Halyna Houtchins, cinematographer, smiles as the sun breaks through the clouds. She films herself riding her horse in the New Mexico desert.
This was the last Instagram post that the married mother of one shared before Alec Baldwin accidentally shot her and killed her. Baldwin was shooting a scene for Rust, an upcoming Western.
Halyna, 42 years old, was born in Ukraine. She was raised on a Soviet military base “surrounded by reindeer & submarines”. Before moving to Los Angeles, she had worked on British documentaries in Europe before she moved to Los Angeles. There, she established her career and had started a family.
Friends recall Halyna as a kind’ and ‘loving soul’. She lived in Venice Beach with Matthew, a lawyer, their son Andros (who she affectionately called ‘little man’).
One friend wrote that she loved him so much and enjoyed seeing him become the handsome boy he was today. ‘I know that she is looking out for him and Matt during this horribly scary time.
Photos taken on social media show a playful spirit and a sense for adventure. There are photos of Halloween costume parties and road trips with friends, as well as photos of days out exploring that are lit up by Halyna’s smile.
She was also highly respected for her work in the field of photography director and was regarded as a rising star by her peers. Haylna had worked as a fashion photographer and an investigative journalist before her tragic death.
Sun streaming in from above, Halyna Hutchins, a cinematographer, smiles into the camera while she films herself riding her horse through the New Mexico desert. This was Halyna, 42-year-old mother-of-one,’s last Instagram post before Alec Baldwin accidentally shot her and killed her yesterday on Rust.
Posts on social media from the hours following her death show a picture that shows a friend, colleague, mother, and mother to her son Andros, whose father Matthew Hutchins (Los Angeles-based lawyer) shared.
Photos capture a sense playfulness and adventure. Snaps of Halloween costumes parties, road trips with friends, and days out exploring are all captured by Halyna’s smile.
Halyna was born in Ukraine, raised on a Soviet military base “surrounded by reindeer & submarines”, and was poised for a bright future with Joe Manganiello in Ireland. Her life was tragically cut short.
Actors, directors, and Hollywood insiders have also paid tribute to her tremendous talent’, and ‘commitment towards her art’.
Adam Mortimer, a friend and former colleague, recalled on GMB today that she was a director and was a friend. She was Ukrainian, and she had an extraordinary European art sensibility. She would try to make the most of any set that presented challenges or difficulties.
“When I first met her, I knew that she would be a great partner to work alongside. I knew she was going be a genius. She was so passionate about making movies feel real and authentic.
Halyna was born in Ukraine in 1978. She was the daughter to military parents. She grew-up on a Soviet base in the Arctic circle’. She recalled what it was like. They were surrounded by nuclear submarines and reindeer.
In a sign of her broad interests, Halyna attended the National University of Kyiv, Ukraine’s most prestigious higher education institution, and graduated with a degree in International Journalism.
This was her ticket to work abroad. She worked as an ‘investigative reporter with British documentary productions in Europe’. The details of these projects are not yet known.
Baldwin and Hutchins are shown together on Rust’s set (circled). She uploaded an image to Instagram two days ago that said the crew were supporting a strike of the IATSE union.
Halyna HUTCHINS, director of photography, was tragically killed on the Rust Thursday set.
Hutchins moved to the USA and settled in Los Angeles. She began working in fashion photography, as well as film, to learn how to ‘create the mood, the feeling’ within an image.
In 2015, she graduated from American Film Institute Conservatory. This conservator offers specialist qualifications in cinematography or directing. Patty Jenkins and Darren Aronofsky were notable alumni.
Later, she would speak of the importance of this experience in her career development, saying that it made her’rethink’ her identity as an artist. She said, “One thing I learned was that cinematography doesn’t come easy to me.”
“It’s all a group.” [project]. Although you will need to create your own vision, communication with your director as well as your team is the key to a successful film.
In the six years since, her career has grown from strength to strength. Her Instagram is filled with praises for her work ethic as well as her ability.
Hutchins was a Venice Beach native and was considered one Hollywood’s rising stars. American Cinematographer named him in a list titled “Cinematographers to Watch in 2019”
Police tape the cordons surrounding a small church being used as a film set after a fatal accident at a Bonanza Creek Ranch movie location near Santa Fe.
Hutchins’ talent was recognised in 2018 when she was named to the inaugural class of the 21st Century Fox DP Lab, a networking cohort designed to expand opportunities for female cinematographers by connecting them with working professionals.
In American Cinematographer, a respected industry publication, she was hailed as one the ‘rising star’ of cinematography the year after.
In an interview with the publication, she stated that “Right now, i’m just really interested to find fruitful collaborations.” In a nod to Hong Kong director, she said, “I’m just hoping for my Wong Kar-wai.”
Hutchins has recently produced Blindfire, a racially-charged police drama written by Mike Nell and starring Brian Geraghty, TNT’s The Alienist, and Sharon Leal (Supergirl and Instinct), which won Best Crime Drama at Houston International Film Festival, 2020.
She moved to the U.K. later to work in documentary filmmaking, before moving to LA to pursue a master’s degree.
Darlin’, a horror film directed by Pollyanna MacIntosh (The Walking Dead) and lensed in by Hutchins, premiered at the SXSW 2019 film festival. It was also shown internationally at the Edinburgh Film Festival as well as London FrightFest.
Director Adam Egypt Mortimer, who collaborated with Hutchins to create the 2020 superhero mystery-thriller Archenemy tweeted: “I’m so sad about Halyna. It’s so shocking that this could happen on a film set. She was a talented talent, who was totally committed to film and art.
Joe Manganiello, actor who starred in Archenemy said that she was ‘an incredible talent and a great person’ on Instagram. He also added that it was a blessing to have Hutchins as the director of photography.
Mortimer previously stated that Hutchins’s cinematic sensibility and tastes were a great asset to the Archenemy project.
Halyna has many stills and clips from short films, features and other projects.
They also portray a clear image, with photos from Halloween dress up parties and candid selfies taken while on a road trip.
She loved exploring while traveling to work. She also enjoyed taking in the scenery and historic castles of Ireland while on a recent project in Ireland.
Halyna shared photos from Rust’s New Mexico desert set in one of her last Instagram posts. Halyna shouted the IATSE union, the International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees, in one of the photos.
Halyna wrote, “Standing in #IAsolidarity With Our @IATSE Crew Here in New Mexico On RUST,” in the caption. This caption was reprinted from another person involved in the production.
“The historic strike honors the needs and tireless workers in Hollywood, but is still putting pressure to Hollywood to negotiate better working conditions.
The last post she shared was a video of her riding her horseback through New Mexico desert. She smiled slightly at the camera.
She wrote: “One of many perks of shooting westerns is that you get the chance to ride horses on your days off.”