Joel Souza on Rust Shooting and Film's Future

Joel Souza, director of the film 'Rust,' has broken his silence on the tragic 2021 on-set shooting that killed cinematographer Halyna Hutchins and left him injured. In his first interview, Souza described the incident as 'ruining' him internally, stating that the person he was 'just went away.' He recounted the shock of realizing he had been shot, initially believing it was impossible due to strict movie set rules against live ammunition. Despite the trauma, Souza decided to finish the film to honor Hutchins and support her family. The film’s armorer, Hannah Gutierrez-Reed, was sentenced to 18 months for involuntary manslaughter, while Alec Baldwin's involuntary manslaughter charges were dismissed. Souza expressed mixed emotions about the legal outcomes, emphasizing the ongoing devastation caused by the incident.