New Mexico Governor Warns That State Will Take Steps To Ensure Set Safety If Industry Doesn’t In Wake Of ‘Rust’ Shooting; IATSE Local Criticizes Use Of Non-Union Crew

David Robb
·2 min read

New Mexico Gov. Michelle Lujan Grisham said Tuesday that the state is prepared to take action to improve safety on film sets if the industry’s doesn’t.

“My expectation is the industry better step up and identify any number of additional improvements and safeguards,” she said at a news conference, reported by the Albuquerque Journal. “If the industry doesn’t come forward with very specific accountable safeguards, they should expect that we will.”

More from Deadline

Her comments come in the wake of the death last Thursday of Rust cinematographer Halyna Hutchins, who was accidentally shot and killed during rehearsals for a scene in the indie Western outside of Santa Fe. Grisham called it a “horrible, unnecessary, preventable tragedy.”

She was joined at the press conference by Alicia Keyes, the state’s Economic Development Secretary, who said she’s been talking to industry leaders about possible changes to the state’s film safety protocols. “There’s just no reason there needs to be a fatality on the workplace anywhere, for any job,” she said.

IATSE Local 480, meanwhile, wrote in a letter to its members today that it was “inexcusable” for the film’s producers to hire non-union workers to replace seven union members of the camera crew who had walked off the job in protest just hours before the fatal shooting. The local represents film and TV workers in the state.

“We have been greatly disturbed by media reports that the producers employed non-union persons in craft positions and, worse, used them to replace skilled union members who were protesting their working conditions,” the local wrote in the letter seen by Variety. “That is inexcusable. We are all awaiting the results of the investigation and are cooperating fully with the relevant authorities.”

The local went on to say that its officers, members and staff “express their deepest and most heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of Local 600 member Halyna Hutchins. We are devastated by the death of our union sister who is remembered as a leader amongst her peers, a talented and rising star in her craft as a director of photography, and as a wife and mother. Her death should never have happened. Union sets should be safe sets. We mourn collectively with our union and film community over this great loss.”

Best of Deadline

Sign up for Deadline's Newsletter. For the latest news, follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next
  • Up next

Latest Stories

  • UPDATE 1-Bank of Japan may signal near-term rate hike with new price forecasts

    The Bank of Japan on Friday is set to project inflation will stay near its 2% target in coming years and signal its readiness to raise interest rates from near-zero, in hope of keeping yen bears from pushing the currency to fresh 34-year lows. Recent threats of intervention by Japanese authorities have failed to arrest the yen's slide against the dollar to levels unseen since 1990, adding to headaches for policymakers worried about the hit to consumption from rising living costs.

  • Rex International Holding's (SGX:5WH) investors will be pleased with their respectable 91% return over the last five years

    It hasn't been the best quarter for Rex International Holding Limited ( SGX:5WH ) shareholders, since the share price...

  • Blinken to meet Chinese counterpart Wang Yi in Beijing

    U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken is due to meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Friday for talks across a range of complex issues, including deepening strains over China's backing of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Blinken will spend several hours with Wang across different closed-door meetings and a working lunch as the two sides try to maintain progress in ties despite a broad and thorny agenda. U.S. State Department officials signalled ahead of the sessions that China's support for Russia would feature strongly, saying that Washington is prepared to act against Chinese companies that have been helping retool and resupply Russia's defence industry.

  • Local TV Cameras Capture Passerby’s Fight With California Mayor’s Security Detail

    KRON-TVA passerby interrupted a local television interview Tuesday with San Jose Mayor Matt Mahan to start a fight with one of Mahan’s security personnel, leading to an arrest for felony battery on a police officer, among other charges, local media reported.During an interview with KRON, which captured video of the altercation, Mahan was speaking on camera when a man, who police have identified as 35-year-old Wesley Pollard, approached the security detail from behind Mahan and began swearing.Aft

  • Dan Rather Will Return to CBS News for First Time in 18 Years

    The former anchor was fired from the network in 2006 after a controversial '60 Minutes II' report on President George W. Bush

  • Patriots select quarterback Drake Maye with No. 3 pick in NFL draft

    The New England Patriots have selected North Carolina quarterback Drake Maye with the No. 3 pick in Thursday’s NFL draft. Maye becomes the second quarterback taken in the first round by New England since 2021 and will be its latest attempt to find a franchise quarterback following the departure of Tom Brady after the 2019 season. New England traded 2021 first-round pick Mac Jones to Jacksonville earlier this offseason. At 6-foot-4 and 220 pounds, Maye checks many of the boxes the Patriots were l

  • Patriots secure QB Drake Maye with No. 3 pick in NFL draft

    The New England Patriots are embracing a new era after parting with Bill Belichick, and Drake Maye will be at the controls at QB.

  • Is Caleb Williams poised for success with the Bears?

    Yahoo Sports’ Draft Live Crew reacts to the Chicago Bears selecting Caleb Williams as the top overall pick, discussing the implications for the former USC quarterback and the future of the franchise.

  • USC's move to cancel commencement amid protests draws criticism from students, alumni

    LOS ANGELES (AP) — The University of Southern California's decision Thursday to cancel its main graduation ceremony, a move that came 10 days after administrators said the student valedictorian who had expressed support for Palestinians would not be allowed to speak, left students and alumni stunned as protests over the Israel-Hamas war continue to spread on campuses nationwide. “It seems like USC isn’t really listening to their student body,” said Olivia Lee, a 2023 business administration grad

  • How to buy Jayden Daniels' Washington Commanders jersey after 2024 NFL Draft selection

    Jayden Daniels is the second pick of the 2024 NFL Draft by the Washington Commanders. Buy his jersey here!

  • Pletcher-trained Fierceness the early Kentucky Derby 150 favorite

    Pletcher-trained Fierceness the early Kentucky Derby 150 favorite

  • Multiple pride flags vandalized at home of long-time Saranac Lake resident

    Multiple pride flags vandalized at home of long-time Saranac Lake resident

  • Commanders select Heisman Trophy-winning LSU QB Jayden Daniels with the 2nd pick in the NFL draft

    ASHBURN, Va. (AP) — The Washington Commanders selected Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jayden Daniels with the second pick in the NFL draft on Thursday night. The decision to go with Daniels, the AP's college football player of the year for his stellar season with LSU, was made after Chicago led off by taking Southern California QB Caleb Williams as expected. Washington went with Daniels over North Carolina’s Drake Maye and Michigan national champion J.J. McCarthy. Short of Williams, a Washin

  • Dow Jones Futures: Microsoft, Google Jump; New Market Rally Still Must Do This

    Microsoft and Google jumped on earnings late after the market rally attempt showed resilience Wednesday amid Meta's sell-off.

  • Inquest into B.C. police shooting deaths recommends emergency events be recorded

    BURNABY, B.C. — An inquest jury looking into the police shooting deaths of a man and the woman he was holding hostage has recommended that events involving the emergency response team be recorded with both video and audio. The recommendation is one of seven to come following the inquest into the deaths of Randy Crosson and Nona McEwan in March 2019 in Surrey, B.C. The jury also recommended the Ministry of Public Safety and Solicitor General offer extended training to probation officers in mental

  • Drake Maye goes north, as New England takes former UNC QB at No. 3 in NFL Draft

    Maye, who grew up in the Charlotte area, was picked immediately after two other QBs — Southern Cal’s Caleb Williams and LSU’s Jayden Daniels.

  • Elisabeth Moss reveals she broke her back on set, kept filming her new FX show ‘The Veil'

    Elisabeth Moss revealed an Episode 2 scene of Hulu and FX's "The Veil" is the second time she filmed a stunt due to breaking a bone the first time.

  • South Korea's public finances no longer a credit rating 'strength', Fitch says

    South Korea's public finances are no longer a strength for its sovereign credit rating but are now a neutral factor requiring near-term efforts to contain the rise in debt, global ratings agency Fitch said. Last month, when Fitch affirmed South Korea's credit rating at "AA-" with a stable outlook, it expected the country's sovereign debt ratio to rise to 51.4% of gross domestic product (GDP) in 2024, higher than the median of 48.5% for "AA" rated countries, and to 53.6% by 2028, diverging from a downward trend forecast for the "AA" median.

  • New England Patriots pick QB Drake Maye in Round 1 of 2024 NFL draft. What to know

    Maye solidified himself as one of the nation's top passers in 2023. Now he's heading for the NFL. Here's what to know about the UNC passer.

  • Investing in Hextar Global Berhad (KLSE:HEXTAR) five years ago would have delivered you a 529% gain

    Buying shares in the best businesses can build meaningful wealth for you and your family. While not every stock...