The film production of ‘Rust’ has been denied a portion of New Mexico’s film and TV tax incentives following the tragic death of cinematographer Halyna Hutchins. Despite being made at the Bonanza Creek Ranch in Santa Fe, documents show that the incentives, which could have been worth up to $1.6 million, were denied.
The incident occurred on October 21, 2021, when Alec Baldwin, who is both a star and producer of the film, accidentally fired a live round from a Colt .45 pointed at Hutchins during a rehearsal. Hutchins tragically lost her life, while director Joel Souza was also injured. Baldwin is set to go on trial for involuntary manslaughter next week.
The denial of the tax credit has also left ‘Rust’ without a U.S. distributor. The attorney representing Rust Movie Productions revealed that the tax incentive was intended to be used to finance a legal settlement with Hutchins’ widower and son. The denial of the tax credit has disrupted these financial arrangements, as Matthew Hutchins is an executive producer on the film.
Despite the tragic events surrounding the production of ‘Rust,’ the denial of the tax incentives has added another layer of complexity to the already troubled film. The fallout from this incident continues to have far-reaching consequences for all involved in the production.
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