Director Shot by Alec Baldwin Recounts Pain Comparable to a Bat Strike – Sky Bulletin

During court proceedings in SANTA FE, N.M., a film director who sustained a bullet wound from Alec Baldwin during a movie rehearsal described the experience as akin to being hit by a baseball bat. Joel Souza, who survived the incident that tragically killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, recalled the event in testimony on Friday.

Souza attested that he was close to Hutchins when the shot fired, the same one that led to her death, on the set of the Western film “Rust” on October 21, 2021. He portrayed the event as an unexpected loud bang, followed by an intense impact.

While Souza did not pursue legal action himself, his account is critical as the prosecution mounts involuntary manslaughter and tampering with evidence charges against Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, the film’s weapons supervisor who declares her innocence. Baldwin, who also served as a co-producer for “Rust,” has been formally charged and pleads not guilty, with a trial date set for July.

The incident involves a series of complexities that the prosecution aims to unravel, highlighting the severity of using live ammunition on a film set where it is strictly forbidden.

The director recounted the struggles of the day, starting before sunrise and facing the departure of six camera crew members. Hutchins diligently sourced replacements, leading to resumed filming by late morning. Post-lunch filming included Baldwin’s close-up scene of drawing a firearm from a holster.

Souza claimed he moved behind Hutchins to view the monitor and did not see the firing weapon. He detailed the harrowing moment, characterized by a loud sound that left him wounded.

Examination of Baldwin’s interaction with firearms has been a focal point, with the previous day’s court session reviewing a video of Baldwin urging the armorer to expedite gun reloading during scenes.

Bryan Carpenter, an expert in firearms safety on movie sets, testified against Baldwin’s on-set demands, stating that his impatience violated safety norms and the armorer’s responsibilities.

When the defense inquired about the on-script directives for Baldwin’s gun handling, Souza clarified that the scene required a sideways gun draw, without an explicit aim toward the camera. The prosecution alleges that Gutierrez-Reed is at fault for inadvertently introducing live rounds on set, while her defenders argue against her culpability in the breach of safety protocols.

Souza recounted his immediate post-shooting memories, including seeing a distraught Gutierrez-Reed expressing apologies before being shuffled away amidst uproar.