Maggie Goll, a licensed pyrotechnician and prop maker, stated in a statement she had filed an internal complaint to Hulu’s executive producers in 2019 about her concerns over assistant director Dave Halls’ conduct on set. Goll stated in a telephone interview that Halls ignored safety protocols for weapons, pyrotechnics, and attempted to continue filming when the supervising photographer lost consciousness.
Halls has not responded to email and phone messages seeking comment.
Goll stated that this week’s tragic shooting and her past experiences point to bigger safety concerns that must be addressed. She also said that crew member safety is a top concern in ongoing contract negotiations between a union representing film and TV workers, and a major producer’s group.
“This is not about Dave Halls. She said that it was not Dave Halls’ fault. “It’s about safety on set, and what we want to accomplish with that culture.
Baldwin opened fire on Thursday at the New Mexico film set of “Rust”, killing Halyna Hutchins, 42, and injuring Joel Souza (who was standing by her).
According to court records, Baldwin used one of three guns that an “armorer”, a firearms specialist had placed on a cart outside the building, where a scene was being practiced. Halls pulled a gun from a cart and gave it to Baldwin. He indicated that the weapon was safe by shouting “cold gun,” according to court papers. According to records, it was loaded with live ammunition.
Baldwin, 63, is well-known for his roles on “30 Rock” (The Hunt for Red October) and his portrayal of former President Donald Trump (“Saturday Night Live”), and has described the death as a “tragic incident.”
Goll stated that it shouldn’t have happened because of the “so many steps you have to go through… that it should be impossible for it even to happen.”
Ray Liotta, actor, agreed that firearm checks are often extensive.
Liotta stated that they always check the film so you can see it. “They give it the person you are pointing at, then they give it to the producer. They show everyone that it doesn’t work.”
Rust Movie Productions has yet to respond to multiple emails requesting comment.
Baldwin, who is a producer for “Rust,” met Hutchins’ husband (and his 9-year old son) Saturday at the Santa Fe hotel where the actor was staying during filming. In a photo published in the New York Post, Baldwin and Hutchins can be seen together.
On Sunday, a vigil was held in Southern California for Hutchins. Participants exchanged tears and hugs as speakers called for increased safety standards for film sets.
Goll stated in an email that Halls failed to hold safety meetings during work on “Into the Dark” and repeatedly failed to notify the crew of the presence of a firearm while on set. This is against protocol. Halls was repeatedly reprimanded by the assistant prop master for not returning weapons to the props tables and dismissing actors.
The most concerning incident for her was when the supervising, diabetic pyrotechnician was found unconscious in a chair. Halls was keen to continue filming even though Goll (the remaining pyrotechnician) didn’t have enough qualifications to oversee the complex series of pyrotechnic effects.
“One thing that stood out to me the most was the fact that he called over on radio channel one, “Hey Maggie, we can continue!” I held down the button so that he could not transmit to anyone else on the channel, while I shouted, “No Dave, that’s what I said!” In a telephone interview, she said that we’re not doing this.
She said that she filed an internal complaint against Blumhouse Productions’ executive producers on the same day.
She stated in an email that “to my knowledge nothing was done following my complaints.”
She wrote, “I am devastated at not pushing harder to increase accountability and safety.” “Many of our messages have been asking each other the same question: Is there anything we could have done to prevent the tragedy?”
