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Verdict delivered over fatal Rust shooting

The armourer on the set of the film Rust has been charged with involuntary manslaughter over the death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Halyna Hutchins, who was 42 and a mother to a young son, died after being fatally shot by Alec Baldwin on the set of the Western movie in October 2021. Baldwin has repeatedly denied responsibility, insisting he did not pull the trigger. Now, armourer Hannah Gutierrez has been found guilty, with the jury hearing that Gutierrez, 26, had been ultimately responsible for the use of live rounds on set. Over a 10-day trial in New Mexico, the court heard how she had repeatedly failed to adhere to basic safety rules by leaving guns unattended on set, and allowing actors — including Baldwin — to wave the weapons around. “This is not a case where Hannah Gutierrez made one mistake and that one mistake was accidentally putting a live round into that gun,” prosecutor Kari Morrissey told the jury in her closing argument Wednesday. “This case is about constant, never-ending safety failures that resulted in the death of a human being and nearly killed another.” The judge remanded her in custody ahead of her sentencing, which is not expected before next month, as she faces up to 18 months’ prison. Despite Baldwin long claiming his innocence over the shooting, ballistics experts have dismissed the claim, saying the gun could not have discharged any other way. His own involuntary manslaughter trial is expected in July. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

Alec Baldwin facing new charges over fatal Rust shooting

Alec Baldwin has been charged with involuntary manslaughter for a second time over the fatal shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of the movie Rust. The Hollywood legend has been indicted by a grand jury in New Mexico over the death of the 42-year-old cinematographer, who was hit with a live bullet that had been loaded into a prop gun for a scene. “The above named defendant did cause the death of Halyna Hutchins by an act committed with the total disregard of indifference for the safety of others,” the indictment obtained by <a href="https://nypost.com/2024/01/19/news/alec-baldwin-charged-with-involuntary-manslaughter-over-rust-shooting/">The Post</a> read. Baldwin has long denied the charges, and has stood by his claim that he did not pull the trigger on the day of the accident. Baldwin had previously been charged with the same crime by the Santa Fe district attorney in January 2022. He pleaded not guilty at the time, but the case soon fell apart and the charges were dropped in April that year after it was determined that further forensic testing needed to be done on the weapon that fired the bullet. Despite the case being dismissed, the DA was clear that the door would be left open to refile the charges. Prosecutors have also charged Rust armourer Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, who oversaw the weapons on the movie set, with the same crime. She has also pleaded not guilty and is awaiting trial. If convicted, Baldwin could face up to 18 months in prison. Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

What is myrtle rust and why has this disease closed Lord Howe Island to visitors?

Some 70% of the World Heritage-listed Lord Howe Island has been <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2023/mar/17/most-of-lord-howe-island-closed-to-visitors-after-outbreak-of-plant-fungus">closed to non-essential visitors</a> in response to a recurrence of the plant disease myrtle rust. Myrtle rust, native to South America, was <a href="https://www.dcceew.gov.au/environment/invasive-species/diseases-fungi-and-parasites/myrtle-rust">first detected</a> in Australia on the Central Coast of NSW in April 2010. It is caused by a fungus that belongs to a group of plant pathogens known as the rusts. Rusts are among the most feared of all plant pathogens. They spread rapidly over thousands of kilometres on wind currents and can cause huge losses in plant production. For example, wheat rust research over the past 100 years at the University of Sydney has shown clear evidence of wind-borne rust spores travelling from central Africa to Australia. Wheat production losses due to rust have at times totalled <a href="https://www.agriculture.gov.au/abares/research-topics/biosecurity/biosecurity-economics/potential-impact-wheat-stem-rust">hundreds of millions of dollars</a>. Myrtle rust rapidly invaded the entire east coast of Australia in the years after it was first detected. It has caused the near extinction of at least three rainforest species, including the native guava (<a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=19162">Rhodomyrtus psidioides</a>) and the scrub turpentine (<a href="https://www.environment.gov.au/cgi-bin/sprat/public/publicspecies.pl?taxon_id=15763">Rhodamnia rubescens</a>). The disease was detected at Lord Howe Island <a href="https://islandarks.com.au/files/2017/12/I-think-we-dodged-a-bullet-Implementing-a-Rapid-Response-Plan-for-a-Myrtle-Rust-incursion-on-Lord-Howe-Island-in-October-2016.pdf">in 2016, and eradicated</a>. Now it has managed to spread there once again. There are concerns if the disease is left unchecked, it could seriously alter the unique ecology of the island. Lord Howe is home to some 240 native plant species, of which more than 100 are not found anywhere else. <h2>How can the disease be controlled?</h2> Rust diseases in agriculture are controlled by the cultivation of genetically <a href="https://csiropedia.csiro.au/rust-resistance-in-plants/">resistant plants</a>, or by use of fungicides. These fungicides can kill existing recent infections and provide protection for up to four weeks. In other situations, such as horticulture and native plant communities, fungicides are used together with removal and destruction of infected plants. The 2010 detection of myrtle rust in Australia followed its detection in Hawaii in 2005 and China in 2009. It was later found in New Caledonia (2013) and New Zealand (2017). <a href="https://espace.library.uq.edu.au/view/UQ:13b49a4">Research</a> has shown the same strain – known as the “pandemic strain” – has appeared in all of these countries. Several other strains occur in South America. It is likely the fungus spread to Lord Howe Island from eastern Australia on wind currents. The especially wet conditions along the east coast of much of Australia in 2022 led to an increase in the disease there. This, in turn, increased rust spore load and hence the chance of long-distance spore dispersal. In addition to being spread on the wind, the rusty coloured spores produced by these fungal pathogens stick readily to clothing. These spores remain viable for at least two weeks under ambient conditions. Several wheat rusts of exotic origin are believed to have been accidentally brought in to Australia on travellers’ clothing from North America and Europe. The chance of inadvertent spread of myrtle rust on contaminated clothing is why access to Lord Howe island has been restricted since last week. The second incursion into the island clearly shows how incredibly difficult rust diseases are to manage once they reach a new region. It points to possible recurrences of the disease there in years to come even should current efforts to eradicate it succeed. On top of the ability of rust diseases to spread rapidly over large distances, a further complication in controlling myrtle rust is it infects a wide range of native plants. Some of these species hold great cultural significance and/or are endangered. Endemic species of the myrtle plant family <a href="https://www.britannica.com/plant/Myrtaceae">Myrtaceae</a> that are dominant in many of the plant communities on Lord Howe Island are highly vulnerable to myrtle rust infection. Of critical concern are two species that occur only on the island: the mountain rose (Meterosideros nervulosa) and the rainforest tree scalybark (Syzigium fullagarri). The rust infects young leaves and also flowers, where it causes sterility. <h2>Australia brings expertise to the battle</h2> Australia has some of the best plant pathologists in the world and has long been a leader in controlling rust diseases in agriculture. This expertise, combined with world-leading scientists in the ecology of Australian native plants, has enabled solid progress in understanding myrtle rust in the Australian environment. Australian scientists have joined hands with New Zealand scientists to boost efforts to control the pathogen in both countries. Research is also under way at the University of Sydney and Australian National University to develop new DNA-based diagnostics to allow rapid identification of the different strains of the pathogen. These tests are especially important given only one strain of myrtle rust occurs in the Asia-Pacific and Oceania regions. The success of managing the impact of myrtle rust on the region’s iconic flora against a backdrop of climate change will rely heavily on undertaking the research needed to gain a much better understanding of this damaging plant pathogen. Recognising this, staff at the University of Sydney have convened a conference for June 21-23 this year. It will bring together myrtle rust experts to exchange their latest research findings and identify priority areas for research. This article originally appeared on <a href="https://theconversation.com/what-is-myrtle-rust-and-why-has-this-disease-closed-lord-howe-island-to-visitors-202045" target="_blank" rel="noopener">The Conversation</a>. Images: Getty

Travel Trouble

Alec Baldwin charged with involuntary manslaughter over fatal Rust shooting

Charges are to be made over an on-set tragedy that claimed the life of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Alec Baldwin and Hannah Gutierrez Reed will be charged with two counts of involuntary manslaughter over the tragic incident. In New Mexico, involuntary manslaughter carries a penalty of up to 18 months in prison, as well as a fine. The case requires prosecutors prove that Hutchins died as a result of underlying negligence, and “includes the misdemeanour charge of negligent use of a firearm.” Confirmation came from Mary Carmack-Altwies, Sante Fe’s district attorney, who said that the charges against Baldwin and Reed would be filed by the end of January. “After a thorough review of the evidence and the laws of the state of New Mexico,” said Carmack-Altqies, “I have determined that there is sufficient evidence to file criminal charges against Alec Baldwin and other members of the Rust film crew. On my watch, no one is above the law, and everyone deserves justice.” Baldwin’s attorney, however, believes the decision to be “a terrible miscarriage of justice.” The news comes after a year of investigation into the incident, in which a revolver Alec was using during a rehearsal for the film Rust fired a live round and caused a fatal wound to Hutchins. The film’s director, Joel Souza, was also hit but survived his injuries. The investigation into Halyna’s death sought to learn how live rounds made it onto the set at all, and from there into a functioning firearm. In 2022, New Mexico's Occupational Health and Safety Bureau found that the film production company behind Rust was aware that firearm safety procedures were not being followed, and the hazards on set were being met with indifference. While Baldwin and Gutierrez Reed are to each face the charges of involuntary manslaughter, the film’s assistant director, David Halls, has signed a plea agreement for the negligent use of a deadly weapon. <iframe style="border: none; overflow: hidden;" src="https://www.facebook.com/plugins/post.php?href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.facebook.com%2F1stJDA%2Fposts%2Fpfbid026SV45YMwTanEhpdL3BpczGn4PiRbKirEyokhGSph8j6PrnS8XRhViE4EPWmKsiYzl&show_text=true&width=500" width="500" height="199" frameborder="0" scrolling="no" allowfullscreen="allowfullscreen"></iframe> As special prosecutor Andrea Weeb stated, “if any one of these three people — Alec Baldwin, Hannah Gutierrez Reed or David Halls — had done their job, Halyna Hutchins would be alive today.” Baldwin has maintained that he was unaware of the live rounds, and that he was informed the weapon was ‘cold’ - a term used in the industry to mean the gun is ‘safe’. In 2021, the actor said in an interview that he did not pull the trigger, and that the gun fired when cocked. Luke Nikas, Baldwin’s attorney, supported these claims, stating that “Mr Baldwin had no reason to believe there was a live bullet in the gun … He relied on the professionals with whom he worked, who assured him the gun did not have live rounds. “We will fight these charges, and we will win.” Images: Getty Images

Legal

Alec Baldwin reaches secret settlement as Rust filming resumes

Alec Baldwin and the family of late cinematographer Halyna Hutchins have reached an undisclosed settlement over her tragic death on the set of Rust. According to a statement released by the actor's attorney, the wrongful death lawsuit filed against Baldwin and others in the production has been settled and closed, with a portion of the profits going to Halyna's husband Matthew, who is now set to be an executive producer on the film. "We have reached a settlement, subject to court approval, for our wrongful death case against the producers of Rust, including Alec Baldwin and Rust Movie Productions, LLC. As part of that settlement, our case will be dismissed," Matthew Hutchins said in a statement. "The filming of Rust, which I will now executive produce, will resume with all the original principal players on board in January 2023. I have no interest in engaging in recriminations or attribution of blame (to the producers or Mr. Baldwin)." "All of us believe Halyna's death was a terrible accident. I am grateful that the producers and the entertainment community have come together to pay tribute to Halyna's final work." Alec Baldwin's attorney, Luke Nikas of Quinn Emanuel, also said in a statement, "Throughout this difficult process, everyone has maintained the specific desire to do what is best for Halyna's son." "We are grateful to everyone who contributed to the resolution of this tragic and painful situation." The film's director Joel Souza, who was also injured during the shooting, is expected to return to the film once production restarts next year. "In my own attempts to heal, any decision to return to finish directing the film could only make sense for me if it was done with the involvement of Matt and the Hutchins family," Souza said. "Though certainly bittersweet, I am pleased that together, we will now complete what Halyna and I started. My every effort on this film will be devoted to honoring Halyna's legacy and making her proud. It is a privilege to see this through on her behalf." Image credits: Getty Images

Movies

FBI findings cast doubt on Alec Baldwin's claim

A recently-released FBI report has determined that Alec Baldwin could face criminal charges over the shooting of Halyna Hutchins on the set of Rust. According to ABC News, the gun used on the New Mexico movie set could not have been fired without the trigger being pulled. It means that Baldwin, who has repeatedly insisted that he did not pull the trigger, could still face criminal charges for the devastating incident which killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and wounded director Joel Souza. The FBI forensic report had been examining the case in great depth to see if any charges could be brought against individuals involved in the incident. It conducted an accidental discharge test and determined the gun used in the fatal shooting of Hutchins “could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger,” the report stated. The test showed that when the 45 Colt caliber F.lli Pietta single-action revolver’s hammer was in the quarter and half-cock positions, the gun would not fire without the trigger being pulled. When the hammer was in the fully cocked position, the gun “could not be made to fire without a pull of the trigger while the working internal components were intact and functional,” according to the outlet. Despite these claims, Baldwin stated in an interview in December that he, who was in possession of the gun at the time of the shooting, did not fire the weapon. “The trigger wasn’t pulled,” Baldwin said. “I didn’t pull the trigger.” Image credits: Getty Images

Legal

New footage of Rust shooting released

Police have released new bodycam footage of Alec Baldwin's questioning on the Rust set after the fatal shooting of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins in October 2021. Halyna was killed, and director Joel Souza injured, when the gun went off during rehearsals for the upcoming film Rust on a ranch outside of Santa Fe, New Mexico. Police asked Baldwin whether someone had any ill intention to swap out the "flash rounds" with live ones to which he said he didn’t believe so. The new video shows Baldwin asking officers to help him identify the object being removed from Souza’s shoulder. "The thing that… is going to answer all of your questions is: what's in Joel's shoulder. Is it a rock or is it a bullet?" Baldwin asked. Officers said they could show him an image of what was removed from Souza’s shoulder. "That's a bullet," Baldwin replied. "If that's a bullet that was pulled out his shoulder, then someone loaded a live round into the gun I was holding." Baldwin, who is also a producer on the film, has repeatedly denied responsibility for Halyna’s death, insisting that no live rounds should have been on set. In other videos, police and medics were seen racing to the scene, and bodycam footage shows first responders battling to save Halyna. Another video shows Baldwin dressed as a cowboy and practising with what appears to be the gun that killed the cinematographer. Santa Fe Sheriff Adan Mendoza said the investigation into the shooting "remains open and ongoing". There are currently several lawsuits filed against Baldwin following Halyna’s death, including one from her husband Matthew. Watch the footage <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-61226637" target="_blank" rel="noopener">here</a>. Image: Santa Fe Police

Legal

Baldwin film hit by yet another tragedy

Another “devastating event” has occurred on the set of Rust, with a crew member facing the loss of their arm after a spider bite. Jason Miller, a lamp operator and pipe rigger working on the film, was bitten by a brown recluse spider while packing up the set in New Mexico. The brown recluse spider is one of three species in North America that have life-threatening venom. <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/1ynDsUP_5p/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/1ynDsUP_5p/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by Smithsonian's NMNH (@smithsoniannmnh)</a> </div> </blockquote> According to a Just Giving crowdfunding page, Mr Miller started experiencing severe symptoms, including necrosis of his arm and sepsis, shortly after the bite. “He has been hospitalised and endured multiple surgeries each day as doctors do their best to stop the infection and try to save his arm from amputation,” the page says, according to <a rel="noopener" href="https://news.sky.com/story/alec-baldwin-film-shooting-rust-crew-member-in-hospital-for-multiple-surgeries-after-spider-bite-12462638" target="_blank">Sky News</a>. “It will be a very long road to recovery for Jason if the medical team is able to save his arm. “If under worse circumstances he loses the arm, this is a life changing and devastating event for Jason and his family.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845412/baldwin3.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/e5755507d3b94b36b588115f7fa243c9" /> The set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico. Image: Getty Images A spokesperson for the film <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.news.com.au/entertainment/movies/rust-crew-member-may-lose-arm-after-deadly-spider-bite/news-story/519321d002a183f926355d7e5bbb18ef" target="_blank">said</a> they had no comment “on individual members of the cast and crew’s private matters”. The set has been shut down for the last two weeks after cinematographer Halyna Hutchins <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/alec-baldwin-allegedly-shot-and-killed-cinematographer" target="_blank">was killed</a> with a gun accidentally fired by Alec Baldwin. The actor and producer said it’s unlikely that the film will ever be completed following the tragedy, which has sparked <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/entertainment/movies/change-needs-to-happen-baldwin-tragedy-sparks-reform" target="_blank">growing calls</a> from the industry to ban real guns on sets. Image: news.com.au

News

Lawyers for Rust armourer claim ‘sabotage’

Lawyers for Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the <a rel="noopener" href="https://oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/she-s-a-rookie-rust-s-armourer-comes-under-fire" target="_blank">24-year-old armourer</a> at the centre of the investigation into the tragedy on the set of Alec Baldwin’s film Rust, are now <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/story/2021-11-03/rust-shooting-armorer-hannah-gutierrez-reed-lawyers" target="_blank">claiming</a> their client was the victim of sabotage, and that the accident was ultimately the fault of someone else. Her lawyers have suggested that someone intentionally smuggled live rounds of ammunition into a box of dummy rounds before the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/alec-baldwin-allegedly-shot-and-killed-cinematographer" target="_blank">fatal on-set shooting</a> that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Lawyer Jason Bowles made the suggestion while appearing on numerous morning news programs on Wednesday morning. On Good Morning America, he asked, “Why do you place that in the box labeled ‘dummies’ that the armorer is going to be pulling from? Why would you do that other than to try to cause some incident on the set? “Now, we’re not saying anybody had any intent there was going to be a tragedy — a homicide — but they wanted to do something to cause a safety incident on set. That’s what we believe happened.” When GMA anchor Michael Strahan pressed him for evidence to support this serious allegation, Bowles simply asserted that his client did not place the live round that was ultimately responsible for Hutchins’ death in the ammunition box. “We know the live rounds shouldn’t have been in that box, but they were,” he said. “So there can be very, very few explanations for why live rounds end up in a box of dummy prop ammunition on a movie set. And one of them is that somebody wants that to go into a firearm and then wants there to be an incident on the set. There’s no other reason to mix a live round with the dummies. There’s just none.” After presenting the same argument on Today and being asked by host Savannah Guthrie why anyone would “have the motive and opportunity” to sabotage the ammunition in this way, Bowles said, “I believe that somebody who would do that would want to ... prove a point, want to say that they’re disgruntled. “And we know that people had already walked off the set the day before. ... And the reason they were unhappy is they’re working 12- to 14-hour days. They were not given hotel rooms in and around the area. So they had to drive back and forth an hour to Albuquerque, and they’re unhappy.” This is a reference to the fact that the camera crew had staged a walkout before the incident, fed up with unreasonable working conditions and amidst a push within Hollywood to improve working conditions for film and television crews. Guthrie then asked Bowles if he was accusing the crew members who had walked out of planting the live ammunition, to which he said, “You can’t rule anybody out at this point. We know there was a live round in a box of dummy rounds that shouldn’t have been there… there was opportunity to tamper with the scene. And yes, we’re looking at that possibility.” Image: Instagram

Legal

“She’s a rookie”: Rust’s armourer comes under fire

As investigators continue to determine what led to the fatal shooting of a cinematographer on the set of Rust, complaints about armour Hannah Gutierrez-Reed have emerged from her last movie. The 24-year-old armourer was the subject of several complaints from crew members working on the 2022 film The Old Way, including the film’s key grip, Stu Brumbaugh. The Western film, starring Nicolas Cage, was Ms Gutierrez-Reed’s first job as head armourer after she graduated from Northern Arizona University in 2020. <blockquote class="twitter-tweet"> 24 year old Hannah Gutierrez-Reed the set armorer that was hired by Rust Movie Productions and is responsible for all guns on the Alec Baldwin Western Film ‘Rust’ in New Mexico has deleted her TikTok and Twitter and also her Facebook and Instagram accounts. <a href="https://t.co/NvCJiTUCMu">pic.twitter.com/NvCJiTUCMu</a> — 🌈 (@MagicZoetrope) <a href="https://twitter.com/MagicZoetrope/status/1452111230718545933?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">October 24, 2021</a></blockquote> Mr Brumbaugh told <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.thewrap.com/rust-armorer-inexperience-hannah-gutierrez-fired-nicolas-cage-film/?utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=breaking_news_5702530s" target="_blank">TheWrap</a> that Ms Gutierrez-Reed failed to follow basic gun safety protocols. He said Nicolas Cage yelled at Ms Gutierrez-Reed after she discharged a weapon for the second time in three days without warning, saying: “Make an announcement, you just blew my f**king eardrums out!” before walking off set. Mr Brumbaugh said he urged the assistant director to fire the armourer, and said the film’s low budget led to her filling the role despite her lack of experience. “After the second round I was pissed off. We were moving too fast. She’s a rookie,” he <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-10134763/Rust-armorer-subject-numerous-complaints-previous-film-infuriated-star-Nicolas-Cage.html" target="_blank">said</a>. He also argued that Ms Gutierrez-Reed should have had additional help on both The Old Way and Rust. “I would have had minimum two more people. She was doing everything by herself in that movie and on the other movie (Rust),” he said. “If there was one more person in the other movie the tragedy wouldn’t have happened.” Two anonymous sources also told The Daily Beast that Ms Gutierrez-Reed about worrisome gun safety issues on the set. According to the sources, the armourer gave a gun to child actress Ryan Kiera Armstrong without properly checking the weapon first and was “a bit careless with the guns”. “There were a couple of times she was loading the blanks and doing it in a fashion that we thought was unsafe,” one source added. However, Jeffrey W. Crow, the prop master who supervised Ms Gutierrez-Reed in her first armourer role, told the <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/movies/story/2021-10-23/hannah-gutierrez-reed-rust-shooting-armorer" target="_blank">LA Times</a> that despite his initial doubts, she was scrupulous. “All the armourers I knew and tried to bring in were working already, so I left it up to producers,” Mr Crow told the publication. “I had never heard about Hannah until I was informed she would be my armourer, but my skepticism of her initially, about her lack of experience, was allayed after I’d worked with her.” As for the incident on the set of Rust, Mr Crow said he was “surprised that any of this happened under her watch”. “I thought she was exceptionally young, up-and-coming, very eager and talented armourer,” he said. “She was without a lot of experience, but coming from her family lineage, I thought she was exceptional, professional, and I thought she had - and I still think she has - many years of an amazing career ahead of her.” <blockquote style="background: #FFF; border: 0; border-radius: 3px; box-shadow: 0 0 1px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.5),0 1px 10px 0 rgba(0,0,0,0.15); margin: 1px; max-width: 540px; min-width: 326px; padding: 0; width: calc(100% - 2px);" class="instagram-media" data-instgrm-captioned="" data-instgrm-permalink="https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_asruFSym/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" data-instgrm-version="14"> <div style="padding: 16px;"> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: row; align-items: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 50%; flex-grow: 0; height: 40px; margin-right: 14px; width: 40px;"></div> <div style="display: flex; flex-direction: column; flex-grow: 1; justify-content: center;"> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; margin-bottom: 6px; width: 100px;"></div> <div style="background-color: #f4f4f4; border-radius: 4px; flex-grow: 0; height: 14px; width: 60px;"></div> </div> </div> <div style="padding: 19% 0;"></div> <div style="display: block; height: 50px; margin: 0 auto 12px; width: 50px;"></div> <div style="padding-top: 8px;"> <div style="color: #3897f0; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: 550; line-height: 18px;">View this post on Instagram</div> </div> <p style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 17px; margin-bottom: 0; margin-top: 8px; overflow: hidden; padding: 8px 0 7px; text-align: center; text-overflow: ellipsis; white-space: nowrap;"><a style="color: #c9c8cd; font-family: Arial,sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 17px; text-decoration: none;" rel="noopener" href="https://www.instagram.com/p/CU_asruFSym/?utm_source=ig_embed&utm_campaign=loading" target="_blank">A post shared by francesfisher (@francesfisher)</a> </div> </blockquote> Although he didn’t want to speculate on what had occurred on the day of the fatal shooting, Mr Crow shared his hopes that Ms Gutierrez-Reed would be exonerated. “This is not a typical role for women - especially a young woman,” he said. “I had a lot of faith in her, and I still do. I’m gonna be surprised if there was anything she was ultimately responsible for in all this, just seeing how she acted in the past. This is all such a surprise.” <img style="width: 500px; height: 281.25px;" src="https://oversixtydev.blob.core.windows.net/media/7845155/rust1.jpg" alt="" data-udi="umb://media/9ac7c3128d9c449ebe087ca738aae71b" /> Signage directing people to the set for “Rust”. Image: Getty Images On October 21, actor Alec Baldwin accidentally discharged a gun while pointing it at the camera, injuring one of the filmmakers and fatally injuring cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. According to <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/news/news/devastating-new-details-of-alec-baldwin-shooting" target="_blank">documents released earlier this week</a>, the star was rehearsing drawing the revolver across his body while Ms Hutchins and Joel Souza were checking camera angles. Investigations by the Santa Fe County <a rel="noopener" href="https://www.oversixty.com.au/finance/legal/new-details-emerge-in-baldwin-shooting-tragedy" target="_blank">have also revealed</a> that Mr Baldwin fired a lead projectile, with authorities seizing approximately 500 rounds from the film set. Image: Twitter

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Historic rusting ocean liner could be restored to luxury

In her heyday, the SS United States was as famous as the Titanic. The grand ocean liner used to carry celebrities, royalty and heads of state across the Atlantic at record speeds. The 301-metre ship (30 metres longer than Titanic) made its maiden voyage in 1952 and sailed from New York to Southampton in three days, 10 hours and 42 minutes, a time that was not beaten until 1990. Its glory days were short lived and by 1969 the ship had been decommissioned. It was a naval reserve vessel for around a decade, but remained sealed in her berth. She was then purchased by a succession of owners, all of whom had grand plans for restoration. The SS United States Conservancy stepped in to try and save the ship, but late last year the group revealed it could no longer afford the $60,000 a month to keep it docked in Philadelphia. It looked like one of the world’s great ocean liners was destined for the scrapyard. Enter luxury line Crystal Cruises. CEO Edie Rodriguez saw the news that the conservancy was out of money and stepped in to resurrect the liner. Crystal operates a small fleet of ultra-luxurious, boutique ships and is currently expanding into river cruising and private jet tours. The line plans to restore the ship and convert it into a modern luxury vessel. The first step is a comprehensive feasibility study to identify any structural issues or dangerous chemicals. Once the ship gets the all clear, Crystal will refurbish the ship to accommodate 800 guests in spacious suites that measure 350 square feet. Original areas of the ship will be recreated, like the Navajo Lounge and the Promenade. It’s predicted that the refurbishment will cost at least $800 million and, if all goes to plan, it could be sailing again by early 2018. Related links: <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/cheaper-to-cruise-than-live-in-london/">It’s cheaper to live on a cruise ship than in London</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/santorini-planning-to-ration-cruise-tourists/">Santorini planning to ration cruise tourists</a> <a href="/travel/cruising/2016/04/tugboat-pushed-underwater-by-cruise-ship/">Tugboat pushed underwater by cruise ship</a>

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