was too physically familiar with the crew, despite many rebuffs and complaints about unwanted and unnecessary touches.’
‘Nothing too extreme, but crew members of all genders and dispositions were being made uncomfortable by Dave’s touches to their backs, waists, shoulders, etc.’
Goll said that nothing about her complaints has been done, as far as she, knows after she made them to Blumhouse Productions and the Director’s Guild of America.
The accusations made against Halls comes after Rust set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, was also under fire for previous on-set behavior.
Set armorer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, 24, had set the loaded gun outside of the filming location before Halls picked it up and gave it Baldwin
Gutierrez-Reed was also claimed to have given an 11-year-old child actor a gun on the set of the Nicholas Cage film The Old Way without properly checking it
Guiterrez-Reed was claimed to have given an 11-year-old child actor a gun on the set of the Nicholas Cage film The Old Way without properly checking it, according to two production sources.
They added that she was loading blanks in an ‘unsafe’ fashion and was said to be a bit ‘careless’ with the guns.
On the Rust set, she was said to have laid out the three prop guns on a cart with Halls grabbing one of the loaded ones that was given to Baldwin.
Halls had yelled ‘Cold gun!’ after giving it to Baldwin to signal that the weapon was safe to fire.
Baldwin then accidentally shot and killed Hutchins as well as injuring director Joel Souza after he fired at the camera.
Hutchins was later pronounced dead at the UNM Hospital in Albuquerque on Thursday.
Baldwin addressed the tragedy on Twitter Friday: ‘There are no words to convey my shock and sadness regarding the tragic accident that took the life of Halyna Hutchins, a wife, mother and deeply admired colleague of ours. I’m fully cooperating with the police investigation to address how this tragedy occurred and I am in touch with her husband, offering my support to him and his family. My heart is broken for her husband, their son, and all who knew and loved Halyna.’
He then tweeted a Variety article titled Alec Baldwin Was Told Prop Gun Was Safe Before Fatal Shooting, Affidavit Says.
He was pictured doubled over in grief on Thursday after speaking to the Santa Fe County Sheriff’s Department immediately following the shooting.
Meanwhile, a vigil was held in Santa Fe Saturday night to remember Hutchins, with hundreds of members of local entertainment unions showing up to pay their respects to her.
Baldwin, 63, had accidentally shot Hutchins and injured director Joel Souza after he fired at the camera
Matthew Hutchins and son Andros leave a New Mexico Hotel and relocate to another location after the tragic death of wife Halyna Hutchins, who was accidentally shot by Alec Baldwin while making a western movie
Matthew attended a private memorial service for this wife with his son and Alec Baldwin, with whom he has been in contact following his wife’s tragic death
Hutchins’ husband shared a touching tribute to his wife on Twitter on Friday. Matthew Hutchins tweeted a photo of his wife and their 9-year-old son Andros on Friday captioned: ‘Halyna inspired us all with her passion and vision, and her legacy is too meaningful to encapsulate in words.
‘Our loss is enormous, and we ask that the media please respect my family’s privacy as we process our grief. We thank everyone for sharing images and stories of her life.’
His Facebook profile picture is a photo of the couple who had been married for 16 years. His bio now reads: ‘We miss you, Halyna.’
A private memorial was held on Friday with Hutchins and Andros in attendance as well as Baldwin.
The International Cinematographers Guild organized a candlelight vigil at Albuquerque Civic Plaza, as calls for measures to protect movie crew from on-set firearm-related accidents grow.
Another vigil for Hutchins is planned for Sunday from 6pm to 7.30pm at the IATSE Local 80 headquarters in Burbank.
A vigil was held in honor of Hutchins at the Albuquerque Civic Plaza on October 23
Dozens reportedly attended the candlelit vigil that was held for Hutchins
Dozens attended the vigil in Albuquerque, held candles, gave heartfelt speeches about Hutchins, and shared what a beloved member of the community she was.
‘Tonight is about Halyna. There will be plenty of time to focus on the who, on the what, on the why in the future,’ said a woman during the vigil.
‘But we have two things to accomplish tonight. The first is to comfort each other and the second is to celebrate the remarkable life of a remarkable woman that was cut short way too soon,’ she went on to say.
‘Let’s all take a moment and gather together to honor Halyna and her accomplishments and grieve together as one. Please bring your own candle, and join together for a candlelight vigil for Halyna,’ the International Cinematographers Guild had previously shared on a Facebook post.
Signs reading ‘She deserved a safe workplace!’ and ‘S.O.S Safety on sets’ were held by those who attended the vigil on Saturday.
A change.org petition calling for Hollywood to ban the use of firearms on film sets has gathered over 10,000 signatures since it was created on Thursday.
The petition was started by Hutchins’ friend and colleague Director Bandar Albuliwi who wrote: ‘We need to make sure that this avoidable tragedy never happens again. There is no excuse for something like this to happen in the 21st century. Real guns are no longer needed on film production sets.’
He tweeted: ‘There’s no reason to have guns loaded with blanks or anything on set anymore. Should just be fully outlawed. There’s computers now.
