Crew member Rust is closing down production after being bit by a poisonous spider. It happened weeks after Alec Baldwin shot the wrong movie and killed its cinematographer.
Jason Miller is an actor and lamp operator. Miller was finishing up production on the movie after Halyna Hutchins had died. Alec Baldwin then shot Halyna. Miller got bit by a brown recluse Spider, a deadly spider native to North America.
Within days, Sky News reports, Miller started experiencing severe symptoms, including necrosis of his arm, which occurs when cells die, and sepsis.
An online fundraising page was created to cover his healthcare expenses. It states: “He has been hospitalized, endured multiple surgeries daily as doctors try their best to stop his infection and prevent him from losing his arm.
Jason will need to go through a long recovery process if his arm is saved by the medical team.
Jason and his family are devastated to learn that Jason could lose his arm under even worse circumstances. It appears that this page has been removed.
Sky News received a statement from Alec Baldwin, a Rust producer spokesperson, saying: ‘We don’t comment on any individual member of the cast or crew’s private affairs.
Jason Miller, a lamp operator and pipe rigger, was working on the set of Rust in New Mexico (pictured) when he was bitten by a venomous spider
Since Alec Baldwin, a cinematographer killed by Halyna Hutchins in October 21, the set was shuttered
The brown recluse spider is a venomous spider that is native to North America (file photo)
The set of the western film has been shut down since Hutchins, 42, died on October 21 after Baldwin pointed and fired a Colt pistol at her while rehearsing a scene.
Baldwin said that it was unlikely that the movie with a budget of only $2,000 will ever come to fruition.
Baldwin, who also served as a producer for the movie, was handling the vintage gun on the set of Rust in Santa Fe, New Mexico, when it accidentally discharged – killing the mom-of-one and wounding director Joel Souza.
Hannah Gutierrez Reed, the gun’s armorer, supplied it and David Halls, the assistant director, checked it. Halls informed Baldwin that it was a cold gun meaning it did not have blanks.
Jason Bowles was Gutierrez-Reed’s attorney. Today Show that ‘She’s heartbroken, and she’s just devastated by what’s happened. ‘
Bowles had previously stated to NBC News that Bowles, a young armorer, didn’t know where live rounds originated and has never seen anyone shoot live ammunition on-set.
Gutierrez-Reed would have received $8,000 less for her work on the set than the $650,000 they set aside, plus a $350,000 contingency to cover any eventualities.
Baldwin was also slated to earn $150,000 as the lead actor, and his production company, El Dorado, was taking a $100,000 fee, while Hutchins was budgeted to earn $48,945.
The independent movie had a modest overall budget of just $7,279,305, according to a draft of the production budget dated September 8, which was revealed by the Hollywood Reporter.
Halyna Hutchins (cinematographer) was killed by an actor Alec Baldwin’s prop gun. The incident occurred on the film set in New Mexico, October 21.
Lane Luper, who served as the film’s A-camera first assistant, has since spoken out about the unsafe working conditions on the set of the western
FULL INTERVIEW: Former “Rust” first camera assistant Lane Luper speaks out about safety concern claims on the movie set. https://t.co/0czCkzo5Wu
— Good Morning America (@GMA) November 3, 2021
Several former crew members spoke out in the weeks that followed the shooting about the dangerous environment.
Lane Luper was the A-camera’s first assistant. He said that he left the job one day prior to the shooting due to overwork, poor gun safety, and COVID-safety not being properly enforced.
Rust believes that it was the perfect storm, according to him, of Rust the armorer, Rust the assistant director and the culture present on the set. The rushing was also a factor. Good Morning America interviewed him on the subject of the tragic shooting.
‘It wasn’t just one individual. All of the pieces had to be in place to make this happen.
He then disputed the producers’ claim that safety was a top priority on set, saying, ‘I only personally remember two safety meetings that involved the entire crew.’
Luper eventually accused Luper of accusing the production of the film of violating the fundamental rule that guns cannot be used on set. He stated, “There shall not ever be live rounds anywhere in a studio lot or on stage or set.”
When he spoke of Halyna Hutchins’ passing, he choked up and said that ‘She truly was something special.
Luper acknowledged that two gunshots were accidentally fired on the set, and one sound-effects blast was heard around the crew.
Luper wrote that there were NO explanations of what was expected for the shots. Luper explained in the letter that production staff are often asked the same questions about their lack of time or if they rehearse.
He said that crew members became exhausted from long commutes to and from work, as well as the two-hour drive back home.
Luper stated that in all of her 10 years working as a camera assistant, she has never seen a crew so concerned about safety.
Luper also told Sky News he decided to speak out because he wanted to make clear that, in his opinion, Hutchins’s death was caused by cutting costs and cutting corners.
“Halyna’s death could have been prevented by following the industry safety rules for decades,” he stated. He added: “I’ve never felt safer on or off-set.”
“I have never felt more at risk of death on set than on my drive back, and I was exhausted.”
He stated that the production team placed safety and wellbeing above profit.
“This group was dangerous because they did not have the safety standards that this industry has.
Luper added that there ‘were no rehearsals, there were no safety meetings to explain what the next shot was, which is also a requirement every time you use firearms.’
Sky News received a statement from a spokesperson for producers, who said: “Mr. Luper’s accusations about budget and safety were patently false. It is no surprise considering that Luper was a camera operator and had nothing to do or know anything about budgets or safety protocol.
The spokesperson said that while we cooperate with all investigation, our options are limited. “But, safety is always our top priority. It is really awful to see people using this tragedy for their personal gain.
Sky News obtained the resignation letter of another crew member, who also quit the film. It cited Dave Halls’s disregard for firearm safety.
Sky News was unable to identify the crew member. He wrote an email to a producer manager, stating that he also feels anxious on set.
“I have seen the AD rush for shots and know that he doesn’t follow important protocol.
“I have hearing loss in my right ear and my husband rushes to fire. I’ve been on more than one occasion where I was very close to weapons being fired without any regard for my ears.
“Sometimes, he rushes too quickly that props haven’t had the opportunity to bring earplugs. He rolls and then the actors start firing.
Crew member stated that she felt torn between the show and her team but had to leave for safety and health reasons.
Alec Baldwin shared this article from Terese Mapale Davis as a response to the allegations that work conditions were dangerous.
Last week, Baldwin fired back at the claims that the working conditions on the set were unsafe, though, sharing a social media post from one crew member slamming her coworkers for painting a ‘blatantly false’ picture of the set as ‘chaotic and unsafe’.
Baldwin posted a picture of Terese M. Davis’s post to his Instagram with the caption, ‘Read This.’
Davis said in her post, “I am sick of this story.” I worked on this movie. The story being spun of us being overworked and surrounded by unsafe, chaotic conditions is bull***t.’
Davis’s post dispelled many complaints from crew members, including the fact that they often worked longer than 12 hours a day.
“We have never done more than one and a half hours of shooting each day.” Davis said that Davis had written it once.
‘Most days were under 12. We had completed a 12-hour turnaround from an 11-hour shooting day when Halyna was killed. We had (including camera) gotten off by 6:30pm.’
Davis said that the tragic shooting at set would haunt her forever. While Davis is furious at Dave Hall (assistant director), who gave Baldwin the gun she said that he was not concerned about safety.
She wrote, “I am devastated and angry.” “I won’t get that sound or the screams of my director out of my ears as a result.
“My friend is dead. Am I angry at him? Yes. Yes. But, I will not jump on his bandwagon to pretend that he wasn’t concerned about our safety all the way.
Baldwin was silent on Rust’s incident before sharing his post.
A public statement was issued by him the day after Hutchins died. He stated that he had been cooperating with authorities, and offered his condolences for her loss. On Saturday, he also gave an unplanned press conference together with his wife.
His silence was also evident in his social media accounts until Saturday when it appeared that he had returned to the same online habits.
He shared Davis’ post as the first public indication that he does not agree with the narrative crew.