“Rust” production reaches settlement with agency in New Mexico

Rust Movie Productions LLC, the company behind the troubled western whose cameraman was killed, has reached a settlement with the New Mexico Department of Health and Safety.

As part of the agreement, the New Mexico Department of Environmental Protection’s Office of Occupational Safety and Health agreed to downgrade the production’s designation from “deliberate-serious” to “serious” and reduce the fine from a maximum of $136,793 to $100,000, Rust Movie Das shared the production on Friday with.

“Our top priority has always been to resume production and complete this film so that we can honor the life and work of Halyna Hutchins,” said Melina Spadone, senior counsel at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman and attorney for Rust Movie Productions, LLC. “Settling this case rather than litigating is the best way to achieve that goal.”

The settlement ends a battle with the government agency after it said the film’s managers had shown “sheer indifference” to staff safety after actor Alec Baldwin accidentally killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins during a rehearsal in October 2021, according to authorities had shot. Director Joel Souza was also injured.

The agency said procedures were not being followed on set and management had failed to review labor practices and take corrective action.

Rust Productions had denied the allegations of misconduct. Production plans to resume filming on the western in Montana this spring.

On Thursday, Baldwin pleaded not guilty to involuntary manslaughter in New Mexico.