The American Film Institute (AFI) is pledging “to see that Halyna Hutchins will live on in the spirit of all who strive to see their dreams realized in stories well told.” The nonprofit announced that it has established a memorial scholarship for women cinematographers named after Hutchins following the tragedy that claimed her life on October 21 on the set of “Rust.”
A graduate of the AFI Conservatory in 2015, Hutchins was named as one of American Cinematographer’s Rising Stars of 2019 and participated in the 21st Century Fox DP Lab in 2018. She had over 30 credits on features, shorts, and other media, working as a DP on titles such as “Archenemy” and “Darlin’.” She previously worked as an investigative journalist.
Hutchins was fatally shot on Thursday when a prop gun misfired on the set of “Rust.” Authorities are investigating the circumstances that led to her death, and many are calling for stricter safety measures and better protection of workers on-set. A petition calling for the ban of real firearms on-set is circulating widely and has received more than 25,000 signatures.
The International Alliance of Theatrical Stage Employees (IATSE), Hutchins’ union, posted a message mourning the “unspeakable loss” and reminding its 150,000-plus members that “creating a culture of safety requires relentless vigilance from every one of us, day in and day out.” The union urged, “Please, if you see something, say something. If you feel unsafe on set for any reason, including harassment, send us a tip via the IATSE Safety Hotline at 844-422-9273 or using our safety info app.” Further resources can be found on IATSE’s website.
IATSE held a candlelight vigil in honor of Hutchins on Saturday. Lane Loper, a crew member from “Rust,” was among the speakers. “I was really lucky to get to work with her because the woman I met was one of the most talented and kind, collaborative artists, who’d [come up with] things that I could never, ever think of,” said Loper, per Deadline. “Her photography was beautiful, and everyday, everybody on the camera team was proud to be there for her, because they were proud of what they were creating, and what she was creating.”
If you’d like to donate to the AFI’s Halyna Hutchins Memorial Scholarship Fund you can do so here.
